10 Best Open-World Games of 2026

Breath of the Wild ranks first because no other game here hands you so much open space with so few instructions. Nintendo's store page explains the setup: Link wakes after a 100-year slumber with no memories and must explore a vast, dangerous Hyrule using only what he can scavenge. You climb towers to survey the land, then pick any peak on the horizon and head for it. More than 100 Shrines of Trials hide puzzles and rewards, and the Sheikah Slate map and scope help you mark points of interest. Travel is varied, with horses, rafts, shield surfing and a paraglider, and Link can use over 180 weapons, though they wear out. Cooking heals and boosts stats, and clothes protect against cold, heat and storms. The limits are clear: it needs a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, and breaking weapons frustrate some players. For pure free exploration, it is the one to beat.

Elden Ring is second because its world rewards curiosity as much as any game sold today. The Steam page describes the Lands Between as a vast continent where open fields and huge, three-dimensional dungeons connect, and where knowing the terrain helps you beat bosses or trap invading players. You build a character from weapons, armor, items and magic, so a stealthy spellcaster and a heavy brawler play very differently. George R. R. Martin wrote the founding mythology, and events can unfold in several ways depending on what you do. Steam lists online co-op, online PvP, full controller support and Steam Cloud, and its store data shows a Metascore of 94. At $59.99 it matches most big releases here. The cost is difficulty: combat is simple to learn but hard to master, which pulls its ease score below Breath of the Wild. If you like earning every step forward, this is the deepest world on the list.

Grand Theft Auto V is the bargain of the list. The Steam page for GTA V Enhanced, released on PC in March 2025, follows a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a psychopath who pull off dangerous heists in Los Santos, and it bundles GTA Online for up to 30 players. Rockstar lists ray-traced shadows and reflections, AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS, faster loading via SSD and DirectStorage, Dolby Atmos audio and DualSense adaptive triggers. Existing PC players can migrate both story progress and GTA Online characters from the legacy version. At $29.99 it costs half the price of most picks here. It ranks fifth because the city is now the oldest design on the list, and its online mode leans on in-app purchases. As a place to drive, fly and improvise in a modern city, it remains easy to recommend.

Red Dead Redemption 2 places fourth, a whisker behind The Witcher 3, because its world is the most detailed here but it asks the most patience. Rockstar's Steam page sets the story in America in 1899: Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang flee federal agents and bounty hunters, and Arthur has to choose between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang that raised him. Rockstar says the game won over 175 Game of the Year awards, and Steam's store data shows a Metascore of 93. The purchase includes Red Dead Online, where you can ride solo or form a posse, run moonshine and fight lawmen and outlaw gangs. At $59.99 it is good value given both modes. It scores lowest on ease because missions are long and the pace is deliberate, and Steam lists only partial controller support. Pick it if you want to live in a place, not rush through it.

The Witcher 3 ranks third because it balances world size, story and price better than almost anything here. The Steam listing for the Remastered edition casts you as Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire, crossing a dark fantasy open world to find his adopted daughter Ciri, and CD PROJEKT RED frames it as a story full of choices and consequences. The remaster brings a range of upgrades, and Steam lists HDR, Steam Cloud, Steam Workshop, adjustable difficulty and several accessibility settings. Steam's store data shows a Metascore of 93 and 78 achievements, and four DLC items are sold alongside it. At $49.99 it costs $10 less than most new open worlds on the list. The trade-offs are combat that feels dated next to Elden Ring and partial controller support on PC. If you care most about quests worth reading, this is the strongest value pick.

Ghost of Tsushima is the most approachable of the big action worlds. Its Steam page sets the story in the late 13th century, when a Mongol fleet led by Khotun Khan invades Tsushima Island and samurai Jin Sakai must abandon tradition to become the Ghost. The PC Director's Cut is the complete experience, with unlocked frame rates, ultrawide and triple monitor support, NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3 and Intel XeSS, plus lip sync for the Japanese voiceover. Steam lists adjustable difficulty, full controller support, subtitle options and online co-op and PvP. It costs $59.99. It sits sixth because its single island offers less variety than the top five, but the start is gentle and the combat is easy to read. Pick it if you want a striking world you can finish without feeling overwhelmed.

Skyrim earns its place as the open world that never quite ends. The Steam listing for Skyrim Special Edition says it includes the original game and its add-ons, with remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field and screen-space reflections. It also brings Bethesda Game Studios Creations, which add quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor and weapons. Bethesda says the game won more than 200 Game of the Year awards. Steam lists save anytime, Steam Cloud and Remote Play on phone and tablet, and the price is $39.99. It ranks seventh because the combat and visuals feel older than the newer games here, and Steam's store data shows a Metascore of 74 for this edition. For players who want to pick a direction, join a guild and keep adding content for years, it is still a strong buy.

Cyberpunk 2077 is the city pick for players who prefer neon to forests. Its Steam page calls it an open-world, action-adventure RPG set in Night City, a dangerous megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor and constant body modification. Steam lists full controller support including DualSense, adjustable difficulty, subtitle options, color alternatives, HDR and Steam Cloud, and it is the only game on this list with a macOS build on Steam, requiring an Apple M1 or later and macOS 15.5. Steam's store data shows a Metascore of 86, and three DLC items are sold separately. It costs $59.99. It ranks eighth because it is single-player only, needs an SSD and capable hardware, and scored lower with critics than the top picks. If you want a futuristic city to explore and you play on PC or Mac, it is the clear choice.

Horizon Forbidden West is the most complete package among the newer worlds. The Steam page for the Complete Edition includes the full game, bonus content and the Burning Shores expansion, which adds new storylines, characters and a new area after the main story. You play as Aloy, crossing a far-future, post-apocalyptic West where a blight and storms threaten what is left of humanity and huge machines patrol the land. On PC it supports ultrawide and triple monitor setups, NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS, and full DualSense features over a wired connection. Steam lists adjustable difficulty and several accessibility options. It costs $59.99 with nothing else to buy. It ranks ninth because it is single-player only and its story assumes some knowledge of the first game. For machine hunting across varied terrain, it is a strong pick.

Forza Horizon 5 rounds out the list as the open world you explore at speed. Its Steam page describes a Mexico of living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, beaches, canyons and a snow-capped volcano, crossed in hundreds of real cars. Dynamic seasons change the world every week and bring dust storms and tropical storms, plus new events and areas to explore. The Horizon Arcade runs group challenges with no menus or lobbies, Steam lists cross-platform multiplayer, and the EventLab toolset lets you build custom races, stunts and game modes. It costs $59.99, with 52 DLC items on Steam. It ranks last because you never leave the car, and the extras can push the total cost up. As the friendliest pick on the list, it suits anyone who just wants to roam and enjoy the view.