The 10 best open-world games of all time — including Elden Ring

Open-world video games are immensely popular, sending players to fictional playgrounds full of secrets to discover and tasks to complete.

10. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West includes one of the most unique open worlds, full of robot dinosaurs in a verdant post-apocalyptic Earth.

9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It’s hard to discuss open-world games without mentioning The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. More than a decade later, it remains relevant.

8. Grand Theft Auto V

Speaking of games that have made an impact, Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most successful products ever, selling over 160 million copies since 2013.

7. No Man’s Sky

What about an open universe? No Man’s Sky features 18 quintillion procedurally-generated planets with all sorts of mysteries to uncover.

6. Forza Horizon 5

Arguably the best open-world driving game is Forza Horizon 5, featuring a beautiful rendition of Mexico, with a variety of biomes to drive through.

5. Minecraft

Few games have reached the status of cultural phenomenon quite like Minecraft. It has it all, from a sprawling procedurally generated world to multiplayer, survival, and creative components.

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

While its predecessor laid the foundation for an amazing experience, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales improved upon it in nearly every way, offering the best superhero adventure ever.

3. Red Dead Redemption II

Red Dead Redemption II may very well be Rockstar Games’ magnum opus, with some of the most realistic mechanics of any video game ever made.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild is an experience unlike any other. From its wild physics to its vast world and satisfying combat, this game is essential.

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring blew us (and the rest of the world) away, serving as one of the best-reviewed games in recent memory, due in part to its sprawling open world, deep mysteries, and staggering runtime.