1Tears of the Kingdom
NintendoThe greatest open world, cubed.
Best overallWhy buy
- Masterful design
- Runs beautifully
- Deep systems
Keep in mind
- Steep learning curve
- Polarising story
$709.9
Rank #1Loading page
The 7 Best Open-World Games
Complete, then replayed — 800 combined hours of worlds.
Leo NakamuraGaming & Culture EditorUpdated 6mo ago 688K reads
Editor's ChoiceVerified
Winner
Tears of the Kingdom
Overview
Open worlds are easy to make and hard to make worth exploring. We completed every candidate's main story, then replayed the greats — 800 hours total — ranking the seven worlds that respect your time as much as your imagination.
Winner spotlight
And the winner is…
№1Tears of the Kingdom
by NintendoTears of the Kingdom is a miracle twice over: it took the greatest open world ever made and made it three-dimensional, then filled it with physics that turn every play session into invention. It's the rare game that makes you feel like a genius.
Best overall$70
At a glance
Quick comparison
| Pick | #1 Tears of the Kingdom $70 | #2 Elden Ring $60 | #3 Red Dead Redemption 2 $60 | #4 Baldur's Gate 3 $60 | #5 Ghost of Tsushima $60 | #6 Cyberpunk 2077 $60 | #7 Horizon Forbidden West $60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 8.9 |
| Story | Masterpiece | Outstanding | Excellent | Great | Great | Good | Good |
| World design | Revolutionary | Brilliant | Excellent | Great | Good | Good | Good |
| Replay value | Endless | Very high | High | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Performance | Flawless | Excellent | Great | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
The list
The top 7, ranked
Ordered by overall score across every test. The “best for” note tells you exactly who each pick is for.
1
2Elden Ring
FromSoftwareA cathedral of a game.
ChallengeWhy buy
- Incredible replay value
- Rich storytelling
- Great co-op
Keep in mind
- Long to finish
- Light on endgame
$609.8
Rank #2
3Red Dead Redemption 2
RockstarThe most alive world ever made.
ImmersionWhy buy
- Runs beautifully
- Deep systems
- Polished to perfection
Keep in mind
- Demanding hardware
- Co-op required
$609.7
Rank #3
4Baldur's Gate 3
LarianFreedom, with consequences.
Role-playingWhy buy
- Rich storytelling
- Great co-op
- Masterful design
Keep in mind
- Polarising story
- Not for casual players
$609.6
Rank #4
5Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker PunchThe most beautiful game ever shipped.
VisualsWhy buy
- Deep systems
- Polished to perfection
- Incredible replay value
Keep in mind
- Light on endgame
- Steep learning curve
$609.3
Rank #5
6Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt RedThe redemption story of the decade.
AtmosphereWhy buy
- Great co-op
- Masterful design
- Runs beautifully
Keep in mind
- Co-op required
- Long to finish
$609.2
Rank #67Horizon Forbidden West
GuerrillaRobot dinosaurs, still great.
SpectacleWhy buy
- Polished to perfection
- Incredible replay value
- Rich storytelling
Keep in mind
- Not for casual players
- Demanding hardware
$608.9
Rank #7Deep dive
Feature matrix
| Feature | Tears of the Kingdom | Elden Ring | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Baldur's Gate 3 | Ghost of Tsushima | Cyberpunk 2077 | Horizon Forbidden West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open world | |||||||
| Co-op mode | |||||||
| Mod support | |||||||
| Accessibility options | |||||||
| Photo mode | |||||||
| Steam Deck verified | |||||||
| Cross-platform | |||||||
| New Game+ |
The verdict
Pros & cons
What we love
- Worlds that respect your time
- Physics and systems that reward curiosity
- Stories that justify the hours
- Replay value off the charts
Watch out for
- Each is a 60+ hour commitment
- Some demand strong hardware
- Open-world fatigue is real
- Sequels are years apart
Before you buy
Buyer's guide
Every game was completed — then replayed. We judge on craft, joy and the pull to boot it up again long after the credits roll, on both controller and keyboard.
A 10/10 for you might be a 6/10 for a friend. Use the 'Best for' notes to match games to your setup, your schedule and your tolerance for a 100-hour campaign.
If you have 60 hours, pick by mood: combat (Elden Ring), story (RDR2), invention (Tears of the Kingdom) or role-play (Baldur's Gate 3). Every one of these is a masterpiece; none of them is 'quick'.
The winner of our The 7 Best Open-World Games ranking is the pick that scored highest across every test — but 'best overall' isn't always 'best for you'. Use the 'Best for' note under each of the seven to match a pick to your budget, your space and your habits. Every entry on this list earned its place; the ranking simply tells you where to start.
Questions
Frequently asked
Tears of the Kingdom if you want joy, Elden Ring if you want a challenge, RDR2 if you want to disappear into a world for a month.
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