15 Amazing Open World Games of 2025 You Absolutely Need To Play

Another year of gaming has passed, and we were treated to some truly outstanding titles that kept us playing for hours. While many were great, a few really stood out with incredibly immersive worlds and gameplay that was always engaging and full of new things to find.

We really enjoy games that immediately let you explore a world filled with interesting things to discover. These games keep you engaged until you’re ready to take a break. Fortunately, 2025 has already given us several titles like this, each offering a fresh and unique gameplay experience.

That said, some games really stand out from the rest. Here are the nominees for the best open-world games of 2025:

1. Where Winds Meet

Everstone Studios has created a unique game that combines the exciting world of wuxia with the gameplay of an action RPG. The game features a vast and lively world where players have a lot of freedom to explore and make their own choices. It’s designed to reward curiosity – simply exploring and interacting with the world is satisfying on its own.

Beyond its core gameplay, Where Winds Meet brilliantly weaves historical details with fantastical elements, creating a truly immersive and dreamlike wuxia experience. Its massive scope, bold ambition, and immediate sense of freedom make it a strong contender for one of the best RPGs of 2025.

2. Dying Light: The Beast

The immersive Castor Woods truly feels alive in Kyle’s newest game, making this open-world survival horror experience consistently engaging. Stepping outside your safe haven is always a risk, as the darkness hides frightening threats that can quickly end your journey.

What truly sets this game apart is how it seamlessly combines a compelling story with exciting parkour movement and unique character abilities, creating an experience that stays with you even after you finish playing.

3. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Building on the success of the original, Deliverance 2 is a bigger and better experience. The story offers plenty of surprising turns, and the characters—both major and minor—are likeable and often funny.

The game offers a fun and engaging journey filled with both serious conflict and lighthearted humor. As you explore, you’ll follow the winding path of Henry’s story to its conclusion.

4. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

The game’s sudden release earlier this year was unexpected, but it’s no surprise that fans are loving it again after so many years.

Beyond its stunning new look, the game feels much more engaging thanks to smoother animations and smarter enemies. This is a big plus in a vast world like Cyrodiil, which rewards players who take the time to explore and fight. If you loved the original, you’ll want to revisit it, and if you never played it before, now is the perfect time.

5. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

We finally got our hands on the Assassin’s Creed installment set in ancient Japan, and the characters Naoe and Yasuke delivered! The Anvil Engine beautifully recreated feudal Japan with a large, stunning map that was a joy to both look at and play in.

The game offers a wealth of content, from uncovering hidden secrets and tracking down targets to raiding imposing fortresses. Its constantly evolving world and captivating gameplay firmly establish it as one of the top RPGs of 2025, mirroring the enduring strength of the stunning, snow-covered landscapes it depicts.

6. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Building on the success of the first game, On the Beach is even more impressive. It features stunning visuals, captivating gameplay, and a huge world for players to explore and master.

Wow, the first hour of this game completely blew me away! It’s clear Kojima Productions didn’t just make a sequel – they created something that lives up to the original, but also feels totally fresh. It’s an open-world game unlike anything I’ve ever played, and it’s stuck with me – it’s beautiful, but also kind of sad and haunting in the best way.

7. Elden Ring: Nightreign

Open-world games often let you explore at your own pace, but FromSoftware’s first attempt at the roguelike genre changed that. It encouraged fast-paced exploration by adding a time limit and giving players tools specifically designed for quick movement.

Navigating the map and surviving before nightfall drains your energy requires careful planning and skill. Facing the dangers along the way with your customizable Nightfarers can result in exciting victories or hilarious defeats. This game is perfect for players who enjoy fast-paced action.

8. Tokyo Xtreme Racer

Exploring Tokyo’s streets and trying to become a top street racer is a really fun part of this game. Whether you’re competing against rival gangs or just racing to build your reputation, it’s a game that both experienced and new racing fans will enjoy.

If you enjoy open-world street racing, this game is absolutely worth trying. You’ll find plenty of tough races and competitive opponents.

9. Ghost of Yotei

Atsu became the main character after Jin Sakai, and the new game has firmly established the Ghost series as one of PlayStation’s biggest exclusive franchises. Players will find a world filled with stunning landscapes, hidden threats, and captivating stories, all unfolding naturally as you explore.

While you’ll be driven by revenge and a long-standing feud, the world of Ezo is so captivating that even a tiny bird can distract you with the promise of new discoveries. Exploring Ezo is a real pleasure, even with all the dangers that await – you’ll need to keep your weapons handy and be prepared for anything!

10. Monster Hunter Wilds

This game, a follow-up to Monster Hunter: World, significantly improved upon the original by introducing new gameplay features, systems, and huge, monster-filled environments for players to explore and battle within.

Wilds really delivered a challenging and engaging experience, and that has resulted in a Forbidden Lands game map that remains just as fun today as it was when we first started playing. Considering how many similar games are out there, that’s a significant accomplishment.

11. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

I recently dove into a retelling of the King Arthur story, but it was way darker than I expected! Honestly, the sheer number of quests in this open world blew me away. A lot of them start with dealing with this plague called the Red Death and something called the Wyrdness, but those problems usually lead to these smaller, really interesting stories that flesh out the world’s history and give it a lot of emotional weight. It really made the world feel alive, and tragic, honestly.

This map leads to incredibly memorable locations, and the game’s engaging story and mechanics help you lose track of time as you get lost in the adventure.

12. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

Now that GSC has released STALKER 2 on PS5 and fully utilized the console’s capabilities, players can finally experience the game the studio intended. The game delivers everything fans expect from the beloved STALKER series, and its exploration remains a uniquely immersive experience.

This title is exciting and keeps you guessing, with a story that effectively puts you in a constant struggle for survival, making you feel both powerful and vulnerable. If you’re looking for something different and chaotic, it’s definitely worth playing.

13. Days Gone Remastered (PS5)

Although some were surprised to see Days Gone remastered, this version is now the definitive way to play the original game. It perfectly captures the thrilling uncertainty and heart-pounding chases through a dangerous world filled with relentless zombie hordes.

Deacon’s thrilling journey isn’t just a compelling story—it’s the perfect start to a vast, open-world game. You’ll be riding your motorcycle across a dangerous landscape filled with zombies, and the experience is so immersive it will stay with you long after the credits roll.

14. Borderlands 4

It was great to return to the world of Borderlands as a Vault Hunter and face off against the Timekeeper in this new installment. With plenty of laughs and exciting gameplay focused on collecting loot, this game offers a really fun and immersive experience in its vibrant, cartoon-style open world.

It’s also perfect for teaming up with friends and exploring a map full of fun surprises.

15. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy – Enhanced Edition

Curious about the STALKER series? This collection is a fantastic way to play the original games and see what all the excitement is about. It includes all three titles with updated graphics and performance, and it’s easy to understand why STALKER has built such a dedicated fanbase over the years.

These worlds are unforgettable, and remain captivating long after their initial release.

While each of these games brought a lot of fun and innovation to the table, we must pick a winner.

The winner of best open world game of 2025 is:

GHOST OF YOTEI

Atsu’s story and her journey through Ezo are incredibly well-made and deserve attention. The open world feels truly alive, responding to your actions as much as you explore it. It’s inviting and encourages you to lose yourself in hours of adventure, especially while discovering the beautifully realized landscapes around Mount Yotei. Sucker Punch has perfectly captured the spirit of this dynamic land.

2025-12-11 21:17