15 Big Video Game Worlds of 2025 Which Offer Satisfying Exploration

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Man, 2025 was HUGE for gaming worlds! We saw some amazing releases, from those massive AAA games to smaller indie titles with really unique ideas. No matter what kind of game it was, so many of them just had so much to explore – whether it was a fully open world or something else. I’ve put together a list of what I think are the 15 biggest and best worlds we got to adventure in this year.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

While not the biggest world in the Elder Scrolls games, Cyrodiil remains impressive, particularly in this updated version. The side quests are well-known for being diverse and unusual – you might find yourself waking up to a hijacked boat or investigating a missing artist! Exploring the world is a real pleasure, and places like The Shivering Isles make it even more enjoyable.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

No matter what people are saying about Assassin’s Creed Shadows – and there’s been plenty of discussion this year – the game’s scope is truly impressive. You’ll explore the ruins of Harima, filled with remnants of battles, see beautiful castles like Azuchi, enjoy the stunning Omi Lake, and discover much more. The developers clearly put a lot of work into recreating these locations accurately. It’s a shame, though, that this installment won’t include a dedicated Tourism Mode like we’ve seen in past Assassin’s Creed games.

Atomfall

I still enjoy Rebellion’s vision of a post-apocalyptic England, even with its imperfections. The game lets you explore almost anywhere – from the ruins of BARD’s labs to various settlements like the tense Wyndham Village. Whether you’re searching for secrets to unlock hidden bunkers or finding strange new plants, the world feels detailed and realistically populated.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

When Metroid Prime 4 was first announced, few predicted just how expansive it would become. The planet Viewros isn’t limited to jungles filled with dangerous creatures or facilities built inside volcanoes. It also features sprawling deserts, which players can traverse using the new, fast-paced Vi-O-La bike. This bike adds some shooting-focused gameplay to the usual exploration and scanning.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Despite its frustrating issues with performance and gameplay, I have to say there’s something special about the Forbidden Lands in Monster Hunter Wilds. It could be the dynamic weather and changing conditions that bring new monsters and resources to life, or simply the beautiful design of the areas – from the towering Oilwell Basin to the vast Windward Plains. Even if you’re just quickly traveling across the map, taking the time to appreciate the environment reveals some truly amazing sights.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

After the expansive original game, it’s no surprise that Silksong is shaping up to be equally huge. Each area offers something special with its own challenges, creatures, bosses, and secrets – like starting a daring escape with nothing, or exploring the wonderfully detailed Clockwork Core. What’s truly remarkable is how much content Team Cherry has included, even entire sections of the game that players can completely miss.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The fact that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth includes all of Honolulu is incredibly impressive for a spin-off game. But a pirate adventure wouldn’t be complete without a vast ocean, multiple islands to explore, treasure hunts, building a crew, and epic naval battles! Despite being a side story, the game is surprisingly large and detailed, yet still beatable in under 50 hours.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Sandfall Interactive’s environments are simply stunning. From fields filled with enormous swords to vast battlefields and a stadium packed with Nevron dancers, the game offers a constant stream of beautifully designed levels. Some areas feel intimate and focused, while others are incredibly expansive. Plus, hidden throughout the world are secret locations with particularly tricky challenges.

Ghost of Yōtei

The region of Ezo in the sequel to Ghost of Tsushima is truly captivating. It feels much bigger than the map suggests, and even after exploring places like the burned Ishikari Plains, the icy Tokachi Range, and the damaged Oshima Coast, there’s always a sense of wonder. From the top of Mount Yōtei to the depths of Saito’s fortress, Ezo is massive and filled with things to do.

Where Winds Meet

We’ve talked about how huge Jianzhu is – it offers more than 100 hours of things to do on your own, which is incredible for a free game. It features over 20 different areas, each with its own unique feel and plenty to explore. The city of Kaifeng, in particular, is massive, filled with thousands of characters and activities – it feels like a full game on its own! Even traveling quickly on horseback or flying, the sheer scale of Jianzhu is breathtaking.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 aims to be even more expansive than the first game, and it delivers. The world is much larger and more beautiful, featuring stunning locations like Kuttenberg – a huge city filled with merchants, blacksmiths, fighting pits, and plenty of quests. Players who prefer exploring the countryside will also find no shortage of adventures.

The Outer Worlds 2

You can easily spend more than twelve hours exploring the first planet in The Outer Worlds 2, which should give you an idea of how much there is to discover. From there, you’ll travel to diverse locations like the vibrant Eden, the arid landscapes of Dorado, and the frozen wastes of the Cloister. You’ll also visit the ACS Undisputed Claim, a huge center for trade. While you might recognize some of these environments, each one is full of surprises – and dangers!

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

As a fan of the first game, I was blown away by the scope of Death Stranding 2. It mainly takes place in two huge areas: Mexico and Australia. Mexico already felt massive, but Australia is on another level! Beyond just having more stuff to deliver and more places to build, the environments themselves are incredibly diverse. The plants and animals are so varied, and the mountains are way more intricate than anything in the original. What I really loved is that you can tackle these mountains in different ways, making each climb feel special and rewarding.

Mario Kart World

Okay, so it’s not quite as polished as something like Forza Horizon, but I’m really enjoying exploring the world in Mario Kart World! Driving between races on the freeways is surprisingly fun – you can even hit jumps and drive on walls while dodging traffic. Honestly, the drifting, power-ups, and just the general chaos of the races are still what make it great. But when I want to chill out, I love just roaming around, unlocking cool outfits, or tackling the P Switch challenges – there’s just so much to do!

Borderlands 4

Looking back, it’s amusing how Gearbox didn’t fully highlight how open Kairos actually is. You can travel across most of the map – from the Fadefields to Carcadia Burn and Terminus Range – without any loading screens at all. There’s a great variety of things to do, like taking down enemy camps, towers, Drill Sites, Order Bunkers, and Auger Mines. But what really stands out to me is how well the game uses its new movement abilities to create a really vertical and interesting world.

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2025-12-18 18:43