Top 10 Open-World Games With the Best Exploration, Ranked

Open-world games are lauded for the immense freedom they offer, allowing players to delve into intricate landscapes packed with hidden secrets and rewarding challenges. Among these immersive worlds, a few titles stand out for elevating the art of exploration to new heights. Here's our ranking of the top 10 open-world games that excel in providing the best exploratory experiences.

Horizon Forbidden West: Traditional Fun With Modern Tools

The Horizon series transports players to a futuristic rendition of America, where machines dominate the planet and humans survive without advanced technology. Horizon Forbidden West builds on its predecessor, furnishing players with more tools to make exploration a delight. With instruments like the grappling hook and glider, players can effortlessly traverse this post-apocalyptic landscape, uncovering hidden treasures and elusive secrets.

While the game excels in delivering a satisfying exploration experience, it doesn’t break new ground. This iteration sticks closely to established formulas, providing players with a reliable but familiar experience. Despite this, the sheer fun of navigating its expansive world ensures that Horizon Forbidden West earns its place on this list.

Dying Light: An Adrenaline-Fueled Exploration

Dying Light brings a unique twist to the open-world genre by combining zombie combat with parkour mechanics. Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, players can freely roam, interact with the environment, and craft weapons to fend off the undead. The dynamic exploration mechanics offer thrilling moments as players jump from rooftop to rooftop, always a step away from danger.

The tension ramps up significantly at night when incredibly hostile Volatiles appear, making the task of finding shelter a heart-pounding experience. Despite its smaller map size compared to other open-world titles, the constant sense of danger and endless exploration possibilities make Dying Light a standout game in the genre.

Abzû: Dive Into the Depths

Abzû offers a serene, underwater exploration experience. In this indie gem, players assume the role of a diver exploring the ocean’s mysteries, encountering vibrant marine life and ancient ruins. The game’s beautifully crafted world is steeped in Sumerian mythology, evoking themes of life and memory as players delve into the unknown.

Abzû is perfect for those who wish to be completely absorbed in a visually stunning environment. Though it is a short game, the captivating underwater exploration makes it a memorable dive into the world beneath the waves, offering a one-day adventure that stays with the player long after completion.

Grand Theft Auto V: The Ultimate Urban Playground

Grand Theft Auto V sets the bar high with its sprawling urban landscape of Los Santos, loosely based on Los Angeles. This game excels in providing players with endless opportunities for chaos or peace, depending on their choice. Whether it’s engaging in high-speed chases, shootouts, or simply exploring the city and countryside, there’s always something to do.

GTA V is particularly noteworthy for how it makes mundane city life feel engaging. Players can indulge in simple pleasures like a leisurely drive or urban exploration, or dig deeper into the city’s hidden secrets. Its dynamic world keeps players coming back for more, making it an enduring favorite.

Project Zomboid: Survival at Every Turn

Project Zomboid offers a unique approach to the open-world survival genre, emphasizing that players are living on borrowed time. Each playthrough eventually ends in the character’s demise, but how long they survive and what they accomplish in the meantime makes the game compelling. The game’s blend of 2D and 3D graphics belies a richly detailed world that encourages meticulous exploration.

Whether players are scavenging in cities or hiding in rural warehouses, the game provides numerous opportunities to gather valuable resources or craft improvised weapons. The level of detail and freedom makes every playthrough a unique experience, cementing Project Zomboid as a standout title for exploration.

Shadow of the Colossus: A Legend Revisited

Shadow of the Colossus is an iconic game that got a modern revival with its PS4 remake. Set in a hauntingly desolate land, players hunt down massive colossi to save a loved one. While it is not a fully open-world game, its semi-open-world mechanics create distinct areas to explore with each colossus battle, making exploration a key part of the experience.

The game’s landscape instills a profound sense of isolation that enhances the urge to explore every corner. Finding the colossi is not just a quest but a journey through a beautifully crafted, eerily lonely world. Despite its limitations, the sheer atmosphere of Shadow of the Colossus makes it unforgettable.

Death Stranding: The Journey is the Reward

Death Stranding places exploration at the heart of its gameplay. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, players control Sam Porter Bridges, a delivery man responsible for reconnecting isolated communities. The core of the game is traversing the desolate landscape, making exploration not just an activity but the primary game mechanic.

Instead of conventional rewards, Death Stranding makes the act of exploring itself rewarding. The game’s focus on the journey rather than the destination shifts player expectations, emphasizing the beauty and challenge of traversing its stunning but hazardous world.

Ghost of Tsushima: A Stunning Samurai Saga

Ghost of Tsushima captivates players with its visually breathtaking depiction of Japan. The vibrant colors, detailed environments, and dynamic weather systems create an aesthetically pleasing world that players will want to explore thoroughly. Each area is filled with trails to follow, secrets to uncover, and beautiful vistas to admire.

The game incorporates various tasks and collectibles that encourage thorough exploration. From finding armor pieces and upgrades to discovering hidden shrines, Ghost of Tsushima rewards players for their curiosity, making every journey across its expansive world a visually rewarding experience.

Breath of the Wild: A Game-Changer in Exploration

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined what open-world games could be. Set in a vast, dynamic world, the game offers unprecedented freedom for players to explore. From the moment players step into Hyrule, they can go anywhere and do almost anything, with the ultimate goal of rescuing Zelda.

Its innovative mechanics, such as the Sheikah Slate and the paraglider, provide creative ways to navigate the environment. The game gives players tools and then leaves them to find unique solutions to the challenges they encounter. This sense of discovery and experimentation makes Breath of the Wild a pioneering title in open-world exploration.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Attention to Detail

Red Dead Redemption 2 offers an unparalleled level of detail in its open-world design. The game recreates the American frontier with meticulous realism, allowing players to get lost in its breathtaking landscapes. From mountain ranges to swamps, every corner of the map is filled with interactive elements that make the world come alive.

While exploration might not yield powerful items often found in other games, the subtle rewards in Red Dead Redemption 2 enrich the experience. The game’s intricate details, lifelike fauna and flora, and unexpected encounters make every ride through its vast terrains a new adventure.