Best Open World Games of All Time, Ranked by Score

Image: Rockstar Games

The best open world games, judged by critics, are Red Dead Redemption 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Grand Theft Auto V, which all hold a Metascore of 97. Behind them sit Tears of the Kingdom, Skyrim and Elden Ring on 96, and in 2026 every one of the top six is still on sale and still being played.

Rather than order these by taste, this list ranks 15 games by the critic score on each game’s Metacritic page, then breaks ties with the user score. Each entry gives the platforms you can buy it on today, the sales figure its publisher reports and what makes its world worth exploring.

Best Open World Games Ranked: Metascore and User Score for All 15

#	Game	Released	Developer	Metascore	User score
1	Red Dead Redemption 2	2018	Rockstar Games	97	9.0
2	Breath of the Wild	2017	Nintendo	97	8.9
3	Grand Theft Auto V	2013	Rockstar North	97	8.3
4	Tears of the Kingdom	2023	Nintendo	96	8.8
5	Skyrim	2011	Bethesda Game Studios	96	8.7
6	Elden Ring	2022	FromSoftware	96	8.4
7	Minecraft	2011	Mojang	93	8.4
8	Metal Gear Solid V	2015	Kojima Productions	93	8.1
9	The Witcher 3	2015	CD Projekt Red	92	9.1
10	Marvel’s Spider-Man 2	2023	Insomniac Games	90	8.6
11	Kingdom Come: Deliverance II	2025	Warhorse Studios	89	8.7
12	Death Stranding 2	2025	Kojima Productions	89	8.7
13	Horizon Zero Dawn	2017	Guerrilla	89	8.3
14	Batman: Arkham Knight	2015	Rocksteady Studios	87	8.2
15	Fallout 4	2015	Bethesda Game Studios	87	7.1

The 15 Best Open World Games of All Time

1. Red Dead Redemption 2: The Benchmark for Living Worlds

Arthur Morgan in a hat and bandolier aiming a revolver against a red sky and black hills — Image: Rockstar Games

Metascore 97 | User 9.0 | 2018 | Rockstar Games | PS4, Xbox One, PC

Red Dead Redemption 2 opens in America in 1899, with Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang on the run after a robbery goes wrong in the town of Blackwater. It scored 97 on PS4 from 99 critic reviews, and its user score of 9.0 from more than 37,000 ratings breaks a three-way tie at the top of this list.

Rockstar says the game has won more than 175 Game of the Year awards, and Take-Two reports it has sold in more than 87 million units. The PC version arrived on December 5, 2019, and Red Dead Online adds a multiplayer mode in the same world.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Climb Anything You Can See

Image: Nintendo

Metascore 97 | User 8.9 | 2017 | Nintendo | Switch, Switch 2 Edition, Wii U

Breath of the Wild wakes Link from a 100-year sleep and lets him go almost anywhere straight away, by climbing, paragliding, shield surfing, riding or rafting. Nintendo counts more than 100 Shrines of Trials hidden across Hyrule, and the Switch version holds a 97 Metascore from 109 reviews.

It launched on March 3, 2017 for Wii U and Switch, and by June 30, 2026 it had sold 34.06 million units on Switch alone. The Switch 2 Edition adds higher resolution, better frame rates, HDR and faster loading.

3. Grand Theft Auto V: Three Criminals, One Sprawling City

Franklin with a baseball bat and Michael holding a pistol in front of a gold Los Santos map — Image: Rockstar Games

Grand Theft Auto V follows a young street hustler, a retired bank robber and a psychopath as they pull off heists across Los Santos and Blaine County. It scored 97 on Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and Xbox One, and 96 on PC.

Only Minecraft has sold more: Take-Two puts it above 230 million units sold in across three console generations. GTA Online supports up to 30 players, and the Enhanced PC edition arrived on Steam on March 4, 2025.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: Build Your Way Across the Sky

Image: Nintendo

Metascore 96 | User 8.8 | 2023 | Nintendo | Switch, Switch 2 Edition

Tears of the Kingdom returns to the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild and adds islands floating in the sky above it. Its new abilities change how you explore: Ultrahand glues objects into bridges and vehicles, Fuse attaches items to weapons, Ascend passes up through ceilings and Recall rewinds an object.

It released on May 12, 2023 and scored 96 from 150 critic reviews, one of the largest review counts on this list. Nintendo reports 22.71 million units sold on Switch as of June 30, 2026.

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: The RPG That Never Left

Two horned-helmet Nord warriors with shields facing each other in falling snow before mountains — Image: Bethesda Softworks

Metascore 96 | User 8.7 | 2011 | Bethesda Game Studios | PC and consoles

Skyrim casts you as the Dragonborn, able to fight ancient dragons and absorb their power, with hundreds of weapons, spells and abilities to mix. It scored 96 on Xbox 360 when it launched on November 11, 2011.

Bethesda’s Special Edition, released October 27, 2016, says it has won more than 200 Game of the Year awards, and it brought player-made Creations to consoles as well as PC. That mod support is a big reason people still play it 15 years on.

6. Elden Ring: FromSoftware’s Biggest World

A warrior kneeling on a dark ridge beneath a glowing golden ring symbol in the sky — Image: Bandai Namco

Metascore 96 | User 8.4 | 2022 | FromSoftware | PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Switch 2

Elden Ring’s world was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki with George R. R. Martin, and it joins open landscapes to shadowy dungeons without loading breaks. You explore on foot or on horseback with the steed Torrent, alone or online, and the PS5 version scored 96 from 86 reviews.

Bandai Namco says it drew more than 400 Game of the Year nominations and has sold over 30 million units. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold 5 million copies in three days in June 2024, and a Tarnished Edition reached Switch 2 in August 2026.

7. Minecraft: An Infinite World Made of Blocks

Steve surrounded by blocky chicks, sheep and pigs among pink cherry blossom trees — Image: Mojang Studios

Metascore 93 | User 8.4 | 2011 | Mojang | PC, consoles, mobile

Minecraft generates an infinite world for you to shape one block at a time. Survival mode is the classic way to play, while Creative mode gives limitless resources, immunity to damage and the ability to fly. The PC version scored 93.

Mojang announced in 2023 that it had passed 300 million copies sold, the biggest figure of any game here. Its tie at 93 with Metal Gear Solid V is broken by Minecraft’s higher user score.

8. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: Stealth Without a Script

Image: Konami

Metascore 93 | User 8.1 | 2015 | Kojima Productions | PS4, Xbox One, PC

The Phantom Pain is set in 1984, during the Cold War, after Snake wakes from a nine-year coma and sets out to build a private army. Its open-world missions leave the tactics to you, on a map you cross by your own route.

It released on September 1, 2015, built on Konami’s Fox Engine, and scored 93 on PS4 from 86 critic reviews. Besides PS4, Xbox One and PC, it also came out on PS3 and Xbox 360.

9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: The Highest User Score Here

Geralt of Rivia with white hair and a sword on his back in front of a misty snowy mountain — Image: CD Projekt Red

Geralt of Rivia crosses the war-torn Northern Kingdoms to find his adopted daughter Ciri before the Wild Hunt reaches her. Critics gave it 92 on PS4, but its 9.1 user score from more than 20,000 ratings is the highest of any game on this list.

CD Projekt reports The Witcher 3 has sold more than 65 million copies, and the series has passed 90 million. A Remastered edition arrived free for owners on September 29, 2026, adding path tracing on PC and a native Switch 2 version, with both expansions included.

10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Two Heroes, One New York

Peter Parker and Miles Morales in Spider-Man suits leaping together against a red background — Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Metascore 90 | User 8.6 | 2023 | Insomniac Games | PS5, PC

Spider-Man 2 lets you swap between Peter Parker and Miles Morales across a bigger Marvel’s New York that adds Brooklyn, Queens and Coney Island. New Web Wings speed up travel, and Venom, Kraven the Hunter and the Lizard are the villains.

It launched on PS5 on October 20, 2023 with a 90 Metascore, and Sony says it sold more than 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours. A PC version followed on January 30, 2025.

11. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II: Medieval Bohemia, No Dragons

Henry in red and steel armour raising a sword beside two companions, a castle behind — Image: Deep Silver

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is set in 15th-century Bohemia, where Henry, a blacksmith’s son from Skalitz, sets out to avenge his parents. Its world swaps magic for history, from the silver-mining city of Kuttenberg to Trosky Castle.

It released on February 4, 2025 and scored 89 on PC. Deep Silver says it passed 6 million copies in June 2026, and a Royal Edition is due on Switch 2 in 2027. It edges Death Stranding 2 on the number of user ratings.

12. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach: Delivery as Adventure

Sam Porter Bridges kissing the forehead of a toddler beside the Death Stranding 2 title — Image: Kojima Productions

Metascore 89 | User 8.7 | 2025 | Kojima Productions | PS5, PC

Death Stranding 2 picks up 11 months after the first game, with Sam trying to connect Australia to the Chiral Network. Getting cargo across the map is the game, through day and night cycles, earthquakes, sandstorms, forest fires and Timefall, a rain that instantly ages whatever it touches.

It released on PS5 on June 26, 2025 with an 89 from 148 reviews, then reached PC on March 19, 2026, where it scored 91.

13. Horizon Zero Dawn: Hunting Robot Dinosaurs

Aloy with a bow among tribespeople and robotic dinosaur machines in a bright grassland — Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Metascore 89 | User 8.3 | 2017 | Guerrilla | PS4, PS5, PC

Horizon Zero Dawn puts you in the boots of Aloy, an outcast machine hunter in a far future where giant robotic creatures roam frozen mountains, jungles and deserts. It scored 89 on PS4 on its release on February 28, 2017.

Sony says it had sold more than 20 million copies across PS4 and PC by February 2022, and a Remastered version came to PS5 and PC on October 31, 2024. Its sequel, Forbidden West, scored 88.

14. Batman: Arkham Knight: Gotham After Dark

Batman diving with his cape spread wide over a misty Gotham street — Image: WB Games

Metascore 87 | User 8.2 | 2015 | Rocksteady Studios | PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch

Arkham Knight sets Batman loose across a rain-soaked Gotham City, gliding between rooftops or tearing through the streets in the Batmobile. Rocksteady Studios released it on June 23, 2015, and it scored 87 on PS4 from 89 reviews.

Its 8.2 user score, from more than 7,000 ratings, breaks its tie with Fallout 4 at 87. WB Games released it on PS4, Xbox One and PC, and Metacritic also lists a Nintendo Switch version.

15. Fallout 4: Into the Boston Wasteland

A Vault Dweller in a blue Vault 111 suit with a rifle and Dogmeat looking over the Boston wasteland — Image: Bethesda Softworks

Metascore 87 | User 7.1 | 2015 | Bethesda Game Studios | PS4, PS5, Xbox, PC

Fallout 4 sends a survivor from Vault 111 out into the ruins of Boston, with the dog Dogmeat for company. Bethesda Game Studios released it on November 10, 2015, and it scored 87 on PS4 from 58 reviews.

Bethesda says it has won more than 200 Best Of honors, and it is now on PS5 and Xbox Series X as well as the original platforms. It takes the last slot ahead of Ghost of Yotei and Cyberpunk 2077, both on 86.

Why Critic Scores Set the Order of This List

An open world game is one where the player can roam a large space freely rather than move along fixed levels, and almost every big release now claims the label. A score from dozens of reviews is a steadier yardstick than one writer’s favorites, so each game sits where its Metascore puts it.

Score: the critic Metascore shown at the top of each game’s Metacritic page, which uses its main platform.
First tie-break: the user score on the same page.
Second tie-break: the number of user ratings, which separates Kingdom Come: Deliverance II from Death Stranding 2.
One slot per series where two entries compete: Horizon Zero Dawn (89) holds the Horizon place over Forbidden West (88), and Fallout 4 (87) over New Vegas (84).

The Best-Selling Open World Games

Critic scores and sales do not line up neatly. These are the largest figures the publishers themselves report:

Minecraft: more than 300 million copies (Mojang, 2023).
Grand Theft Auto V: more than 230 million units sold in (Take-Two, August 2026).
Red Dead Redemption 2: more than 87 million units sold in (Take-Two, August 2026).
The Witcher 3: more than 65 million copies (CD Projekt, September 2026).
Breath of the Wild: 34.06 million on Switch, and Tears of the Kingdom 22.71 million, per Nintendo’s investor relations data as of June 30, 2026.
Elden Ring: more than 30 million units (Bandai Namco).

Open World Games That Just Missed the Top 15

Horizon Forbidden West (88): excluded only because Zero Dawn holds the Horizon slot.
Ghost of Yotei (86): Sucker Punch’s 2025 PS5 exclusive, set 300 years after Ghost of Tsushima around Mount Yotei.
Cyberpunk 2077 (86 on PC): more than 40 million copies sold, with its Phantom Liberty expansion at 15 million.
Ghost of Tsushima (83): a 9.1 user score and more than 13 million copies sold.
Fallout: New Vegas (84): an 8.7 user score, the fan favorite of the Fallout series.

GTA 6 and What Comes Next for Open World Games

Grand Theft Auto VI is listed by Rockstar for November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is set in Vice City, in the state of Leonida, with Jason and Lucia as its two leads, and Take-Two says its second trailer drew more than 475 million views in 24 hours. Our guide to the GTA 6 soundtrack artists covers the music side. CD Projekt has also announced The Witcher 4 for 2028.

How to Choose an Open World Game

Want a story first: Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3.
Want freedom to experiment: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom or Minecraft.
Want hard combat: Elden Ring.
Want history without fantasy: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
Play on Switch 2: both Zelda games, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition and the remastered Witcher 3.
Play on PC: every game here except the two Zelda titles, and a capable prebuilt gaming PC handles all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best open world game of all time?

By critic score it is a three-way tie at 97 between Red Dead Redemption 2, Breath of the Wild and Grand Theft Auto V. Red Dead Redemption 2 has the highest user score of the three, at 9.0, so it takes first place here.

What is the best-selling open world game?

Minecraft, at more than 300 million copies. Among story-driven open world games, Grand Theft Auto V leads with more than 230 million units sold in to retailers, according to Take-Two.

When does GTA 6 come out?

Rockstar lists Grand Theft Auto VI for November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC version has been dated.

Which open world games can I play on Nintendo Switch 2?

Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have Switch 2 Editions, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition launched in August 2026, and The Witcher 3 Remastered runs natively from September 29, 2026. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is due in 2027.

Written by Marcus Feltz

Marcus Feltz handles sport and gaming at Fox Bulletin, writing the record-book rankings and the working code lists that Roblox players rely on. Every codes page is rebuilt from each game's own channels on each pass, and a code that stops redeeming is moved down to the expired list the same day.

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Best Open World Games: 15 Classics Ranked by Metascore