Summary
Open-world gamescontinue to improve beyond belief, providing players with increasingly detailed environments to explore to their heart’s content. But the bigger the map, the bigger the story, and sometimes, the number of mainline and side quests can become overwhelming.
Thankfully, there are a handful of games that reward the player by taking a step back to enjoy the seemingly trivial things in their open-world environments. While games likeHorizon Forbidden WestandGhost of Tsushimarely heavily on the narrative drive of their stories, they also push the player to explore the world outside the main character’s contained story.
Updated June 15, 2025 by Mark Sammut:There are so many open-world and sandbox projects that there should be something for every person’s needs. Sometimes, nothing hits the spot like a carefree andrelaxing open-world gamethat allows players to immerse themselves without needing to be 100% engaged. These titles are an escape.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdommay have provided its predecessor,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with much-needed tweaks and improvements, but nothing can top the sheer wonder thatThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildprovided when it was first released in 2017.
Even now, players are still finding underrated features within the game as they explore the wild and untamed land of Hyrule. Thanks to the freedom to do literally anything, fans can skip the main story altogether and focus on taking in thesights and sounds of the majestic land. Sometimes, it’s nice to just sit next to a fire in the rain and listen to the beautiful score.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a revolutionary gamein many ways, especially in its design. The open world ofRed Dead Redemption 2is so expansive that players can experience an entirely different game outside of its main story. For example, the process of hunting can take up a large portion of time from choosing the right weapon to use and the prime spot to take.
Getting sidetracked in this gamecan lead players to extremely unique situations, ones they may not have found themselves in had they stuck to the linear story of planning heists or helping the Van Der Linde Gang in their exploits. While there are limits to what players can do at a given time, the freedom of exploring the American Frontier is something else.
There’s an art toGhost of Tsushima, whether in the midst of combat or just admiring the vibrant scenery. Each area players find themselves inGhost of Tsushimais unique, whether that’s the lush forests or the fields of Chinese silver grass, dancing in the wind. Theimmersive wind effectsmake the views even more atmospheric, providing an unforgettable experience.
Even in battle, there’s a flow and a rhythm to Jin’s strikes which helps in switching players' brains off. It becomes second nature, much like other aspects of the game, like composing haikus which provide the opportunity to stop and take in the serene scenery.
Aloy’s adventures in theHorizonfranchise havequickly become one of PlayStation’s flagship RPGs, and with good reason. Its most recent release,Horizon Forbidden West, takes Aloy on a journey to the post-apocalyptic Western United States as she is tasked with saving the world from impending doom. Naturally, there’s a lot of pressure on her shoulders, but players have the opportunity to mitigate that by exploring the world ofHorizon Forbidden Westto their heart’s content.
Obviously, certain areas are cut off due to progression. But by the end of the game, gamers have free rein to explore the Forbidden West and the Burning Shores, where they can hunt machines for parts and improve their skills. Or, players can simply sit and watch the sun rise and set from stunning locations around the map, courtesy of the beautifully rendered scenery by Guerrilla Games and their Decima engine.
Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimmay have come out over a decade ago, but players are still finding secrets hidden within the fantasy realm. WhileElder Scrolls 5: Skyrimdoesn’t have the biggest map in the franchise, it more than makes up for it in Bethesda’s attention to detail, from its rolling landscape to its memorable characters.
Like many open-world games,Skyrimisfull of side quests for players to get lost in. But unlike other titles,the game doesn’t punish players for ignoring side content, meaning they can focus on the story without worrying that they’re missing out on something.
Assassin’s Creed Odysseysaw Ubisoft’s continued focus on exploration for the franchise, this time taking place during the Peloponnesian War. There’s obviously a main story to follow, but the detailed historical environment ofAssassin’s Creed Odysseyinvites players to stare at the wonders of Ancient Greece and take in the sights of what the Mediterranean has to offer.
And if players want to go on an educational adventure, there’s a mode specifically for that.Discovery Tour: Ancient Greecelets players roam the world free of combat and story to learn about the landmarks and other historical monuments to be found.It can be purchased as a standaloneor as part ofAssassin’s Creed Odysseyand is accessed through the game’s main menu.
Cyberpunk 2077has an expansive map consisting of contrastingly different areas, even within Night City itself. These include districts like Watson, Westbrook, Pacifica, and Santo Domingo housing buildings and other facilities like clubs and offices to explore. Even outside of the city, there is an expansive world in the deserts of the Badlands, in addition to hidden gems like the Chram Denya Jinja in North Oak.
Players ofCyberpunk 2077could quite easily just drive around Night City and the surrounding areas, not undertaking any quests to take their minds off things, while visiting a few of the local spots to take it all in. It’s discovering these parts thatmake the game so replayable.
Honestly,Saints Rowis generally a solid pick formindless open-world gamesthat are just amusing; however, the fourth entry took things a hundred steps further by greatly ramping up the silliness. While the world itself is largely identical to its predecessor,Saints Row 4shakes things up by transforming players into superheroes that can leap over buildings and run at the speed of sound.
Even though they render some classic elements of the franchise obsolete, these mechanics are accessible, fun, and unapologetically over-the-top. Volition seemingly set out to craft a game that does not demand anything from players, largely encouraging them to go with the flow while completing repetitive tasks that are fun enough to be engaging but not unique enough to be memorable.
Despite two fairly disappointing sequels, 2007’sCrackdownholds up as an entertaining sandbox romp with an addictive gameplay loop and great vertical design. As agents, players are put in charge of clearing out a city’s Kingpins, all of whom are assigned zones. Although they are given a fair amount of freedom in how they approach this operation, each section largely plays out the same, which is not a bad thing.
Crackdown’s orb system is arguably its strongest feature since it ensures constant progression, making the simple act of just running around empowering. In a few hours, players go from competent agents to overpowered gods capable of stomping tanks. At that point, the simple act of running around is a blast and supports “turn-off-your-brain” style engagement.
Crackdownis free on Xbox, making this a great option for anyone looking for a dated but awesome open-world game.Crackdown 2is also available.
Forza Horizon 5was picked due to being the most recent and accessible entry, but all of its predecessors are great.
Playground’sForza Horizonis the best open-world racing franchise on the market, and that has been the case for roughly a decade. Compared to the sim-focusedForza Motorsport,Horizonis very much an arcade experience that blends realistic visuals and detailed maps with forgiving gameplay and a penchant for absurd events.
Although capable of presenting a challenge during races,Forza Horizon 5can easily be enjoyed as a sightseeing simulator, with players driving across Mexico in search of impressive vistas (and there are plenty of them). Just throw on a podcast and drive.
