Freedom to roam, landscapes that stretch endlessly, settings that spark curiosity, and characters that grow through exploration — the open-world genre has not only gifted us countless hours of adventure, but also some of the most iconic games of all time.
From The Witcher 3 and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the latest genre-defining titles, take a stroll through the gaming hall of fame and you’ll find open-world games lining its walls.
Packed with side quests, hidden zones, and characters we can’t help but root for, open-world games scratch that discovery itch and let us live out our explorer dreams — all from the comfort of our setups.
Many of the world’s best-selling games owe their success to the magic of open-world design. If you’ve already sunk hours into the classics, read on for a fresh roundup of the best open-world games released (and set to drop) in 2025.
Open-World Releases So Far in 2025
Let’s kick things off with the titles that have already redefined open-world gaming in the first half of the year — bringing expanded maps, deeper immersion, and graphics that push the envelope.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
What would make Kingdom Come: Deliverance even better? A world twice as big. Lucky for us, that’s exactly what Warhorse Studios delivered with Deliverance II.
Bigger, bolder, and more brutal, the sequel brings upgraded NPC responsiveness, an expanded arsenal, and a smoother overall gameplay experience — all set within a world twice the original’s size.
Somehow managing to improve both quality and scale, the game retains all of its historical realism, while giving players even more space to live their 15th-century Bohemia dreams.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Monster Hunter Wilds
Take a tense hike through the Forbidden Lands, explore biomes (if botany’s your thing), and hunt or scavenge for materials to craft new gear — this world is your oyster. A terrifying, oversized oyster trying to eat you.
Monster Hunter Wilds eliminates loading screens between areas, letting players roam freely between base camp and the world beyond in a seamless, immersive experience.
Weather and seasonal cycles add even more realism — rain, snow, and scorching heat included. And with no need to hit up a quest board, you can simply find your target out in the world and dive right into the hunt.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
A decade in the making, this ninja-era Assassin’s Creed entry did not disappoint. Since its March 2025 release, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has earned praise for delivering one of the franchise’s most stunning open worlds to date.
Set in feudal Japan, the game lets players explore castles, ports, shrines, and countryside landscapes in a world that surpasses even AC Origins in scale. And just like Monster Hunter Wilds, the environment is reactive — with dynamic weather and seasonal changes that shape how the world feels and behaves.
With beautiful visuals and sprawling exploration, this title should be on every gamer’s travel bucket list — just don’t forget your naginata.
Platforms: macOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, iPadOS
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The original world you know and love — now with a glow-up. Oblivion Remastered combines beloved gameplay with modern upgrades like a new engine (Unreal!), enhanced visuals, and smoother mechanics.
You’ll still explore Cyrodiil in all its vast, open glory, but everything looks and feels sharper. Enhanced textures, better geometry, and richer environmental detail breathe new life into a world that already felt limitless.
And yes — you can still abandon the main quest at any point to chase side missions, uncover hidden zones, or just wander into the wild unknown.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Open World Releases We Can’t Wait For
We’re only halfway through 2025, and there’s still a stacked lineup of open-world releases on the horizon. If it wasn’t clear already — 2025 might just be the year of the open world.
Dune: Awakening
The long-anticipated Dune game is almost here, and it promises punishing open-world survival in the brutal deserts of Arrakis. Set in the legendary universe of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic, this MMO challenges players to survive, scavenge, and adapt.
Preview footage shows players crafting gear, building shelters, and dodging colossal sandworms — all while battling both the elements and each other.
A harsh world. A ruthless atmosphere. An open-world survival experience that’s shaping up to be as immersive as it is intense.
Platforms: Windows
Ghost of Yōtei
If Ghost of Tsushima had you hooked, Ghost of Yōtei is about to take things up a notch. Set 300 years after the original, this sequel moves to rural 1600s Japan and follows Atsu, a mercenary with a score to settle.
Players can explore massive open landscapes — fields, forests, mountain passes — all rendered with breathtaking detail. According to early reports, this title features the largest map of any Sucker Punch game to date.
Abandoning traditional quest structure, players can hunt down the Yōtei Six in any order, embracing a level of freedom rarely seen in action RPGs.
Platforms: PlayStation 5
The Outer Worlds 2
Obsidian is back with a bang, bringing The Outer Worlds 2 to fans craving more space-faring chaos. With a new colony to explore, a revamped crew, and all-new tech, this sequel ups the stakes without sacrificing what made the original great.
Set on the war-torn colony of Arcadia, players will navigate diverse terrains, engage in new combat scenarios, and dig deeper into the lore of a galaxy teetering on the edge.
While its world may not be quite as vast or seamless as Skyrim or Oblivion, The Outer Worlds 2 offers rich, open regions full of personality, loot, and secrets.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
Open Your Walls with Displate
With Displate’s bold, beautifully illustrated designs, your walls can be just as adventurous as the worlds you explore in-game. From The Elder Scrolls and Cyberpunk 2077, to Assassin’s Creed and Monster Hunter, bring your favorite open-world experiences into your space — no fast travel required.
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