The Best Open-World Games of All Time, Ranked

Three games share the highest Metacritic score for an open world at 97: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V. Just behind them, Elden Ring is the best modern open world at 96, redefining how a map rewards exploration. Whether you want freedom, storytelling detail or a crime sandbox, the top pick for each is below.

Below are the best open-world games ranked by Metacritic score, with release year and platform. Scores are the lead-platform critic aggregate; where games tie, the more influential world is placed higher. Note that GTA 6 launches on 19 November 2026 and is not yet reviewed, so it sits outside the ranked list for now.

The best open-world games, ranked

Ranked by Metacritic as of 2026. Year is the original release; platform is the lead reviewed version.

What separates a great open world

The best open worlds treat the map as a place to explore, not a checklist to clear. Breath of the Wild rebuilt the genre around freedom and physics; Red Dead Redemption 2 set a bar for detail no game has matched; Elden Ring hid its story and rewards in a world that never holds your hand. Cyberpunk 2077 is the biggest turnaround on the list — a rocky 2020 launch, now a genre highlight after the 2.0 update and the Phantom Liberty expansion.

The open worlds that set the standard

Four games every open-world fan should play.

Two of these anchor guides of their own: Elden Ring tops our best Elden Ring weapons and builds ranking, and the crime sandbox of GTA V drives our fastest cars in GTA Online guide. Most of these worlds also appear on our best games of the 2010s shortlist.

Best open-world game by type

Straight to the top pick for the kind of world you want to lose yourself in.

Prefer an ever-updating open world you dip into for months? Genshin Impact leads that space — our best Genshin Impact characters guide covers who to build first.

Best open-world games FAQ