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.
| # | Game | Year | Platform | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 2017 | Switch / Wii U | 97 |
| 2 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018 | PS4 / X1 / PC | 97 |
| 3 | Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | Multi | 97 |
| 4 | Elden Ring | 2022 | Multi | 96 |
| 5 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 2023 | Switch | 96 |
| 6 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2004 | Multi | 95 |
| 7 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 2011 | Multi | 94 |
| 8 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2015 | PC / console | 93 |
| 9 | Minecraft | 2011 | Multi | 93 |
| 10 | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | 2023 | PS5 | 90 |
| 11 | Horizon Forbidden West | 2022 | PS5 / PS4 | 88 |
| 12 | Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag | 2013 | Multi | 88 |
| 13 | Subnautica | 2018 | Multi | 87 |
| 14 | Cyberpunk 2077 | 2020 | PC / console | 86 |
| 15 | Fallout: New Vegas | 2010 | Multi | 84 |
| 16 | Ghost of Tsushima | 2020 | PS4 / PS5 | 83 |
| 17 | Death Stranding | 2019 | Multi | 82 |
| 18 | Genshin Impact | 2020 | Multi | 82 |
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.
| Type | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Fantasy action | Elden Ring |
| Freedom & exploration | Breath of the Wild |
| Story & detail | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| Crime sandbox | Grand Theft Auto V |
| Sci-fi RPG | Cyberpunk 2077 |
| Survival | Subnautica |
| Superhero | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 |
| Sandbox / building | Minecraft |
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.
