Open-world and action-adventure go hand-in-hand, and when you combine the two, you get some of the greatest games of all time. Titles that offer boundless freedom, scintillating combat, memorable characters, beautiful visuals, and gripping stories, all set in an expansive sandbox that is just beginning to be discovered. These projects cover fantasy epics, sci-fi masterpieces, and grounded tales of humanity.
The best open-world action-adventure games are, somehow, both relatively modern and timeless. While beloved at launch, they continue to drag players back into their realms, keeping them there for years on end. This is a nearly impossible task, but let’s highlight the action-adventure open-world games that are basically flawless.
The article will onlyinclude action-adventure games, excluding open-world RPGs. The genres tend to overlap, but we want to focus solely on the former.
These games or franchises will not be included since they are action RPGS:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Elden Ring
- Fable
- Fallout
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Genshin Impact
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Like a Dragon
- The Elder Scrolls
- The Witcher
10 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Hideo Kojima's Bizarre Open-World Adventure
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
Similar to its predecessor, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an acquired taste that not everybody will enjoy; however, if you fall in love with Hideo Kojima's series, you will not find anything else that can scratch the same itch. While the first entry is a more distinct experience, Death Stranding 2 delivers a better mix of exploration, action, and stealth, although its higher accessibility could be seen as a negative. Beyond a heavier focus on combat and streamlined mechanics, Death Stranding 2 reduces some of the first game's frustration, while still retaining its atmosphere, weird charm, and focus on (relatively) slow traversal.
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Those main quests can wait! Players can take their time and enjoy the sights and sounds of these excellent open-world games at their leisure.
Regardless of whether you prefer Death Stranding or On the Beach, the series showcases the potential for open-worlds to take risks and craft a fresh journey that will be unforgettable even if you don't particularly enjoy it. The industry as a whole needs more games like these two.
9 Ghost of Yotei
An Open-World Historical Epic That Nails Nearly Everything
Ghost of Yotei
- Released
- October 2, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
Building on the gorgeous foundation set by its predecessor, Ghost of Yotei wisely opted against reinventing the wheel, instead just fine-tuning everything that came before. With more weapon options, superior optional content, and a more dynamic map, Sucker Punch managed to surpass one of the most complete action-adventure games ever while, arguably, perfecting the traditional open-world structure.
Telling a classic revenge story that could have easily featured in an old-school samurai movie or anime, Ghost of Yotei combines a strong main quest with stunning vistas, memorable NPCs, and brilliant combat. While the sidequests are still nothing to write home about, they add quite a bit of flavor to the setting and are fun distractions; meanwhile, the core missions are consistently fantastic.
8 Shadow of the Colossus
The Most Haunting Open-World Action-Adventure Game Ever
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
Size and density matter, but only if used correctly. Shadow of the Colossus has a tiny and minimalist open-world compared to most entries in the genre, one that has no optional content at all. As Wander, you travel through a desolate land searching for 16 colossi, all of which must be killed to save a girl. Each battle is epic in scale and harrowing in execution, as these majestic creatures are (mostly) beyond simple human classifications of good or evil. They roam in peace, and you are the threat.
Shadow of the Colossus tells its story and explores its themes through its environments, music, player actions, and the somber traversal between fights. Even though the map is quite small, the world seems enormous due to the solitude conveyed by the game.
I highlighted the 2018 version just because it is the one most players are likely to play nowadays. That said, both the original and remake qualify for this article.
7 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
The Best Assassin's Creed Game Is The Least Assassin's Creed Game
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Full disclosure: I have enjoyed most of the Assassin's Creed games that I have played. They are not perfect, but Ubisoft's entries have immersive historical settings, a respectable sense of scale, and occasionally good stories. Coming out at a time when franchise fatigue was beginning to set in, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag wisely carved out a unique identity through its naval open-world, systemic play over checklists, and a more player-driven loop. While still having some hallmarks of the franchise, Black Flag is an island on its own, one that could have easily succeeded and existed without the Assassin's Creed brand.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
Not only is Black Flag the best Assassin's Creed title, but it is also arguably the greatest pirate game of all time. Its Caribbean map rewards organic exploration and curiosity, more so than any of the other entries in the franchise. You don't have to stick to a rigid path and can just head out into the unknown, and it is a blast to engage in both land and sea battles. Also, Edward Kenway is one of the better protagonists in the open-world genre in general.
6 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Ultimate Stealth Sandbox Game
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is not the MGS game that most die-hard fans wanted or expected, as it minimizes some of the franchise's biggest selling points. Except for a few flashes, the story takes a backseat and is underbaked. The open-world is vast but lacks variety and is mostly devoid of life, and players spend a lot of time just traveling to their next mission, with exploration being a non-factor.
For all its flaws, The Phantom Pain absolutely nails its gameplay and progression, delivering what is still arguably the greatest sandbox combat loop ever. The game not only lets, but actively demands that players plan out their approach for each mission. You decide whether to take your time and scout enemies before killing them from the shadows or to scream "to hell with it" and just go in guns blazing. What it lacks in other areas, The Phantom Pain makes up for with its best-in-class mechanical excellence.
5 Beyond Good & Evil
An Impressive Early Attempt At An Open-World Game Wrapped Up In A Perfect Adventure
Beyond Good And Evil
- Released
- November 11, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Once upon a time, open-worlds were not synonymous with quantity but rather non-linear quality. Way ahead of its time, Beyond Good & Evil makes full use of the Hillys, with nearly every area serving story moments and introducing new gameplay mechanics or adding wrinkles to existing ones.
While not the first open-world action-adventure game, Ubisoft's title foreshadowed the genre's future, as it blended exploration, stealth, combat, and puzzles in a way that would not become a staple until years later. More importantly, Beyond Good & Evil is still very much a 2003 release that mostly wants to get through its main story without too many distractions, resulting in a campaign that is paced almost perfectly. Beyond Good & Evil was so fantastic that Ubisoft has seemingly not been able to put together a sequel that could live up to its legacy.
4 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Best Game In The Biggest Open-World Franchise
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Personal preference dictates which GTA should be included, but I think everyone agrees that Rockstar's series has to be mentioned in this discussion. Grand Theft Auto 5 has been inescapable for more than a decade and, without question, is the franchise's biggest release, while GTA 3 might be the most important open-world game ever. That said, San Andreas is not only the best GTA game, but it has also aged more gracefully than the other classic entries.
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In 2004, San Andreas was absurdly impressive with its three cities, rural areas, story scope, character writing, and minor customization options. GTA 3 wrote the blueprint for modern open-worlds, but San Andreas stamped and codified it, crafting a legacy that has endured through generations of technological and mechanical advancements. The game was a defining cultural phenomenon that defined the entire gaming industry rather than just a single genre.
3 Batman: Arkham City
The Best Combat In The Open-World Action-Adventure Genre
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum revitalized the superhero genre, casting a shadow that would spawn the likes of Mad Max and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. After crafting perfection, the developer somehow managed to repeat the feat with Batman: Arkham City, expanding the famous prison's walls to cover city streets, rooftops, and side-quests. Arkham City, the map, is dense with quality and mostly devoid of filler content except for the infamous Riddler missions.
Fusing story and setting, Batman's journey organically takes him around the city and into zones held by his famous rogues' gallery, and players can completely immerse themselves in the main storyline if they want a relatively linear experience. Similar to modern games like Marvel's Spider-Man, Batman: Arkham City gets its traversal spot on, allowing you to glide, grapple, and move like the Caped Crusader. That extends to the free-flow combat, which is the best of any action-adventure open-world game mentioned in this article.
As much as I love Arkham Knight, the Batmobile sections slightly overstay their welcome.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
The Best Story In An Open-World Action-Adventure Game
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Except for maybe Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Red Dead Redemption 2 has the most immersive open-world of all time, and I am not talking solely about graphics. From NPCs to the weather and wildlife, everything feels alive and reactive, dropping players squarely in the Wild West during one of the most volatile and dangerous eras in human history. Exploration is rewarded through random, unpredictable events that tell quick stories. Even if it was taken a bit too far in certain areas, Rockstar's devotion to realism crafted a one-of-a-kind experience that is unlikely to be replicated or matched.
RDR2 casts you as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who is slowly seeing his place in the world vanish as America gradually phases out outcasts like him. We get to see and shape his relationship with the Van der Linde gang, all the while deciding whether he has honor or is just a violent killer. The story is RDR2's best element, and its themes are reflected by the world as a whole.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Ultimate Action-Adventure Franchise And The Genre-Changing Open-World Game
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda is responsible for a couple of the greatest action-adventure games ever, a few of which were even pseudo-open-world. WhileOcarina of Time,Wind Waker, andMajora’s Mask set the foundation,Breath of the Wild built a tower that reached a new peak for open-worlds, at least in terms of exploration. Bringing Hyrule to life like never before,BOTW wastes little time freeing players, almost immediately telling them to go out and explore to their heart’s content. You only have one truly mandatory story beat, but everything else is, technically, optional and by the player's choice.
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Although relatively empty, the world is stunning, atmospheric, and filled with small touches that bring personality to encounters.BOTW is about as pure an action-adventure game as they come, although it leans a bit more into the “adventure” side of things, with its heavy focus on puzzles, discovery, and creativity. While the story is nothing special and mostly secondary, the journey is unforgettable and stunning from beginning to end, and it really feels like your adventure.Tears of the Kingdom is arguably better in most areas, but it is not quite as special as Breath of the Wild.
Honorable Mentions
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Far Cry 3
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Just Cause 3
- Mafia 2
- Marvel's Spider-Man
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- No Man's Sky
- Outer Wilds (More adventure than action-adventure)
- Saints Row 2
- Sleeping Dogs
- Watch Dogs 2
- Yakuza (Toes the line between action-adventure and RPG)
11 Best Open-World Games To Switch Off Your Brain While Playing
Those main quests can wait! Players can take their time and enjoy the sights and sounds of these excellent open-world games at their leisure.