Open-world gaming has become a very lucrative genre for companies to participate in. There's a reason why so many AAA developers splurge a ton of money to both develop and market these sandbox titles, hoping to ride the wave of positive critical and commercial reception to sell a large number of units.
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Open-world games are extremely entertaining and have tons of possibilities. Here are some of the best titles in the genre with the best endings.
This is why the units shipped for certain games can be eye-watering, with fans finding it hard to fathom the sheer number of players who have experienced the magic of these open-world games. For the most part, the amount of love and care put into these games ensures that the high numbers are justified.
8 Cyberpunk 2077
Total Sales: 30 Million
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the greatest open-world RPGs of all time, turning its reputation around after an infamous launch threatened to undo all the good PR CD Projekt Red had generated. Eventually, players could appreciate the amazing narrative of this open-world game that clearly had a ton of love poured into it.
As a result, the reception around CD Projekt Red's game warmed, and Cyberpunk 2077 ended up selling upwards of thirty million units. It's a testament to the studio's never-say-die attitude that they convinced everyone to give this game a shot and a second chance, bolstered by Update 2.0 and the Phantom Liberty expansion.
7 Hogwarts Legacy
Total Sales: 34 Million
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
The power of the Harry Potter IP is incredible, and the fact that Hogwarts Legacy managed to sell so many units on the back of this magical universe's brand appeal alone is a testament to how genre-defining this franchise is.
Despite lacking some innovations to help its open world stand out from other titles in the genre, fans still couldn't get enough of Hogwarts Legacy and flocked to it in droves. The amazing combat and an interactive Harry Potter world were more than enough for players to stick with this title till the very end.
6 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Total Sales: 34.5 Million
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
Breath of the Wild is one of the best video games that fans can get their hands on. The innovations it made to the open-world genre were so staggering that it turned into a system seller in no time.
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Fans loved Breath of the Wild for its amazing exploration and fun combat, among many other things that helped it stand out from the rest of the pack. With the Switch selling like hotcakes, it's easy to see why this open-world game managed to sell so many units with ease.
5 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Total Sales: 40 Million
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has been re-released so many times that it would be odd not to find it on this list. Bethesda is clearly proud of this game and has done everything in its power to inflate the game's sales numbers as much as possible.
This open-world masterpiece is a blast to play through even now, especially if players download some curated mods to improve the experience. Either way, Skyrim will always let players enjoy a magical time as they take on the role of the Dragonborn and help them save the world.
4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Total Sales: 60 Million
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is CD Projekt Red's magnum opus by a country mile. With engrossing European fantasy and a world brimming with interesting characters and monsters, the loyalty surrounding the finale of Geralt's story was one that attracted players new and old for one of the most hyped video games ever made.
It helped that The Witcher 3 delivered on this hype, letting fans enjoy one of the greatest video games ever made that fans can't get enough of to this day. It has sold so many units that it would be hard to find a hardcore gamer who has never heard of this title before.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
Total Sales: 74 Million
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Rockstar's work on Red Dead Redemption 2 was out of this world, allowing fans to engage with one of the richest and most beautiful open worlds they could feast their eyes on. Arthur Morgan's adventures are incredible to behold as players embark on the journey of a lifetime with Dutch and his gang.
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The emotional storytelling and patented Rockstar polish of this title turned it into a bestseller in no time. It's arguably the best Rockstar game of all time, even if another popular product from this company has sold triple the number of units that this game has.
2 Grand Theft Auto 5
Total Sales: 215 Million
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Grand Theft Auto 5 was already poised to break into the mainstream and sell gangbusters. However, the true contributor to this game's high sales is the revolutionary GTA Online mode that has become way more popular than anyone could've expected.
This has reached a point where the single-player mode of this game isn't the biggest draw. Rather, it's GTA Online that players shell out the big bucks for, causing this title's sales to spike considerably and reach astronomical heights.
1 Minecraft
Total Sales: 300 Million
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mojang
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Minecraft is one of the most legendary indie titles of all time. A simple game about survival and crafting became an innovative gaming experience that has inspired many other genres ever since.
It wouldn't be a stretch that games with survival and crafting gameplay loops owe a lot of their success to Minecraft, the game that started it all. The sheer pop culture appeal of Minecraft contributed to a ton of sales, eventually leading to Microsoft paying the big bucks to acquire this IP for themselves.
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