Summary
- Horizon Forbidden West stands out as one of PlayStation Studios' most expansive and beloved open-world titles so far.
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Hogwarts Legacy captivate with vibrant, intricately crafted worlds, appealing to fans of the Horizon series.
- Though less visually striking, Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon's Dogma 2 deliver thrilling gameplay that rivals Horizon's excitement.
Despite also being available on PS4, Horizon Forbidden West remains one of the biggest and most popular PS5 games from PlayStation Studios so far. A superior sequel in every way, it showcases the console's graphical capabilities and shines as a premier open-world action game. With its distinctive world and setting, thrilling fast-paced combat against formidable machine enemies, and potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay, it's a must-play for fans of the genre.
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At its core, Horizon Forbidden West follows a traditional open-world formula, featuring a sprawling map dotted with icons, activities, and collectibles to uncover. As such, finding PS5 open-world games with similar appeal isn't too challenging. To keep this ranking relevant, though, this list will focus solely on titles released for the PS5 after (or very close to) the console's launch on November 12, 2020, excluding older PS4 games playable via backward compatibility. However, if a PS4 title was later officially updated for PS5, it may still be considered.
8 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
Explore The Vibrant And Colorful World Of Pandora
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
- Released
- December 7, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
For players captivated by Horizon Forbidden West's vibrant, colorful world teeming with lush vegetation and shimmering waters, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora feels like a natural next step, thanks to its stunningly detailed depiction of a distant planet beloved by fans of James Cameron's films, right down to the smallest nuances.
Though it's primarily a first-person shooter (with an option to switch to third-person while riding flying mounts), it largely adheres to the familiar open-world formula often critiqued in Ubisoft games. Still, there's plenty to enjoy in its fast-paced combat against RDA mechanical foes, alongside its emphasis on gathering, hunting, crafting, and exploring the expansive, multi-region map in a naturalistic way.
7 Rise Of The Ronin
Huge, Historically Grounded World And Varied Combat
Rise of the Ronin
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Another recent entry in the samurai open-world genre, Rise of the Ronin blends traditional open-world gameplay with highly dynamic, challenging combat, drawing inspiration from the Soulslike style. Combat is one of the game's biggest highlights, offering ample depth, variety, and a strong sense of progression to keep players captivated for hours, though its historically rooted setting means Horizon fans shouldn't expect extensive enemy diversity.
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While Team Ninja's game may not dazzle graphically, falling short of the lofty visual benchmarks set by other major PS5 releases, it delivers an engaging and immersive action-adventure with a surprising focus on story and character depth. It also encourages players to steadily conquer its sprawling map of Japan, teeming with countless markers, activities, and hidden loot.
6 Immortals Fenyx Rising
Bright, Lighthearted Adventure For Fans Of Ancient Greek Mythology
Immortals Fenyx Rising
- Released
- December 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Stadia, Xbox One, PC, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Bright, colorful, and lighthearted, Immortals Fenyx Rising appeals to lovers of mythological open-world games who seek a near-perfect balance of puzzles, platforming, and combat. From stunning vistas of an Ancient Greek world and unrestricted, free-form exploration to epic boss battles against legendary mythological creatures like Cyclopes, Medusas, Minotaurs, and the Titan Typhon himself, Immortals Fenyx Rising overflows with content.
Beyond its unique god-granted abilities and weapons that enliven the combat, the game offers a playful narrative delivered by Zeus and other gods, paving the way for humorous and distinctive moments throughout. Another perk of Immortals Fenyx Rising today is its frequent steep discounts, letting players snag this expansive adventure for a fraction of its original price without hesitation.
5 Hogwarts Legacy
Beautiful And Charming Rendition Of Hogwarts And Its Surroundings
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
One of this generation's open-world bestsellers, Hogwarts Legacy offers a cozy adventure for fans of the iconic Harry Potter books and films. It's most notable for its incredibly detailed rendition of Hogwarts, brimming with secrets, collectibles, puzzles, and adventures. The graphics and sound play a vital role in the experience, immersing players in the life of a wizarding school student like never before.
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Yet the game goes beyond the castle walls. With a vast map encompassing nearby regions and locations — traversable by broomstick or magical mounts — a robust, fast-paced magical combat system, and a wealth of side quests, characters to meet, and beasts to conquer, Hogwarts Legacy delivers an ultimate open-world adventure capable of captivating players for weeks, if not months.
4 Dragon's Dogma 2
For Fans Of Huge Monsters In The Open World
Dragon's Dogma 2
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Dragon's Dogma 2 is a fantastic choice for Horizon Forbidden West fans who relish battling massive, memorable enemies across a sprawling multi-region open world. While its bestiary may occasionally echo Immortals Fenyx Rising, with familiar monster bosses like Medusa, Cyclops, Chimera, and Minotaur, Dragon's Dogma 2 also introduces more exotic foes such as Golem, Griffin, Dullahan (Headless), and Sphinx.
Boasting some of the most impressive emergent gameplay in this generation's open-world action-RPGs, it delivers unpredictable, organically unfolding scenarios. Dragon's Dogma 2 stands as an ultimate medieval fantasy, with enough unique mechanics and approaches to carve out its own distinct place in the genre.
3 Assassin's Creed Valhalla
An Ultimate Viking Action-RPG With A Rich Mythological Layer
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
With Assassin's Creed Shadows' imminent release poised to potentially shape Ubisoft's future, Assassin's Creed Valhalla stands as an expansive and ambitious chapter in the iconic series, capable of captivating fans of open-world action games for over 100 hours. Featuring a multi-region world and deep itemization, including countless weapons and armor to collect and upgrade, Valhalla ticks all the boxes that open-world genre enthusiasts could hope for.
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Though rooted in historical elements to some degree, Valhalla plunges deeply into Norse mythology, offering players epic boss battles against towering creatures, gods, and monsters. This enhances the game's enemy variety and combat depth, while its numerous expansions further broaden its scope.
2 Ghost Of Tsushima Director's Cut
Perhaps Still The Best Samurai Open-World Game To Date
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut
- Released
- August 20, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Updated for the PS5 with the Director's Cut (including the Iki Island expansion), Ghost of Tsushima remains the pinnacle of the open-world samurai genre. Its unparalleled artistic vision, breathtaking world, and seamless exploration without an overreliance on the map set it apart, but the true standout is the game's exceptional combat system: spectacular, precise, and lethal.
Much like Rise of the Ronin, Ghost of Tsushima leans heavily into historical realism, which may not appeal to everyone due to its lack of fantasy elements and non-human enemies. However, Sucker Punch addresses this with cinematic one-on-one boss duels that deliver intense, challenging tests of players' samurai skills.
1 Monster Hunter Wilds
The Newest Installment In The Legendary Monster Hunting Series
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Arriving just in time to succeed the colossal Monster Hunter: World, Monster Hunter Wilds is already a resounding success and an easy recommendation for fans of Horizon Forbidden West on the PS5. With a vast multi-biome map, a host of towering monsters to hunt, and a refined combat system featuring dozens of unique weapon types, Monster Hunter Wilds marks another spectacular milestone in the iconic franchise, building on the strengths of its predecessor.
Released just days ago, Monster Hunter Wilds isn't the most visually stunning game on the PS5 to date and may feel slightly rough around the edges. However, its technical shortcomings are likely to improve with future updates. All things considered, there's little reason to delay diving into one of the year's biggest multi-platform releases, so the Horizon fans should probably get it right away.
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