Light No Fire is shaping up to be one of the most exciting open-world games on the horizon, promising a huge fantasy world that is supposedly the size of the Earth itself. The scope is pretty absurd, as the environments aren't just empty plains and will instead be filled with structures, lore, and even other players.
No Man's Sky Follow-Up Light No Fire Can't Put the Cart Before the Horse With Its 'Real Oceans'
No Man's Sky successor Light No Fire will feature "real oceans," and while that sounds great on paper, it needs to be supported with good mechanics.
While a release date for Light No Fire is still unknown at this point, many players are looking for a game to scratch that limitless exploration itch in the meantime. Thankfully, the open-world genre has plenty of games to offer that can keep players invested for dozens of hours thanks to their expansive landscapes and dedication to massive scale.
Valheim
Norse Mythology Meets Open-World Survival
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- r
- Developer(s)
- Iron Gate AB
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Valheim transports players to a mysterious and intriguing world full of Nordic ruins and creatures from all sides of mythology. Players need to work together or go it alone to gather resources and build a safe place to survive the harsh wilderness, factoring in structural integrity, comfort, and standard survival meters like hunger as well.
The worlds are procedurally generated, which means that even if players feel like they have seen it all, there will always be something new to experience. Progression is directly tied to the player's exploration, which means they are encouraged to venture out further each time, creating a satisfying loop of constant motion towards the next piece of the story.
Elite Dangerous
The Universe Has Never Felt Closer
Elite Dangerous
- Released
- December 16, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Frontier Developments
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Elite Dangerous is easily one of the most ambitious games ever created, and it retains that impressive title over a decade after its initial release. Players are free to explore a diverse galaxy full of planets and technological networks, piloting ships and carving out a place in the near-endless universe.
Longest Open-World Games
Even the most sophisticated gamer will be bewildered by the sheer scale of these games. These are the open-world games that take the longest to beat.
With the Odyssey expansion, players can now see the game's planets up close and venture across them on foot, adding a whole new dimension to the already absurdly broad gameplay loop. For players who really enjoy games that truly have zero boundaries in terms of exploration, it's the perfect game to get lost in and one that will remain a forerunner in the open-world genre for many years to come.
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
Bridging The Gap Between Movie And Game
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
- Released
- December 7, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings the conflict of Na'vi vs humans to the gaming world in a more faithful way than anyone thought possible. The world is a breathtaking recreation of the universe from the films, and with it comes all the familiar activities, from banshee flying to bonding with the environment itself.
Where the game really shines is in the size of its world and the freedom it gives players to explore. Distant trees become accessible in a matter of moments, and the gorgeous floating mountains turn into aerial racecourses for players to show off their skills, bringing the alien world into the palm of their hands.
ATLAS
The True Pirate Adventure
Atlas
- Released
- December 22, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
ATLAS is one of the largest open-world games ever created, featuring an enormous shared world built solely around seafaring exploration. Players can sail across entire oceans, claim islands, and engage in epic naval battles with other crews, turning simple journeys out to sea into momentous expeditions filled with gold and glory.
8 Games That Let You Go Everywhere Without Limits
Constraints on exploration are never fun. These games take that to heart and let you explore anywhere, at any time, and in any way you want.
While it can be overwhelming at first, it manages to capture the same limitless ambition that Light No Fire is chasing. The freedom to explore uncharted waters and build communities across the entire world makes it feel like a living adventure that has no end in sight, only more stories to uncover and tell.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Seeing The Whole World From The Skies
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Released
- November 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator has always been the pinnacle of aerial simulation, but the 2024 edition takes things to a whole new level. The entire planet is rendered with more accuracy than should technically be possible, and players have access to even more vehicles to fly anywhere in the world they may desire.
Other games may have physically larger maps, but the fact that Earth has been faithfully recreated on this scale makes MFS 2024 feel far more impressive than many other game in the genre. It's the perfect way to see the beauty of the world from above, and a truly unmissable experience for fans of flight sims and open-world games alike.
ARK: Survival Evolved
An Uncharted World Ready To Be Conquered
ARK: Survival Evolved
- Released
- August 29, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Wildcard
- Genre(s)
- Survival
ARK: Survival Evolved sends players back to prehistoric times, forcing them to scavenge and defend themselves against some of nature's most fearsome creatures. From taming dinosaurs to building fortresses, the game blends survival with exploration perfectly, inviting players to see more of the world but never making the journey easy for them.
A lot of what makes ARK so great is how unpredictable the giant maps can be. Players can either choose to jump into a fixed map or generate a completely random one to explore, adding even more stakes to the already challenging survival mechanics and making the whole experience feel more authentic and rewarding than a linear game ever could.
Palworld
Creature Collecting Meets Intense Survival
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Developer(s)
- Pocket Pair, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
Palworld is a Frankenstein blend that burst onto the open-world scene and quickly drew in a huge audience of fans from all sides of the gaming landscape. Players begin with very little but can quickly find themselves with an army of Pals that can be used for a variety of purposes, both at home and in combat.
The Pals add so much depth to the world and make exploring it all the more enjoyable, thanks to several mounts that can send players into the skies to see the whole landscape from above. This freedom to explore makes Palworld feel exciting and inviting at all times, enticing those who want to see more with exciting mysteries, and those who want the perfect crafting sandbox game with more adorable Pals than they could ever keep track of.
No Man's Sky
Truly Limitless Exploration
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
No Man's Sky is Hello Games' first foray into the open-world space, and while the launch may have been a bit shaky, it has grown into a widely celebrated game and a crowning jewel of the entire genre. Anywhere players can see, they can go, regardless of whether it's a distant mountain or a tiny planet floating high above their heads.
The seamless transition from ground to space ensures that players are fully immersed in the sci-fi experience, with no loading screens breaking up the exploration at any point. It is the product of years of dedication and ambition paying off, and if Light No Fire is even half as good, then players are in for a real treat.
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Publisher(s)
- Hello Games
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY