Open-world gaming is all the rage right now, which is why every developer wants to drop their name in this genre's hat. With players expecting cutting-edge visuals and excellent technical performances in this genre, it's easy to see why even the best open-world games end up faltering while trying to meet these expectations.
Best Open-World Games More Beautiful Than Real Life
With this selection of open-world games, players are going to be immersed in worlds that are far more beautiful than real life.
The console-first approach of most developers means that PC players end up getting the short end of the stick more often than not when it comes to these experiences. Performance issues and lack of developer transparency, among many other things, have led to these admittedly great open-world games attaining less than a positive reputation on Steam.
Borderlands 4
Performance Issues And Randy Pitchford's Incendiary Comments Have Angered Fans
Borderlands 4
- Released
- September 12, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Borderlands 4 could've been a homerun for the studio, especially since some people found its predecessor to be disappointing. Despite the compelling looter-shooter gameplay and engaging co-op, PC players didn't appreciate how even the best systems struggled to let players enjoy a halfway-decent experience with this title.
It doesn't help that Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software, is blaming these issues on players and their dated hardware, which is nowhere near the case. Borderlands 4's cel-shaded visuals aren't exactly groundbreaking, and Pitchford's incendiary comments have ensured that fans are up in arms when it comes to this title's performance.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Another Game That Is Suffering From Performance Issues On PC
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Released
- November 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a title that many people loved when it launched, with the idea of flying planes across realistic environments sounding great. Even if the game had some performance issues on PC, they would almost surely be patched out by the developers... Or, at least, that's what fans thought.
Not only was the pace of releasing fixes for this game slow, but updates introduced new issues to the game that caused it to crash on many systems. This has frustrated players far too many times on Steam, with the reviews showing just how disgruntled fans are.
ARK: Survival Ascended
Just Like Its Predecessor, The Game's Unoptimized State Has Angered Many Fans
Ark: Survival Ascended
- Released
- October 26, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Open-World
ARK: Survival Evolved had its fair share of optimization issues (the game's install size is a great indication of the same), but fans still loved how engaging the survival gameplay was, especially with friends. With this studio releasing a remaster of this title, ARK: Survival Ascended, fans expected fixes across the board for the first game.
8 Best Open-World Games On Steam Without DRM, Ranked
For those searching for DRM-free open-world games, these titles deliver incredible experiences without the need for an online connection.
However, while the survival gameplay is as tantalizing as ever, the technical performance is as bad as it used to be in Survival Evolved, if not worse, because of the improved visuals. Fans hate loving this game and supporting a developer who doesn't treat their complaints seriously, which is reflected in the Steam reviews.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom Has Taken Way Too Long To Address The Performance Issues On PC
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds had a groundbreaking launch, selling a ton of units and promising new heights for the series. The introduction of a story mode was a great way to ease beginners into the experience, and fans hoped that this title would continue to wow them with a steady flow of content.
However, PC players were left disgusted by the lack of support for this title when it came to performance, and it didn't help that Capcom used the excuse of overpriced PS5s to justify the game's dying hype. An anti-consumer approach is always frowned upon on Steam, which is why even the best video games around end up being lambasted for refusing to respect a customer's wallet.
Infinity Nikki
The Developer's Greed Is Negatively Affecting Reviews
Infinity Nikki
- Released
- December 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Open-World, Dress-Up, RPG
There's no denying that Infinity Nikki had a great launch, marking a major step forward for the Nikki series and letting players enjoy an alternative approach to Genshin Impact. However, while the latter benefits from a wealth of content that makes it entirely possible to play this game without spending a dime, the same can't be said for Infinity Nikki.
Being forced into a few purchases is scummy, but it still wouldn't have harmed the game's image had it not been for the title's shoddy performance on PC. The 1.5 Update was deemed a disaster by many fans, and it seems that Infinity Nikki has a long way to go now to win back fan trust.
Starfield
Disappointed Many Fans, But Not Meeting Their High Expectations Doesn't Mean The Game Is Totally Irreedemable
Starfield
- Released
- September 6, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Sure, Starfield may not be anywhere near as good as some of Bethesda's other games, but that doesn't make it a bad game in the slightest. The game is still great for players who want to enjoy an epic sci-fi adventure and can look past the game's heavy reliance on procedurally-generated planets and loading screens.
9 Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games
Open-world sci-fi games can be difficult to get right due to just how vast they can be, but these games manage to nail it.
However, while some people can appreciate Starfield for what it is, the same can't be said for other players, especially on Steam. This has turned Starfield into one of the most divisive open-world games of all time, with fans either hating this game with a passion or ardently defending it from the strongest criticism.
Need For Speed Unbound
It's A Shame That The Game's Overbearing Grind Takes Away From The Amazing Racing And Gorgeous Visuals
Need for Speed Unbound
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Need for Speed Unbound had the potential to launch off Heat's brilliance and mark a huge step forward for NFS' modern legacy. The stylistic visuals look great, and the game's focus on underground street racing culture is something that many fans vibe with.
However, the game took one step forward and two steps back in the eyes of many. Relentless police pressure and repetitive racing were two of the biggest gripes surrounding this game, which is why some fans feel that Unbound is reeking of unfulfilled potential on Steam.
Halo Infinite
The Single-Player Is Immaculate — The Multiplayer Is What Rubs Fans The Wrong Way
Halo Infinite
- Released
- December 8, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Halo Infinite was a bold step for the franchise, moving to an open-world approach for the campaign and a free-to-play structure for the multiplayer. The former was widely celebrated by fans, but the latter hasn't received the same warm reception.
343 Industries has failed to show players why Halo was once celebrated as a CoD killer, but that shouldn't take away from the brilliance of the campaign that lets players muck around in a sandbox while simplifying some of the more complex story elements from previous games. Depending on whether players prefer single-player or multiplayer experiences, they'll have a vastly different opinion on Halo Infinite, something that can be seen on Steam.
