Open-world games are enthralling, and if players are not careful, they can end up wasting time, trapped in these wonderful sandboxes. Only a few selected titles have the honor of being called masterpieces, even among AAA games. Some have groundbreaking mechanics, and some have such a good replay value that they are still going strong even a decade after their release.
Check out this list of the eight best open-world games that can definitely be called masterpieces, selected from a wide array of genres, developers, and boasting some of the most wonderful worlds, stories, and gameplay mechanics that exist in the game industry.
8 Best Open-World Games Where Exploring Freely Is More Rewarding Than The Main Story
These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
The Witcher 3
A Game That Redefined The RPG Genre
- Strongest Points: World & Story Design, true to its original source
- Unique features: Unique fast-paced combat mixing sword and sorcery
With its immense, breathtakingly beautiful open world, The Witcher 3 redefined what it means to craft a good RPG. Every action and its consequences, the underlying subplots in every step of the road, and the characters that accompany us (even the villains) are part of the essence of one of the greatest games ever made.
For those who have followed the series since its humble origins back in 2007, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is a promise fulfilled, a love letter to those fans of Sapkowski's finely crafted worldbuilding. The cherry on top is its expansions (Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine), the perfect closer for a masterpiece that everyone who has played has learned to love. Geralt's journey might have already ended (in the Games, at least), but the saga continues with the mysterious Project Sirius (a Witcher MMORPG in the making) and The Witcher 4, which will arrive at some point between 2026 and 2027.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
The Arthurian Legend, Retold As Never Before
- Strongest Points: Combines powerful narrative and worldbuilding with gameplay
- Unique features: Tells an old legend from a new perspective
For those who love Arthurian Myths, this game is definitely the best title inspired by the legend of King Arthur and his court of Avalonian Knights of the Round Table. Players should expect to dive into a beautiful yet cruel world, riddled with plague, war, and the ghost of a man's legacy that haunts the livelihood of his subjects centuries after his death. No matter how players choose to build their characters, they will be swept by the sheer strength of its narrative.
Best Games To Play If You Like The Witcher 3
Players who have completed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can try out these similar games if they want to go through another action-packed experience.
A combination of first-person action, RPG, and soulslike, Tainted Grai: The Fall of Avalon is an open-world game divided into three big sandbox regions. Each of them with their own story to tell, secrets to uncover, and dangerous creatures lying in wait, ready to kill them mercilessly if they are not careful. The story and worldbuilding are an absolute masterpiece, and this game is still in development, so its final shape will be even greater.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
For Some, The Best AC Game Ever Made
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
- Strongest Points: Great naval combat, truly immersive exploring (by ship)
- Unique features: Customizable crew, engaging naval battle mechanics
What does Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag have that draws the attention of millions of fans? Is it the change of paradigm in terms of heroes/villains in the dark changed for a story about piracy, revenge, and friendship? Is it the possibility to control a vessel, to set sail into the horizon, and live as freely as possible? Or is it its vast, colorful sandbox filled with tons of activities to enjoy? Is it the shanties? Definitely the shanties.
This game has tons of incredible aspects, but perhaps its most notorious trait is that it captures the very essence of what being a Pirate meant. Who hasn't ever dreamed of setting sail with their friends, seeking treasure, fortune, and perhaps a watery grave? AC IV: Black Flag continues to be the best pirate game ever made, and arguably, the best title of the series.
Skyrim
Call It What You Must, This Game Is The Best Elder Scrolls (So Far)
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
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Strongest Points: A Vast world, full of random encounters, mod compatibility
- Unique features: Procedural Dragons, which act of their own volition instead of being scripted
The legend tells about a Dragonborn, a being that came to Skyrim from places unknown, and spent the rest of their lifetime slaying dragons, killing bandits, and for some reason, piling up cheese to please a mad god. Skyrim is such a wonderful game, with so many aspects and facets that it is really hard to describe, but one of the things that defined this Bethesda title the most, was the uniqueness of its enemy AI behavior.
Skyrim is not just about dragons, though they play an important role in the Main Story, but about hundreds of different creatures and people inhabiting an enormous sandbox, where at one point, players are chasing a butterfly to get alchemy reagents, and the next second, they're fighting for their dear life against a Sabertooth. This unique randomness (and 'ragdoll-less', if readers know what I mean) is what makes Elder Scrolls V the masterpiece of the series.
Vallheim
The Devs Earned Their Rightful Place At Odin's Halls
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- r
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
- Platform(s)
- Linux, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Strongest Points: Procedurally generated enormous sandboxes
- Unique features: Good mixture of combat, crafting, and environment challenges
Valheim is a highly engaging game, where procedural generation was used the right way: to create an eternal gameplay loop that players can enjoy to their heart's content. The first time players descend into the Meadows, they will meet lots of interesting creatures: from the humble boars to the forest-destroying trolls that are a nightmare for every unprepared Viking.
Building a base, felling trees (and sometimes, being crushed by them) is such an enthralling experience, that most players forget that this game is all about exploration and risking to go beyond their own limitations. With only a flimsy shield and a makeshift bow, a skillful Viking can fight against the most dangerous enemies. Perhaps that level of challenge and thrill is what makes Valheim such a good game, to the point of being called a masterpiece.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Best GTA Game, Change My Mind
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Released
- October 26, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Strongest Points: Great Story, Great Characters
- Unique features: First GTA to host such an enormous and varied map
With such a lively and enormous open world to explore, GTA: San Andreas might be one of the most iconic games in the history of gaming. A title that redefined what engaging and worldbuilding are, with a memorable main character, and a story filled with twists, betrayal, and incredible chase scenes.
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.
The story of how CJ took over San Andreas is one hell of a journey, food for memes of all kinds, and an icon of the gaming industry. Even after the release of GTA V, players are still enjoying this game, with an extremely active modder community that has turned the base game into their own playground filled with servers of all kinds. Nothing short of a masterpiece could reach any of these milestones.
Ghost Of Tsushima
The Most Beautiful Open-World Game Set In Japan
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Strongest Points: Combat dynamics and scenario design
- Unique features: Optimized and minimalist UI that enhances the immersion and lets the story flow
PlayStation is famous for its games with high cinematic content, but Ghost of Tsushima takes the first place, with a thrilling tale of a broken man who only wishes to save his homeland from vicious invaders. Honor, duty, regret, and the shadows of a past that he cannot forget, burden Jin Sakai to the point of turning him into a wraith, haunting the lands invaded by the enemy of his people, and sowing death wherever he roams.
This game was heavily inspired by movies like Yojimbo, and loosely based on true historical events, since the Mongol invasion of Japan really happened. The historical accuracy and respect for the land, the setting, and ambiance translate into a magnificent masterpiece, combining all kinds of arts into something that has become more than a Samurai Game: An icon of the gaming culture that sets the example for those who must come after.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Here Comes The Dark Horse: Best Medieval Simulation Open-World RPG
- Strongest Points: Immersion, Progression, and Story
- Unique features: Realistic Mounted combat, weapons, and armor, the perfect companion (Mutt)
The sequel to the acclaimed Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a production of unparalleled beauty, where players can experience first-hand the love poured into game development. From the most simple of details, like enemy and ally behavior, to the ever-expanding lands surrounding the two main locations of the game's main story, it is an unforgettable experience. Players will laugh with Henry, bleed alongside him, and live by the chivalry code (or not) depending on their choices.
A game where actions and consequences go hand in hand, and where even the tiniest rock thrown at a pond ripples throughout the narrative, and comes to bite players in the rear when they least expect it. There are so many important choices, so many side-activities and places to explore, and so many stories to tell in KCD2. A candidate for Game of the Year, and perhaps, a Masterpiece to be enjoyed for the years to come.
The Biggest Open World Games, Based On The Size Of Their Maps
Open-world games are beloved for their massive maps. Here are some of the biggest open worlds that gamers can explore in the genre.