There’s something magical about a weekend game binge. Work slows down, the calendar clears, and suddenly there’s room to sink into a world that stretches far beyond your living room. Luckily, Xbox is hosting an open-world sale through this weekend, which feels like a direct invitation to explore.
Open world games aren’t just about size, they’re about freedom. Freedom to wander, to get distracted by side quests, to follow a hunch that leads you down an unexpected adventure or into a nightmarish overleveled boss. They’re about stories that feel personal, whether you’re solving a crime, reshaping the fate of a wasteland, or testing your patience against a swordmaster who refuses to go down easy. And this weekend, I’ve pulled together a few games on Xbox Series X/S that feel perfect for losing yourself in. Some are personal favorites, some are cult classics worth revisiting, and all of them will give you that delicious “just one more” feeling until it’s suddenly 2 A.M.
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.
L.A. Noire
I was 15 years old when L.A. Noire began to pull me back into gaming. It was 2013, and vintage aesthetics were everywhere. I wanted something “serious” to prove to myself that I was a real gamer. So I picked up Rockstar’s moody, post–World War II detective drama that had been released a couple of years prior. Even today, L.A. Noire feels special. Its groundbreaking facial motion capture may have aged a bit, but the thrill of interrogating suspects, piecing together clues, and cruising through a noir-drenched Los Angeles still holds up. It’s one of Rockstar’s most unique experiments, weaving pulp-novel grit into a crime story that rewards patience as much as curiosity.
I also have a personal soft spot for this open-world game. My mother, who studied criminology in college and has always loved true crime, would watch me play for hours. She’d lean over my shoulder to help analyze facial tics during interrogations or to point out evidence I had overlooked. We bonded over it in a way no other game allowed. It happens to be her birthday this weekend, and although she’s likely going to party it up somewhere, I can’t help but wish I could sit next to her today, crash a virtual police car, and laugh until we cried.
LA Noire
- Released
- May 17, 2011
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Bondi
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- havok
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout: New Vegas
Are you excited for Fallout Season 2? If you’re still buzzing about the Fallout TV series, there’s no better time to return to Fallout: New Vegas. Widely considered the crown jewel of the franchise, it offers everything you’d want in an open-world RPG: branching storylines, morally gray choices, factions to align with (or betray), and a wasteland that feels alive with danger and possibility.
Whether you’re taking a diplomatic path through the Mojave or just letting chaos reign, New Vegas makes every decision feel consequential. And with the inevitable surge of Fallout love on the horizon, revisiting this post-apocalyptic classic feels like slipping back into the series’ dusty boots with a little extra confidence.
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- Gamebryo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Sekiro
For players craving intensity instead of sprawling exploration, Sekiro delivers precision combat set against an exquisitely crafted, semi-open, but ultimately linear world. It’s punishing, but also deeply rewarding. It’s the kind of game that teaches patience, mastery, and resilience. While Dark Souls and Elden Ring may let you brute-force your way through certain fights, Sekiro demands focus and rhythm. The payoff is a ballet of steel and timing that feels unlike anything else on Xbox Series X/S. This is a game for players who want their weekend challenge to come with as much beauty as brutality.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- March 22, 2019
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG