Video games come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some of them are linear, and some of them are not. Some focus on the storytelling, while others put more emphasis on gameplay.
Sometimes players can make meaningful decisions, sometimes the choice is forced upon them or there is none at all. But for the sake of our today’s topic, the most important fact is that some games feature open worlds – explorable environments that often reward curious players with collectibles and hidden secrets.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | No Mans Sky | 2016-08-12 | Adventure | Hello Games |
 | Assassins Creed Odyssey | 2018-10-05 | Action | Ubisoft Québec |
 | Yakuza Like A Dragon Day Ichi Edition | 2020-11-10 | jRPG | SEGA |
 | Assassins Creed Origins Deluxe Edition | 2017-10-27 | Action RPG | Ubisoft Montreal |
 | Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain | 2015-09-01 | Adventure | Kojima Productions |
 | Assassins Creed Valhalla Gold Edition | 2020-11-10 | Action RPG | Ubisoft Montreal |
 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018-10-26 | Action | Rockstar Games |
 | Fallout 4 | 2015-11-09 | RPG | Bethesda Game Studios |
 | Assassins Creed Valhalla Dawn Of Ragnarok | 2022-03-10 | Action RPG | Ubisoft |
 | Grand Theft Auto V Premium Edition | 2015-04-14 | Adventure | Rockstar North |
 | Dragon Age Inquisition Game Of The Year Edition | 2014-11-18 | Adventure | BioWare |
 | Monster Hunter World Iceborne | 2019-12 | Action | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
 | Monster Hunter World Iceborne Digital Deluxe | 2019-12 | Action | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
 | Just Cause 4 Xbox Live Key Global | 2018-12-04 | Action | Avalanche Studios |
 | The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Goty Edition | 2015-05-18 | RPG | CD PROJEKT RED |
 | The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition | 2016-10-27 | Strategy | Bethesda Game Studios |
 | Yakuza Like A Dragon Hero Edition | 2020-11-10 | jRPG | SEGA |
 | Fallout 4 | 2015-11-09 | RPG | Bethesda Game Studios |
 | La Noire | 2011-11-08 | Adventure | Team Bondi |
 | Grand Theft Auto V | 2015-04-14 | Adventure | Rockstar North |
 | Sea Of Thieves | 2018-03-20 | Adventure | Rare |
 | Minecraft Starter Pack | 2017-09-20 | Action | Mojang |
 | Skyrim Anniversary Edition Fallout 4 Goty Bundle | 2022-01-02 | RPG | Bethesda |
 | Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition | 2020 | Adventure | Mojang |
 | The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Goty Edition | 2015-05-18 | RPG | CD PROJEKT RED |
 | Far Cry 4 | 2014-11-18 | Adventure | Ubisoft Montreal |
 | Assassins Creed Valhalla Standard Edition | 2020-11-10 | Action RPG | Ubisoft Montreal |
 | The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim Special Edition | 2016-10-27 | Adventure | Bethesda Game Studios |
 | Minecraft | 2011-11-18 | Action | Mojang Studios |
 | Mad Max | 2015-09-01 | Adventure | Avalanche Studios |
 | Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain | 2015-09-01 | Adventure | Kojima Productions |
 | Middle Earth Shadow Of Mordor Game Of The Year Edition | 2014-09-30 | Adventure | Monolith Productions |
 | Assassins Creed Iv Black Flag | 2013-11-19 | Adventure | Ubisoft Montreal |
If you want to learn more, here are some of the best open world games for Xbox One that you can play right now.
Grand Theft Auto V
| Release: | 2015-04-14 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Rockstar North |
Let’s start with a game from one of the best-recognized open-world video game series – Grand Theft Auto V.
Grand Theft Auto V is an action-adventure game that focuses on the story of three charismatic individuals as their paths cross, forcing them to work together to get out of the sticky situation they got themselves involved in. The game’s open world is one of the largest and most detailed ones up to date, which combined with gorgeous visuals creates a realistic modern environment you wouldn’t want to miss. The game’s world is based on Los Angeles and its surroundings, so there are tons of interesting places to visit – you will sometimes find the similarities to be quite hilarious.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
| Release: | 2016-10-27 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | Bethesda Game Studios |
If real-world gangster stories do not seem too appealing to you, maybe you should try some fantasy stuff instead – Skyrim could be a perfect choice.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action role-playing game that follows the story of the Dragonborn as he travels through the northern lands in order to learn and master his dragon abilities and eventually defeat Alduin who threatens the very existence of all that lives. The game’s main story is rather short, but it’s not where the game shines. What’s best about Skyrim is its huge explorable world filled with tons of optional missions, mysterious places, and mythical creatures – you can easily spend hundreds of hours wandering around in order to find new powers or valuable loot, or simply admire the surroundings.
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Red Dead Redemption 2
| Release: | 2018-10-26 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Rockstar Games |
For fans of open-world environments with the Wild West setting, there is also Red Dead Redemption 2 – an incredibly polished game with a living and believable world.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an action-adventure game where you will be playing as outlaw Arthur Morgan – experience his life and struggles as he tries to survive in a world, where everyone seems to want his head. The game, in the simplest words, could be described as the Wild West version of Grand Theft Auto, but it’s much more than that. RDR 2 delights players with its graphics that make it a real pleasure to explore the game’s huge open world. There is also plenty of things to do, so your journey won’t ever feel boring – take a break from main missions and go for some treasure hunting, cook some food, drive a train, catch horses with a lasso, or play some poker. It’s an ultimate open world experience.
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Minecraft
| Release: | 2011-11-18 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Mojang Studios |
Minecraft is certainly not a game that needs an introduction and it’s probably not a game you would have expected to find on this list, but it just fits right in – it’s a super fun time sink with an open world.
Minecraft is a sandbox game with no goal, except for surviving in the wild. You can build whatever you want, you can mine and smelt ores, you can make food, chop trees, breed animals, craft equipment, fight monsters, and even design quite advanced electronic systems. The world in Minecraft is as big and open as it can possibly get, as it’s a voxel-based environment that is procedurally generated as you travel further. Although it seems to be infinite, it is not – you can get to the world’s artificial boundaries after walking the distance of about 32 million blocks, which in ideal conditions would take you about 80 real days of continuous walking.
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Assassin's Creed Valhalla
| Release: | 2020-11-10 |
| Genre: | Action RPG |
| Developer: | Ubisoft Montreal |
If you prefer games with clear goals and logically structured gameplay, AC Valhalla could be the game made just for you.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an action role-playing game and one of the most recent entries in the popular AC franchise. This time we use the Animus machine to relive the memories of a certain Viking, which gives us a unique opportunity to not only explore the vast lands of the British Isles as seen by the Viking raiders but also to bear witness to a new Viking tribe as it forms and gets involved in a clash between the Assassins and the Templar Order. The game’s open world invites players to discover its secrets and rewards them with both lore pieces and astounding views – taking a break from doing missions and going for a walk to admire the fictional nature is a refreshing experience.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
| Release: | 2015-05-18 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | CD PROJEKT RED |
You can’t have a list of the best open-world games without mentioning The Witcher 3 – a game that offers one of the most comprehensive role-playing experiences you can get in a video game.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action role-playing game, where you will be playing as Geralt, one of the titular witchers – a genetically enhanced monster hunter that could gladly get rid of all your issues related to monsters or curses, but only if the pay is right. Due to their inhuman strength and agility, witchers are seen by the common folk as yet another type of deadly beast that simply can’t be trusted – you pay them for their job and then you bid farewell to them, praying that you won’t need to see them ever again. Exploring the game’s open world that is filled with mythical beasts and secrets can be an adventure in itself. And don’t forget about the stunning music that helps to build the amazing atmosphere.
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Monster Hunter: World
| Release: | 2018-01-26 |
| Genre: | RPG, Action |
| Developer: | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
There are more great open-world fantasy games available to play on Xbox One besides the ones we already covered, and Monster Hunter: World naturally comes to mind.
Monster Hunter: World is an action role-playing game that revolves around hunting more and more powerful creatures in order to gather valuable ingredients that can then be used to craft better equipment and useful items that can help your character to track and defeat even more dangerous beasts. What makes the game special is the fact that it actually takes some skill and practice to eliminate monsters – each fight is a test of wits and reflexes, where simply mashing buttons won’t do. If you want to survive and emerge victorious, you will need to approach enemies with a proper strategy.
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Yakuza: Like a Dragon
| Release: | 2020-11-10 |
| Genre: | jRPG |
| Developer: | SEGA |
If you’re looking for a great console open-world experience, you may be also interested in checking out one of the most recent entries in the Yakuza franchise.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a role-playing game that focuses on the story of a new protagonist in the series, Ichiban Kasuga, as he tries to learn why his former boss betrayed him and caused him to get caught and imprisoned for almost two decades. The game is a fresh take on the Yakuza series and introduces some major gameplay changes. Most importantly, Like a Dragon features a combination of real-time and turn-based combat, as opposed to pure real-time experience known from previous games. This adds a new layer of strategy and allows players to carefully pick and masterfully execute a suitable strategy during each encounter. Let’s not forget about the game’s open world – free roaming is certainly a fun part of the game. Take a break from the main storyline and participate in a session of karaoke, try your hand at kart racing, or start searching for collectibles.
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Fallout 4
| Release: | 2015-11-09 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Bethesda Game Studios |
A list of open-world exploration games without at least one game from the Fallout series would feel like it’s definitely missing something.
Fallout 4 is an action role-playing game from one of the best-recognized video game series, and that fame didn’t come without a reason. Although the fourth main installment in the franchise looks drastically different from the original game released back in 1997, it still manages to create a unique post-nuclear atmosphere that feels eerie and dangerous, sometimes terrifying even. It’s an immersive experience that allows players to explore a massive world that is completely open and rewards curious adventurers with valuable loot and interesting quests. Be careful where you tread, though – it’s an unwelcoming place that became home to all sorts of ferocious mutants.
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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
| Release: | 2015-09-01 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Kojima Productions |
Last but not least, a game from the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Join Snake on his revenge mission as he tracks down people responsible for destroying his forces in Ground Zeroes.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a stealth video game that brings a lot of changes to the well-known franchise. Although MGS V was sometimes described as the best stealth game of all time, it gives players more freedom than its predecessors when it comes to choosing their favorite playstyle. Most missions can be completed in a number of different ways, allowing players to engage in a more direct way if they wish so, but keeping a low profile is often encouraged and gives an advantage in form of the element of surprise. You can explore a vast open world and complete missions to earn resources needed to upgrade your base – it will help you to tackle more difficult tasks later on.
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Best Open World Games for Xbox One
Open-world games come in all shapes and sizes. There are open-world shooters, role-playing games, action games, sandboxes, puzzle games – almost every genre can be combined with an open world, resulting in possibly a much more immersive experience. It’s always nice to be able to go whenever we want, instead of following a scripted path.
Open-ended gameplay with freedom of choice is an excellent way to relax after an exhausting day at work. If that’s what you’re looking for, take a look at our list of the best open-world games for Xbox One – we’ve collected all the great titles in one place for your convenience, so all you need to do now is to pick your favorites and embark on a new adventure.