It can sometimes feel as thoughopen-worldgames are a dime a dozen these days, which can in turn make finding a good one incredibly challenging. This is because designing an interesting setting is just the first of many small steps toward making a great open-world game, with developers also needing to fill their worlds with engaging and worthwhile content and then find ways to tie them into the narrative.
Thankfully, there are many developers who have mastered this art, and, collectively, these studios are responsible for some truly phenomenal games. The best open-world games on thePlayStation 5push the console to its absolute limits, offering players some of the most stunning locations in video game history. They’re well worth a visit, particularly for those who are fans of adventure.
26Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition
OpenCritic Rating: 54
Whether or not these are actually the definitive versions of the original 3DGrand Theft Autotrilogy is a matter of debate. In fact, most people would probably be in agreement that they aren’t. However, at this point in time, these ports offer the only way to experience this once-groundbreaking trilogy on the PS5 and are still a whole lot better than a lot of modern open-world games despite their many flaws.
The controls have aged pretty poorly and the updated visuals leave a lot to be desired, but the games remain enjoyable nonetheless. They also serve as an excellent reminder ofthe franchise’s importance to the open-world genre, having helped to inspire countless other titles over the years. Of the three games,San Andreashas aged the most gracefully, butGrand Theft Auto 3andGrand Theft Auto: Vice Citycan still be a lot of fun.
25Assassin’s Creed Mirage
OpenCritic Rating: 76
For many,Assassin’s Creed Valhallaserved as a palate cleanser of sorts, helping them to wash away the stale taste of the series' tired and tested formula. However, for those who still find themselves yearning for the familiarity of classicAssassin’s Creedgames,Assassin’s Creed Miragemight just be worth a look.
Mirageis set in ninth-century Baghdad, thus providing players with a detailed glimpse into a part of the world that is so often overlooked by Western media. The gameplay may be a little drab in places, but the setting is anything but, making this a great title for those who enjoy exploring rich and vibrant open worlds.
24Dying Light 2
Both of theDying Lightgames offer up a refreshing take on the open-world formula, with the ever-present threat of zombies helping to completely transform the way that players interact with and explore their surroundings. The fluidity of the game’s parkour system and the paraglider help a lot in this regard, allowing players to remain on their toes and escape from danger at just a moment’s notice.
Sure, there are plenty of great open-world games where players need to worry about their surroundings, with the likes ofFallout 4andElden Ringbeing some of the first to spring to mind. However, while these games tend to promote the idea that therecouldbe danger around every corner,Dying Light 2players are instead conditioned to believe that there more than likely is.
23Immortals Fenyx Rising
OpenCritic Rating: 79
Those on the lookout foropen-world PS5 games likeBreath of the Wildcould definitely do a lot worse thanImmortals Fenyx Rising. Released in late 2020, it provides players with a wonderfully well-realized world to explore and a surprisingly solid combat system that combines melee attacks and godlike powers to great effect.
WhereImmortals Fenyx Risingreally shines though is in the narrative department, with its take on Greek mythology managing to be both funny and engaging. Like in a lot ofother open-world Ubisoft games, the core gameplay loop can start to feel a little repetitive after a while, but most players should be able to power through.
22Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
OpenCritic Rating: 83
Those who grew up playingAssassin’s Creedgames (or indeed any franchise with annual releases) will know that the same old formula can grow tiresome after a while. This is ultimately what led to Ubisoft mixing up their approach forAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, with many big changes being made for thePS5 launch title.
Like some of the more recentGod of Wargames,Valhallais steeped in Norse mythology, making it a great title for those with an interest in Vikings and the Aesir gods. The game primarily takes place in Anglo-Saxon England, allowing players to visit numerous counties and cities, including Yorkshire, London, and Lincolnshire.
21Stellar Blade
OpenCritic Rating: 82
Although quite different thematically,Stellar Bladeis a lot likeFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwhen it comes to the design and implementation of its world, with the game boasting several large open-world areas that are linked together by smaller, more linear sections designed to drive the narrative forward. Some may refer to this type of game design as semi-open-world. Whatever it is, it works incredibly well.
Ahead of the game’s release, a lot was made of the appearance of the main protagonist, but the environments that she’s tasked with exploring are every bit as stunning as EVE herself. The world’s chock full of collectibles and upgrades for players to track down too and the combat system is pretty much as good as they come. Those looking for a fun time can definitely find that here.
20The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
OpenCritic Rating: 81
It would be difficult to talk about the best open-world PS5 games without at least mentioningSkyrim, even if the game’s PS5 port did come as a bit of a letdown. Much like its predecessors, the game helped to push the boundaries of what many thought possible in open-world titles, with its wonderfully well-realized setting offering deeper immersion than anything that came before it.
A lot of this stems from the fact that just aboutanything is possible inSkyrim, particularly with the help of mods. Unlike a lot of other console games, the PS5 and Xbox Series ports ofThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Editiondo actually feature fairly robust mod support, though those with access to a powerful PC would probably be better off playing the game there instead.
19Street Fighter 6
OpenCritic Rating: 92
Street Fighter 6remains a fighting game first and foremost, but the introduction of World Tour Mode could prove to be a real game-changer in the long run. The idea of being able to run around the streets of a fictional city and start fights with just about anybody is simple enough on paper, but the execution here is really quite masterful, and there’s still plenty of room for growth.
That the developers were somehow able to integrate a coherent story into all of this is no small feat and deserves a tremendous amount of credit. Granted, this type ofopen-worldShenmue-esque experienceis never going to replace the genre’s traditional Arcade Mode, but it does complement it quite nicely and has the potential to deliver a much more enjoyable narrative without having to dilute the combat.
18Hogwarts Legacy
OpenCritic Rating: 84
Trying to compareHogwarts Legacyto the best open-world games on the PlayStation 5 is an incredibly tricky task. On the one hand, it’s probablythe bestHarry Pottergame ever madeand does an incredible job of allowing players to live out all of their wizarding world fantasies while adding to the series' rich lore. However, just as its RPG mechanics are fairly generic, most seem to be in agreement thatHogwarts Legacyis a great game in spite of its open-world mechanics rather than because of them.
Other than Hogsmeade, being able to explore the areas surrounding the titular castle adds very little to the overall experience. In fact, many of these areas arguably dilute and detract from the game’s quality by forcing the player to trek across an unnecessarily large landscape and engage with content that feels like it’s only there for the sake of making the map feel just a bit less baron. Again,Hogwarts Legacyis a great game, and thus, technically speaking, a great open-world game, but those expecting anElder Scrolls-style experience will undoubtedly be left wanting more.
17Animal Well
OpenCritic Rating: 89
Described by its publisher as the very first open-well type game, Billy Basso’sAnimal Wellbears all of the trappings of a great open-world title. Save for a few locked doors and a handful of secret areas, players are able to freely explore pretty much all of its sizable map right from the get-go and are actively encouraged to do so by the plethora of secrets that are hidden throughout the game’s carefully crafted world.
Some will perhaps attempt to argue that a Metroidvania can’t be classed as open-world due to parts of the map being locked behind story progress or the need for certain items. Using this definition, though,genre-defining titleslikeGTA 3,Shenmue, and even the Switch-eraZeldagames can’t be classed as open-world either, which seems like a somewhat ridiculous argument to make.
