Video games offer an outlet, a place devoid of the stresses of daily life, where you can delve into the stories they have to tell. But none does this better than the open-world genre, where the possibilities are endless, and the scope is unimaginable. Whether you're a fantasy geek keen to become a dragonslayer in Dragon Age or a sci-fi lover wanting to explore the galaxy, you certainly won't get bored so easily.

From Valheim to the post-apocalyptic Dying Light 2, there are a vast array of open-world games available on Steam that bring no end to exciting adventures and captivating storylines. And with special promotions and weekend deals circulating frequently, there's always a golden opportunity to snatch one of these games at half the price.

Updated on March 31, 2024, by Sanyam Jain: The open-world genre is getting quite a lot of love in 2024, both on Steam and other platforms. Recently, the release of Dragon's Dogma 2 has been a fresh delight for the genre's enjoyers, and the game easily deserves an entry when we talk about the best open-world games out there.

29 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim has long-established itself as a fantasy juggernaut, with a lifelong legacy that is unmatched. Playing as The Dragonborn traversing the rough, yet beautiful, world of Skyrim, you are faced with fulfilling a god-like destiny. From preventing a bloodthirsty Vampire Lord from blotting out the sun to tackling the hardest quests in the land, The Dragonborn never rests.

Having received numerous awards including the 'PC Game of the Year' award, Skyrim continues to be a fan favorite over a decade after its launch. With its in-depth lore and unparalleled storytelling, Skyrim is an open-world game that you'll never get tired of.

28 Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world game set in the futuristic dystopian world of Night City, where violence is part and parcel of everyday life. You play as a gun-toting mercenary named V, who tries to make a name for himself/herself, only to fight for survival after a mission gone wrong. Aside from the main quest, there are various other activities V can look into. Night City is a Blade Runner-esque metropolis that offers tons of side quests to boost your street cred and earn some eddies.

Despite initial complaints of bugs and unfinished storylines, the game has gone through numerous fixes, with modders even pitching in. All in all, Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely an open-world game you should look into if you're into futuristic, high-tech worlds.

27 Starfield

Developed and published by Bethesda, Starfield is by far one of the biggest interstellar open-world games you can play. Not only does it let you travel in Space for however long you want, but it also lets you explore almost all the 1,000-plus planets. The game's got something for every type of gamer.

Even if you're a story-lover, Starfield is a great game to get into. It might seem like too many fetch quests at the start of the main story, but it slowly gets deeper and you start realizing why all the fetching was important. Other than that, it's also a fantastic game to just explore the world and take cool screenshots.

26 Palworld

Palworld was first released on Steam on January 19, 2024, and it broke all records on the platform quite fast. Even after various uncanny similarities with other franchises, it's almost impossible to resist this game because of how fun it is. You can roam around the entire world from the very beginning, which is one of the best feelings in an open-world game.

Of course, you'll get one-shotted by most enemies in higher-level areas. The game is based around collecting Pals from different elements and battling them against your foes. You can also ride various flying and ground Pals, making it much easier to go around the huge map.

25 Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Assassin's Creed is one of the most famous franchises for open-world RPG games, and Odyssey is one of the best games in it with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam. The game is set in a medieval environment where you play as one of the Spartans fighting against Athens.

While the game has progression based on the story, you also have a giant world to explore with many side quests. These quests are completely optional, but they reveal many secrets about the world and the people in it. The game revolves around combat, and you'll find enemies all around the world, waiting for a single chance to defeat you.

24 Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 was one of the most anticipated releases in 2024, and while it might've gotten a bit of a pushback with Capcom's extra purchases, it still stayed as one of the games with the most concurrent players on Steam for quite a while. This is mainly because of the unique gameplay that this game brings to the table.

From the very start, you get to have one main pawn and two support pawns that fight alongside you on the battlefield. While the AI for these pawns might not be perfect, it still does its job of dividing the damage from enemies. You also get to choose between four varying classes, and the gameplay changes significantly with each class.

23 Risen

Talking about games set in the medieval era, Risen is a fantastic game where you play as a random character who washed ashore on a strange island after their ship crashed. There is a deadly storm engulfing the world outside, but it goes around this island and never touches it. The game perfectly blends the open-world and decision-making genres.

The entire world is open for you to explore as soon as you start controlling the character, but the enemies in some places might be too powerful for you. As you choose a side and progress in the game, you'll get many armor and weapons that will make you stronger. The game even lets you use magic and control fire or ice.

22 Ark: Survival Ascended

Ark: Survival Evolved has been one of the most popular survival crafting games ever since its launch due to its unique nature, and it's finally been reimagined in Unreal Engine 5. In Ark: Survival Ascended, you get to immerse yourself in a giant dinosaur-ruled world where you have to slowly climb up in the food chain.

The main goal is to tame a ton of dinosaurs and beat various bosses around the world. This game features quite a lot of quality-of-life improvements from its predecessor and a beautiful environment. You can easily spend hundreds of hours in this game without realizing it.

21 Lies Of P

In a typical souls-like tradition, Lies of P takes you on an experience with various monsters that are way bigger than the size of the main character. It puts you in a world where puppets are starting to take over and humanity is in shambles. As a beautifully designed main character, you go on a journey to save humanity.

You'll fight a huge wave of enemies every time you're playing this game, and of course, if you're defeated, you'll have to start at the spawn point all over again. However, once you get used to the dodging mechanics, this is one of the best souls-like games you'll play.

20 Rust

There's no talking about open-world PvP games without the mention of Rust. In this unique world, you spawn with nothing but a rock and a torch in hand. You have to find different items and craft your own weapon while working on building your base of operations. Once you have good gear, you can also go out and steal from other players.

The game has a perfect amalgamation of PvP and PvE since you can attack real players or raid different sites and fight Scientists to get good loot. You can also raid another player's base, or defend your own using different traps and airlocks.

19 Subnautica

Subnautica is an open-world game that takes things to a whole new level. Set in a future where mankind has the technology to colonize other planets, you play as Ryley Robinson. Stuck on a beautiful - but treacherous - ocean planet, Ryley must find a cure for the disease ravaging the planet, all while trying to find a way home. In a survival game that takes place in the deepest depths of an uncharted sea, Ryley is confronted with new and terrifying creatures.

From aggressive leviathans to adorable cuddlefishes, the game puts your resourcefulness to the test. So if you're keen on underwater survival games, Subnautica is not one to miss.

18 Marvel's Spider-Man

Spider-Man is a famous fantasy hero even among people who don't watch Marvel. Initially released on PlayStation, Marvel's Spider-Man is set in a fantasy world filled with criminals, and your job is to get to the root of the problem by finding different villains that are pulling the strings from the shadows.

The best part about this game is that it allows you to go anywhere you want from the very beginning. As long as your current quest isn't time-based, you can roam around the world using the beautifully designed spiderweb mechanic as much as you want.

17 Horizon Zero Dawn

Another futuristic number in the open-world genre, Horizon Zero Dawn sees the world filled with high-tech machines in various animal forms. Set in the year 3020, mankind has been dealt a huge setback and divided into tribal factions. Playing as Nora outcast Aloy, who is on a mission to discover her origins, while saving the world from HADES' rogue machines.

Horizon Zero Dawn gives you a post-apocalyptic look into a world where nature has taken over the reins. With top-notch, immersive graphics and amazing atmospheres, slip into the shoes of Aloy and experience a world like never before.

16 Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2 sees you in the shoes of a new protagonist, Aiden Caldwell, whose main objective is to find and reunite with his sister Mia. Set over two decades after the events of the first game, the journey of battling Volatiles and other spooktastic monsters means the prospect of more chase sequences.

The outbreak did not stop in Harran, spreading to the rest of the world after a few greedy scientists couldn't be bothered to tell the truth. Aside from destroying hordes of zombies, Aiden has the opportunity to do a couple of lucrative side jobs and glide about a post-apocalyptic city on the brink of instability.

15 The Forest

The Forest is another open-world game where your true enemies are human-like monsters. The game starts with your flight crashing on a mysterious island, and you wake up to find out that there are cannibals living there who want your blood. Not only do you have to get your own food, water, and shelter, but also find weapons to defend yourself.

This game has a story that you can finish at your own pace. You'll be looking for your son the entire time you're on the island, but dealing with the cannibals will take up a lot of your time. The best part is that you can play this game in multiplayer and invite some of your friends to fight the deadly beasts.

14 7 Days To Die

It's already difficult to deal with zombies in any post-apocalyptic open-world game, but it gets even harder when you have to do it in seven days. As the name suggests, 7 Days To Die leaves you in a world where you have to make yourself a shelter with good defensive capabilities for the zombie raids that'll come at night every seven days.

On these days, the moon will turn red, and you'll only see zombies surrounding you. You have to be prepared to fight off this horde while finding enough food and water to keep you alive, leading to a stressful and fast-paced experience.

13 Dragon Age: Inquisition

The third installment in the Dragon Age series, Dragon Age: Inquisition felt like a breath of fresh air. Set in the fantastical realm of Thedas, you have the option of roaming expansive lands in both Orlais and Ferelden, even delving deep into The Deep Roads.

With a selection of different races to choose from, set out as the determined Inquisitor, on a quest to vanquish Corypheus. From the elegant and gilded Val Royeaux to the barren wasteland of the Hissing Wastes, BioWare certainly spared no expense. Alongside the complex storylines, every character in the Inquisitor's party is very well fleshed out.

12 Valheim

Valheim takes the Nordic afterlife to a whole new level in this survival extravaganza. Placed in the shoes of a deceased Viking, this warrior must put in the work to reach Valhalla, the resting place fit for the mightiest warriors. But of course, this all won't be accomplished in the span of a day.

With various biomes for you to explore, there are bosses within for you to defeat in order to obtain their powers. The game also offers other activities for you to explore, from building your own boat to navigating the Ocean Biome to attempting to finish your house. Indeed, it seems reaching Valhalla takes an entire lifetime to do.

11 Sons Of The Forest

After exploring the cannibal world of The Forest, people eagerly waited for its sequel, which came with the name Sons of the Forest. Much like the first game, you'll be stranded on an unknown island while you're trying to find someone. You'll also be fighting against plenty of cannibals in the land.

The second game also features some new mechanics like an NPC who can be assigned any task. Apart from the Survival Horror aspect, Sons of the Forest has plenty of goofy settings that can make the experience a lot more fun with friends.

10 Sail Forth

Coming from an Indie Developer called Festive Vector, Sail Forth is probably one of the best open-sea games on Steam. Although, the main character in the game is behind the scenes controlling a fleet of ships. You'll start your journey as a sailor on a small ship, but you'll slowly progress to finally save the world from the dark.

There is a strange energy manifesting all around the sea, and it's your job to find the source of this phenomenon and get rid of it. The world slowly unlocks as you get different Map Fragments scattered, and you can go back to any island once you've unlocked it with the instant teleport mechanic.