There are a lot of open world games nowadays. So many that genre is starting to become oversaturated. There are a lot of fantastic open world titles out that and still being made, but they can be easily drowned out by the many lackluster titles being released.
A good open world game must have some simple characteristics. The world should be engaging, interesting, and encourages exploration. Some projects manage these features flawlessly and even manage to go beyond; while others turn out boring environments that often feel pointless.
Luckily there are enough great games to make up for the bad in this list of the 5 Best (& 5 Worst) open world video games. While the overall quality is taken into consideration, a game's handling of its open world will be prioritized.
10 Best: Eastshade
Eastshade is undoubtedly the most unexpected, and most obscure, game on this list. Don’t let that dissuade you though, because Eastshade is a literal work of art. In a game based around painting, this remarkable and beautiful world becomes accessible in an all-new way.
Not only can your surroundings act as the subject of your paintings, but it also holds much to do and discover. This game is a truly beautiful and relaxing open world experience.
9 Worst: Saint's Row: Gat Out of Hell
While Gat Out of Hell does maintain its levels of humor and flair for the ridiculous that fans of the series have come to expect, it does not measure up in terms of its open world.
For starters, the world is small, significantly more petite than the other games. This wouldn't be so bad if the graphics weren't also lower quality, greatly taking away from any charm the world might have had.
8 Best: No Man's Sky
While on its release No Man's Sky was a very disappointing experience for players, things have changed. Hello Games has continually published free updates that have vastly improved that game.
The concept of a procedurally generated open world game is unique and ambitious in itself, but No Man's Sky does this on a galactic scale. Every planet has unique features, flora, and fauna - creating the ultimate exploration experience.
7 Worst: Shadow Of Mordor
Shadow of Mordor has an interesting concept and a fantastic background story to build off. One would think that with all the lore from Tolkien, it would be easy to create an exciting and visually appealing world for the game.
Evidently, this was not the case. The world itself lacks the beauty and intensity offered by other similar titles. The world offered little interaction as well, with the maps being rather small.
6 Best: Watch Dogs 2
On the surface, a game with a basis around hacking might not seem like a good candidate for an excellent open world game. However, it most certainly is. Watch Dogs 2 takes its core mechanic of hacking and applies it in every way possible, even to the world itself.
The game also greatly moves away from the concept of a cut and paste city landscape and manages to create something much more impressive: A remarkably accurate map of San Francisco. Many games have tried to model existing cities, but none have so flawlessly accomplished this as Watch Dogs 2. This attention to detail is not only amazing to see but also gives the player encouragement to explore and see the world.
5 Worst: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Though part of a great and well-loved game series, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is not an impressive open world game. The idea of a sandbox Metal Gear game is great. There is a lot of potential for exciting quests, interesting discoveries, and a unique world - all of which is lacking from the actual game.
Most of the world seems to lack engaging side quests, gives no reason to explore, and is just rather boring.
4 Best: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls series has long set the benchmark for open world games, and Skyrim is no exception. Almost 8 years old now, Skyrim and the earlier entries in the series set the scene for many if not all modern Western fantasy RPGs.
It evoked an exciting and fantastic landscape for players to explore, discover, and interact with. Though not quite as new and shiny as it once was, Skyrim still holds a very special place in the hearts of many players.
3 Worst: Far Cry Primal
Far Cry Primal would be a much better open world game if it were the only game in the Far Cry series. As it's not, it quickly becomes apparent that Primal completely rips off of its predecessors.
Not just the mechanics, but the world itself. No one wants to play on the same map as the previous entry, it's not fun or interesting. At the very least the developers should have made the environment more interactive.
2 Best: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild is the epitome of an open world game. From snowy mountains, lush forests, and blazing deserts -Breath of the Wild sports a massive yet diverse world. Not only is the world one of the largest in existence, but every inch of it is fully explorable. This feat alone sets Breath of the Wild apart as an amazing and unique open world title, but that’s not all that makes it great.
There are so many things to find in the world and exploring is always rewarded. Items, shrines, and Koroks can be found in the most unlikely of places. Not to mention the vast number of ways players can interact with the world around them!
1 Worst: Mass Effect: Andromeda
There has to be at least one game in this list which is just a bad game. Well, here it is! Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game that had so much potential but was just bad in the end. From an open world standpoint, it had a unique idea, exploring different planets would be awesome.
If those planets had been, interesting or filled with any real life. Instead, they just feel sparse and barren.