So it should come as no surprise that some of the gaming industry’s most prolific titles manifest as open-world games. And as luck would have it, a generous selection of these titles are at players’ fingertips if they happen to have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. But which world should you dive into next? What are the best open-world games on Xbox Game Pass? For starters, you’ll definitely want to try these.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Although Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was a fantastic adventure in its own right, Middle-earth: Shadow of War perfected the franchise’s proposed mechanics and elevated them by giving players the freedom to explore a large open world. Those that fell in love with the original release’s gameplay elements will enjoy a finely-tuned system that includes new moves and abilities while maintaining the engaging combat from the flagship title.
Click here to join Xbox Game Pass and get your first month for $1.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War also added the Nemesis System, which gives the game even more life as players find themselves occasionally harassed by enemies that they previously defeated.
No Man’s Sky
When it was first released back in 2016, No Man’s Sky was lambasted for its lack of gameplay and unpolished design. Many fans were upset that the release seemed to lack many of the initial promises that were made by the developer, Hello Games. Thankfully, even though it was critically panned during its initial release, designers stuck with the title and continued to improve it as much as possible in the following years. Now, in 2023, No Man’s Sky is leaps and bounds better than what it once was. Players are finally getting the space epic they’d hoped for, and feelings toward No Man’s Sky are incredibly positive in recent years.
Players that are looking for a fun, in-depth, and downright addictive open-world experience should hop into this now fantastic adventure.
Grounded
After a lengthy spell in early access, Grounded has finally made its full debut. A “normal” backyard becomes a dangerous sandbox filled with terrifying creatures when players are shrunk down so that a blade of grass towers over them. Finding themselves in a sticky situation as they try to make their way back home, the protagonist must survive this strange land as they adapt to its ecosystem.
RELATED: The Best Games On Xbox Game Pass
Grounded is an imaginative open-world game that takes inspiration from its contemporaries while still carving out a unique voice that sets it apart from the crowd. Obsidian is responsible for some of the most fully realized worlds in gaming, and Grounded is another feather in the developer’s cap.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Over the Summer, Xbox Game Pass welcomed two Assassin’s Creed games: Origins and Odyssey. Each title is an ambitious open-world game packed to the brim with content, both mandatory and optional. There is not all that much separating the two in terms of quality, and someone’s preference might come down to whether they prefer Origins’ Ancient Egypt or Odyssey’s Ancient Greece.
As the latter is the former’s sequel, it fine-tunes some of its predecessor’s mechanics, particularly the combat system. As Origins is the first chronological entry, newcomers to the series should start with that title; however, the franchise’s releases can be enjoyed as standalone adventures, so Odyssey is still an option.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga covers the main nine Star Wars movies, presenting fans with an opportunity to play through the most memorable moments from the original, prequel, and sequel trilogies. Each film contains a couple of unique missions that are relatively linear in scope, although they do provide some room for exploration.
More importantly, The Skywalker Saga also includes free-roaming hubs that are effectively open-worlds. Players can travel to and investigate some of Star Wars’ iconic planets and moons. While relatively relaxing, these sections can spontaneously turn into battle zones, so they are not just designed for sightseeing. If nothing else, this LEGO game allows fans to live within the Star Wars universe, one that has been immaculately recreated by TT Games.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Initially released on PC in 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator eventually made the jump to consoles, arriving on the Xbox Series X/S on July 27, 2021. While perhaps not a conventional open-world, Microsoft Flight Simulator arguably represents the concept in its purest form, allowing pilots to traverse Earth in its entirety.
Along with shorter and more curated trips courtesy of the Discovery Flights mode, Microsoft Flight Simulator permits players to just pick a spot and head out so they can experience the world in all of its beauty. While not for everyone, this flight simulator has no peers on Xbox Game Pass.
Medieval Dynasty
Ever wished to live during the Middle Ages? Well, Medieval Dynasty presents an opportunity to actualize that dream, and the game prioritizes realism over fantasy. Render Cube’s title has no mythological monsters or chosen heroes; instead, players spend their time trying to survive and thrive in a world where achieving either requires a miracle.
RELATED: Best Skills And Talents In Medieval Dynasty
As a survival game, Medieval Dynasty has all the elements synonymous with the genre, including a heavy focus on monitoring meters and collecting resources. In due time, players will see their small settlement grow into a community that no longer needs to worry about whether they will be able to eat at the end of the day. However, expansion comes with its own challenges.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Ubisoft’s maps have gradually ballooned in size to massive proportions. Consequently, the latest Assassin’s Creed titles are significant time sinks, even when compared to other open-world titles. While Xbox Game Pass’ Origins and Odyssey are not quite as expansive as Valhalla, they can still feel never-ending at times.
Although by no means small, Immortals Fenyx Rising is relatively compact when likened to Ubisoft’s other recent projects. Inspired by Greek mythology and taking a few pointers from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game has fast-paced combat, a goofy but decent storyline, and a vibrant aesthetic. Immortals Fenyx Rising largely allows players to focus on the main storyline, while still rewarding the completion of side content with stat progression.
Black Desert
MMOs tend to be a love-or-hate-it type of deal, and Black Desert is certainly a divisive entry in the genre. While the story and quests leave something to be desired, Black Desert excels in its combat and massive world. The former takes inspiration from hack and slash titles such as Devil May Cry, although Black Desert is not quite as precise as Capcom’s franchise.
RELATED: The Best Games On PS Plus Premium
The game’s open-world is impressive, both in terms of scale and scenery, and completely embraces its sandbox structure. Like most MMORPGs, Black Desert is designed to keep players coming back for months on end, and the game can be life-consuming.
Need For Speed Heat
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers looking for an open-world racing game can start with EA’s Need for Speed. Except for Hot Pursuit, all the franchise titles that are part of the subscription service have open-worlds. While each game has its positives, Need for Speed Heat is the best place to start for newcomers to the series with an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Heat packs in a fun map for players to explore, filled with unique sights to discover. The game controls well on a fundamental level, and it is fun to just speed through this world in search of new vistas. Even if the individual cars do not handle all that differently from each other, Heat still has an impressive roster with more than a hundred vehicles.
Sunset Overdrive
Insomniac has spent recent years crafting superhero-themed adventures featuring everyone’s favorite neighborhood wall-crawler; however, Marvel’s Spider-Man was not the developer’s first foray into open-world territory. Sunset Overdrive might be one of the more underappreciated titles of the 2010s, and the game’s brilliant movement system ranks it among the best open-world games on Game Pass.
Basically a large playground, Sunset City is filled with rails and zip lines, encouraging players to take to the skies and grind their way above the streets. The gunplay is also fun, particularly once players unlock their full arsenal of weapons.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands pushed Ubisoft’s franchise into open-world territory, a change that garnered a mixed reception from both critics and fans. Set in Bolivia, Wildlands boasts an absolutely huge map, and it is littered with activities designed to keep players busy for months on end. Ultimately, this is a rather typical Ubisoft open-world project, albeit one that emphasizes a tactical approach to missions.
Tom Clancy veteran players might find Wildlands to be a bit lacking in terms of challenge, variety, and level design. That said, the game works well when viewed as an open-world title with tactical shooter elements rather than a tactical shooter that happens to be open-world.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout is an all-around great franchise, one that produced some of the most entertaining racers of the early 2000s. Burnout Paradise adapts the series’ frantic gameplay to an open-world structure, providing players with complete freedom in how they pursue their racing careers. Although small compared to most modern settings, Burnout Paradise’s open-world is varied and immaculately designed.
On these streets, speed is the name of the game, and there will be more than a few crashes along the way. The brilliance of Burnout Paradise’s open-world fully becomes apparent once players memorize the ins and outs of its layout, letting them zip through its roads instinctively rather than following markers.
Watch Dogs 2
Wish to take a trip to San Francisco but cannot currently travel to the actual city? Well, Watch Dogs 2 offers the next best thing. Marcus Holloway is a talented hacker who is recruited by DedSec, an organization seeking to undermine an intrusive surveillance system. Armed with an adaptive smartphone and a quirky roster of side characters, Marcus hacks and shoots his way through a plethora of missions in a world that is perfect for experimentation.
RELATED: Best Open-World Games On PlayStation Plus Premium & Extra
Watch Dogs 2 is at its most fun when the focus is away from the main story, as simply messing about on the game’s map can be very entertaining. Unlike Assassin’s Creed Origins, this Ubisoft open-world title is a bit more manageable in terms of length and content.
Just Cause 4 Reloaded
The Just Cause franchise has no illusions of grandeur. It simply provides chaos in a destructible world, and when done right, these games can be cathartic. Just Cause 4 landed with a bit of a thud as it felt like a retread of its immediate predecessor and garnered criticism for its outdated visuals.
Just Cause 4 Reloaded smooths some of the base game’s rough edges, presenting a more enjoyable overall experience. Set in the fictional Solís, Just Cause 4’s world serves as a solid playground to spread mayhem across. If someone merely wants to spread chaos and blow up a few buildings, this game should scratch that itch.
State Of Decay 2
Building upon the foundations of its predecessor, State of Decay 2 offers a string of sizable maps packed with starving zombies. Meagher Valley is arguably the best map in the game, but all the others have their positives, particularly Drucker Country and Cascade Hills.
RELATED: Best Hidden Gems On Xbox Game Pass
Focusing nearly exclusively on survival, State of Decay 2 tasks the player with building a community capable of withstanding the trials of existing within a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is not a traditional open-world as the single-player campaign is quite linear, with story missions often locking Master Chief out of certain parts of Zeta Halo. However, in-between the story beats are sections devoted to free-roaming exploration. Players can traverse Zeta Halo in search of secrets and side quests, and Halo Infinite’s single-play map is impressive considering the open-world is not the main focus of the experience.
343 has crafted a tight first-person shooter that looks, plays, and sounds great. The linear missions are the highlight of the campaign, but Halo Infinite’s open-world is a welcome addition to the franchise.
Terraria
Debuting in 2011, Terraria’s staying power is beyond proven by this point. Re-Logic’s action-adventure title pushes exploration to the forefront, presenting players with all the freedom in the world to traverse its impressive procedurally generated sandbox map.
Blending combat, survival, and crafting elements, Terraria is rich and diverse, and the game comes with an incredibly passionate fanbase. Besides the standard version of the campaign, Terraria comes with plenty of other modes that alter its difficulty, leading to wildly different experiences.
Minecraft
No game encourages freedom and exploration the way that Minecraft does. As soon as players spawn into the world, there are no boundaries restricting what they do next. Building a mansion in the forest, mining to the depths of the world, or crafting the most intricate roller coaster are all options on the table.
Though there are no quests sprinkled throughout the world of Minecraft, the ability to do anything so chosen is the game’s main appeal. Minecraft is the ultimate sandbox project, and players are only limited by their imagination.
The Ascent
Top-down shooters do not traditionally go down the open-world route, but The Ascent goes against the grain. And that’s for the best since Neon Giant crafted a fantastic cyberpunk city reminiscent of dystopias found in the likes of Blade Runner.
RELATED: The Best PS4 Games On PlayStation Plus Premium
Advertised to hopefuls as a paradise but providing to be anything but to those who make it to the city, Veles is a living, breathing place; its grimy streets echo stories of oppression and deceit. Although The Ascent has its issues, this RPG is worth playing just for Veles, and that’s hardly the only positive in the game’s favor.
Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has long been a definitive staple of the open-world catalog, and it’s likely to remain that way until the next chapter of the mainline Elder Scrolls saga manifests. Even today, players still wander the snowy tundra, lush forests, and decrepit dungeons of Skyrim in droves, which is no mean feat considering the base game was released in 2011.
If for some reason you’ve yet to experience the epic tale of the Dragonborn, now’s as good a time as any. And if you already have, then you can pick from an extensive selection of mods that are available for Xbox consoles and fabricate a new twist on a familiar adventure.
Maneater
Revenge is a dish best served by an angry bull shark. Maneater is the Jaws simulator the gaming world has been waiting for, and Tripwire fully embraces the visceral mayhem that should result from unleashing a huge shark near humans. Port Clovis is the oceanic predator’s hunting grounds, and this area comes packed with boats, swimmers, and other fish.
RELATED: Most Evil Animals in Video Games
Maneater is a blast to play, even if it does not have as much variety as most other open-world games on Xbox Game Pass. The gameplay can be a touch clunky at times, but it is always satisfying to unleash hell via a shark.
SnowRunner
Open-world games have a habit of blending together, however, SnowRunner is not going to be mistaken for any other experience except for the other titles in the Spintires franchise. This sandbox game puts players behind the wheels of an array of trucks and sets them loose on large maps to transport cargo.
This delivery game demands complete attention, as each trip needs to be properly planned as a single bad decision can lead to catastrophe. SnowRunner’s missions have a decent amount of variety to them as well, and the campaign manages to remain interesting despite its extremely lengthy nature.
Forza Horizon 5
Playground Games’ Forza Horizon series has served as a reliable source for ambitious open-world racing games, and the fifth entry maintains the high standard synonymous with the license. Set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5’s map is considerably more diverse than its immediate predecessor, with each region having its own aesthetic that allows it to stand out.
RELATED: Xbox Series X Games That Can Run At 4K & 60 FPS
Like with all of these games, Forza Horizon 5 blends realistic visuals and an authentic world with over-the-top arcade-style gameplay, and it is a match made in heaven.
Sea Of Thieves
Rare’s Sea of Thieves had a somewhat rough launch, but the game has improved by leaps and bounds since its debut. Although not devoid of enjoyment for solo players, this is one title best experienced alongside a group of mates since so much of Sea of Thieves depends on the crew making its own fun.
As pirates dropped into a vast and gorgeous open-world, adventure is constantly at their beck and call as crews seek to complete trade missions, find buried treasure, and survive against a Kraken or a ghost ship.
Rage 2
Rage 2 essentially takes Doom’s gameplay and drops it in a post-apocalyptic open-world. If that sounds appealing then this FPS is certainly worth a download. Rage 2’s gunplay is by far its strongest feature, particularly once all of the Nanotrite powers are unlocked.
Now, it should be said that Rage 2’s open-world isn’t particularly memorable as it is a bit too barren for its own good and can come across as padding. Be that as it may, the combat is so much fun that it makes the journey worth it.
Batman: Arkham Knight
The open-world formula of the Arkham series is only enhanced with the Batmobile at your disposal. Hurtling through the streets of Gotham in Batman’s iconic vehicle is a rush. Though it is always fun to soar from mission to mission using nothing but Batman’s cape, the experience is only heightened by intense car action.
As with other games in the franchise, Batman: Arkham Knight is an exciting and easily digestible open-world experience, and the game comes with plenty of content outside of its main campaign.
Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life
The sixth installment in the wildly popular Yakuza series hits long-time fans in the feels with its emphasis on familial ties. In addition to that, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life also provides players with a vibrant open-world setting in the familiar location of Kamurocho.
Plenty of fun activities lie in store around every corner, and entertaining story moments are matched only by the robust combat system that is a staple of Sega’s franchise. This marks the final chapter in Kiryu’s story, and Yakuza 6 serves as a worthy send-off for the iconic protagonist (kind of).
Fallout: New Vegas
Though Fallout 4 may be New Vegas’ shinier, newer, and (slightly) better-optimized cousin, New Vegas is considered the crown jewel of Fallout’s three-dimensional, first-person outings for a reason. With Obsidian helming the effort, the roleplaying elements that were present in Fallout 3 were polished to a mirror shine that Fallout 4 couldn’t seem to pull off in succession.
RELATED: The Best RPGs On Xbox Game Pass
The Mojave wasteland may look a bit dated by modern standards, but the Courier’s fateful journey after being shot and left for dead still makes for a timelessly wild adventure.
Far Cry 5
Ubisoft’s Xbox Game Pass titles showcase the company’s different styles of open-worlds. Assassin’s Creed Origins is an action-adventure title with RPG elements, Watch Dogs 2 is a GTA-style sandbox game, and Far Cry 5 is a first-person shooter set in a contemporary environment. Taking place within Montana, the 2018 game centers around a cult led by Joseph Seed, and players have to work with the locals to slowly wrestle control away from this group.
Far Cry 5 has satisfying gunplay, a large but not overwhelming map, and a memorable antagonist in Joseph. Newcomers to this franchise can jump right into this entry; while not generally regarded as one of the best, Far Cry 5 is nevertheless a very good open-world game.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Yakuza: Like a Dragon marked a new era in Sega’s franchise, and the game serves as a viable entry point for newcomers who don’t feel like playing through the previous seven main titles. Although it retains the series’ penchant for brilliant storytelling and quirky side content, Yakuza: Like a Dragon changes quite a few franchise staples. Kazuma Kiryu steps aside as the protagonist to make room for the more juvenile but still likable Ichiban Kasuga.
Yakuza’s trademark beat ’em up combat also gives way to a turn-based battle system reminiscent of Dragon Quest. More importantly for this discussion, this entry leaves behind Tokyo’s Kamurocho for Isezaki Ijincho’s Yokohama, a refreshing change of scenery that will excite both old and new players.
7 Days To Die
7 Days to Die has been around for nearly a decade by this point, and while the game has its flaws, there is a reason it has survived for this long: the core gameplay loop is engaging.
The title’s concept is also beautifully simple since the player’s goal is to survive as long as possible in a post-apocalyptic open-world overrun with zombies. Once death happens, a run ends, and the inclusion of randomly-generated maps means that no two playthroughs should be exactly the same.
Skate 3
Compared to Tony’s Hawk Pro Skater, the Skate series plays out more like a sim, one that comes with a reasonably challenging learning curve. Skate 3 is perhaps the most accessible entry in the franchise, primarily due to the implementation of an Easy mode, but the game otherwise sticks close to the fundamentals that have made this property so beloved.
RELATED: Skate Vs. Skate 3: Which Game Should You Play?
Port Carverton is a city that loves skateboarding, and players are free to explore its districts as they steadily master the game’s plethora of tricks. Wisely omitting any real semblance of a plot outside of something extremely basic, this is an open-world game for people who just want to, well, skate.
Brütal Legend
From the same company responsible for Psychonauts comes Brütal Legend, a game about a roadie who is thrust into the role of hero. Eddie Riggs finds himself teleported to a heavy metal-themed world, and he is set on a path to alter the tide of oppression as humanity has succumbed to demonic rule. Naturally, Eddie is armed with a guitar, luscious flowing hair, and a huge ax.
Brütal Legend takes place in a reasonably sized open-world that has its fair share of secondary content, and the hack and slash gameplay is a ton of fun. The characters are generally charming, and the game has quite an impressive cast of voice actors, including Jack Black as Eddie. In its second half, the campaign adopts real-time strategy elements, a shift that can be a bit polarizing.
Prey
Prey is a sci-fi thriller set in a space station that has been overtaken by an alien threat called the Typhon. As Morgan, players are cut loose onto a world they do not fully understand, and Arkane does a great job of maintaining that sense of mystery for most of the campaign.
Combining stealth, RPG, and Metroidvania elements, Prey is a difficult and immersive game that incorporates puzzles, first-person combat, and exploration. The space station might not be as huge as some other maps on Xbox Game Pass, but it is expertly designed and dense.
Outer Wilds
Open-world games typically are quite lenient when it comes to time, and Outer Wilds is both a perfect representation of that and the direct opposite. The protagonist, an astronaut, is stuck in a time loop that resets after 22 minutes when the sun goes supernova. During that time, the protagonist is free to explore a few planets while investigating the central mystery.
RELATED: Beginner Tips for Outer Wilds You Should Know
Alternatively, they can go off the beaten path in search of more personal storylines as they meet other travelers who are just relaxing around a campfire. Relaxing and simultaneously stressful, Outer Wilds is a unique and fantastic open-world game.
Goat Simulator
Expectations are key. Goat Simulator is not the most polished or deep experience on Xbox Game Pass; in fact, a few people might go as far as to describe it as a novelty. That said, plenty of fun can be had if someone simply wants to mess around in a game’s world as a rampaging goat that loves to lick things and has a natural inclination to be a nuisance.
Goat Simulator welcomes chaos, and players will need to embrace that mantra to get the most out of this package. Coffee Stain Studios’ title is purposefully rough around the edges, but breaking the game’s physics is half the fun.
The Long Dark
Survival-oriented titles are a common sight when browsing through any catalog of open-world games, but The Long Dark is certainly a standout mention among them. Stranded in the wilds of Canada after a cataclysmic weather event, players must consistently contend with the frigid cold and measure their bodily needs against the prospect of pressing onward. Though hauntingly desolate, the environments and art direction of The Long Dark make it a practical necessity.
Special Mention: Death Stranding (PC Game Pass)
Death Stranding is available on PS5, PS4, and PC; consequently, the game requires a PC Game Pass subscription since it cannot be played on an Xbox console. Hideo Kojima is not afraid to think outside the box, and Death Stranding might be the creator’s most unusual project to date. Set in a post-apocalyptic America, players are tasked with delivering packages from one hub to the next. Along the way, they also set up a communication network that will, hopefully, spark humanity’s recovery.
Death Stranding is, essentially, a walking simulator, particularly in its opening few hours. Burdened with multiple packages, players must carefully plan and traverse their routes to ensure that everything arrives in one piece. Occasionally, they might have to kill someone or take on a monster.
MORE: The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass
