Open-world games have been around for a long time, but the formula has reached a point of near perfection in recent years. The Xbox Series X/S is a fantastic place to find open-world titles worthy of sinking your teeth into.

There’s an enormous variety of games to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood to explore the seven seas, the dark loneliness of space, or the classic Fantasy RPG world, you can find it on the Series X/S!

10 The Witcher 3: Complete Edition

Best Side Quests In Video Games

The Witcher 3’s popularity cannot be denied. With a highly-anticipated sequel in the works and a Netflix show inspired by the franchise, it’s clear that people can’t get enough of Geralt of Rivia. The game has a large open world filled to the brim with monsters to slay, side quests to complete, new weapons to acquire, and abilities to master.

The game’s emphasis on exploration is great, but it’s the morally complex and compelling side quests that keep players coming back for more. Compete with solid combat and a fantastic cast of characters, and you’d be crazy not to include The Witcher 3 in the best open-world games on Xbox Series X/S.

9 Sea Of Thieves

High Seas Adventures With Friends

Sea of Thieves is a first-person adventure that lets you live out your fantasies as a fearless swashbuckling pirate! The game tasks you with a few different goals, but the true adventure is of your own making as you search for buried treasure and explore the sea’s scattered islands.

Sea of Thieves’ open world is explored primarily by your very customizable ship. Players will have to watch out for the countless hazards found throughout the depths (there’s even a Kraken prowling the waters!) and fend off competing pirates to secure their hard-earned treasure. It’s all made even better with some friends, as players can team up in groups of five to conquer the seven seas. With the new Safer Seas mode, allowing for PvP-free adventures, there’s never been a better time to take to the high seas.

8 No Man’s Sky

The Ultimate Sci-Fi Exploration Experience

No Man’s Sky set its sights high and its ambition led to its initial blundered release. The game’s developers made a lot of promises, and keeping them was too tall a task. While the game was met with hesitation and disappointment by many gamers at launch, it has since become a monumental success story of numerous content updates and community support.

With this game, “open world” might not be as apt as “open universe.” No Man’s Sky gives players the ability to traverse the untold reaches of space, discovering aliens, resources, and landscapes one can only dream of. From crafting and base building to ship-to-shop dogfights and galaxy-hopping exploration, No Man’s Sky offers countless hours of fun across its many galaxies.

7 Cyberpunk 2077

Night City Is The Most Immersive City In Gaming

Like the previous entry on this list, Cyberpunk 2077 had a shaky start. Its release was plagued with game-breaking bugs, middling framerate, and unrendered textures (mostly present on the game’s console release), prompting a flood of refund requests. Sony even kicked it off the PS Store! The 2023 release of the game’s Phantom Liberty DLC, alongside the major 2.0 update, fixed the vast majority of the issues present at launch and expanded heavily on the game’s narrative, skill trees, and combat.

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As far as open-world games go, Cyberpunk 2077 is the cream of the crop. CD Projekt Red nails the Cyberpunk vibe with Night City’s neon lights and crime-ridden streets. The attention to detail makes Night City, and its surrounding suburbs, a treat to explore.

6 Microsoft Flight Simulator

Unparalleled In Its Mastery Of The Globe

Microsoft Flight Simulator may not be the first game that comes to mind when you think of “open world,” but it is quite literally an open-world game. The game is a beautiful recreation of our lovely planet, giving players the chance to fly anywhere and see anything with an eagle-eye view.

While it may not hit every mark in the definition of an open-world game, the sheer vastness of Microsoft Flight Simulator makes it worthy of a spot on this list. A favorite pastime of many first-time Microsoft Flight Sim players is to try and spot their house, though being able to visit countless historical sites, exotic locales, and celebrate the beauty of the natural world is the game’s true stand-out feature.

5 Halo Infinite

Perfect Blend Of Halo Gunplay & Open-World Adventure

Halo Infinite puts a new spin on the franchise’s familiar formula. This title unleashes Master Chief loose in a huge open world, set on Zeta Halo. Master Chief confronts a new threat, the Banished, who have taken control of the Halo installation. The game introduces tons of new mechanics and features to the series.

Cortana’s replacement, known as the Weapon, is unveiled, and thanks to the spacey open-world environment, Master Chief also has a couple of new traversal abilities (most notably the thrilling Grappleshot). Infinite was met with some hesitation from long-time fans, but its campaign is generally regarded as a high point for the series. The new setting and open-world gameplay provide many unique experiences that even veteran players can appreciate.

4 Forza Horizon 5

Explore The Beautiful Mexican Countryside

Forza Horizon is a spinoff of the classic Forza series and offers a more arcade-like experience for racing fans. Horizon games have always featured beautiful open worlds for players to navigate, and Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best Xbox exclusives out there, and easily the best Xbox racing game across generations. There are collectibles, challenges, secrets, and pretty much anything else you could want from an open-world game… you’re just in a car the entire time.

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Each Horizon game features a different setting, with previous titles taking players through the mountains of Colorado, the deserts of Australia, and the rolling hills of England. Forza Horizon 5 is a beautiful recreation of the diverse environments of Mexico and the atmosphere, terrain, and weather all play their part in making the game a joy to explore.

Return To A Genre-Defining Classic

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a game that has persisted for over a decade. With a dedicated player base and an active modding community, it is unlikely the game will be going anywhere anytime soon. Winning various awards and endless recognition when it was released, many consider Skyrim to be the quintessential Bethesda game.

The game has aged beautifully over the years with a gripping narrative and beautiful open world that has secrets and challenges around every corner. The Skyrim Anniversary Edition on the Xbox Series X/S is the definitive way to enjoy the game, especially if you’re one of the very few who haven’t dipped their toes into the title.

2 Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games At Their Best

Grand Theft Auto V has topped the sales charts nearly every month since its release way back in 2013. The game has a fervent following, with GTA Online contributing almost entirely to the game’s consistent player base. GTA V is heavily modded, with Online RP servers providing endless content variation for new and returning players alike.

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GTA V’s Los Santos is the largest open world the series has seen to date, something that is sure to change when GTA 6 releases in 2025. To explore every inch of Los Santos and discover its secrets would take an uncountable number of hours. Some of the map’s more difficult-to-find Easter eggs took players years to uncover. If you’re looking for a world you can get lost in (and a place where you can commit a few crimes), look no further than GTA V!

1 Elden Ring

Pushing The Genre Forward

What can be said about Elden Ring that hasn’t already been said? This game was resoundingly hailed as the best game of 2022, and for good reason! The game combines an inscrutable narrative, unique aesthetic, and brutally difficult gameplay and wraps it up with a blood-stained bow. Even though it was fiercely anticipated by FromSoftware fans for years prior to its release, it still managed to take millions by surprise, bringing a whole new wave of fans into FromSoftware’s unique style of video game design.

While the game is open-world, that doesn’t mean it is easily traversed. If players don’t explore the world carefully, they’ll quickly run into monstrous enemies that can put up a near-impossible fight. If you’re looking for an expansive world to explore or top-tier combat to exercise your reaction time, Elden Ring has you covered.

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