Few genres in gaming have as much to offer in terms of gameplay as open-worlds. Not only do most titles in this category present players with dozens of hours of content, but there’s almost always hundreds, if not thousands of interesting things to discover along the way.
10 Xbox Series Open-World Games That Reward Exploration
Open-world games are quite entertaining and often have several things to discover as players travel. Here are some that greatly reward exploration.
Many open-worlds reward exploration; however, only some of them actually have enough to show for it to make it worthwhile and add to their setting’s folklore and backstory. Here are some open-world games that feel a lot bigger the more you discover and learn about them, their characters, and their environment.
10 No Man’s Sky
18 Quintillion Procedurally Generated Planets
-
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Cross-Platform Play
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- August 12, 2016
- How Long To Beat
- 30.5 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 20.36 GB (September 2024)
- Metascore
- 83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Supported VR Headsets
- Sony PlayStation VR, Sony PlayStation VR2, Valve Index, HP Reverb G2, HTC Vive Pro 2, HTC VIVE Cosmos, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 150 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
I love No Man’s Sky for various reasons, starting with the fact that it has one of the most remarkable redemption stories. Almost as remarkable as that of Cyberpunk 2077. Upon release, this title didn’t have many of the features that were promised, but over time, it delivered, and it did so wonderfully.
Another thing that made me consider adding the game to this list is how well it represents the vastness of the universe. It’s been said that No Man’s Sky has more than 18 quintillion procedurally-generated planets that you can explore. And naturally, the more you explore, the bigger the game feels. You’ll never get to see all of the available planets, but it’s all about the fun in trying.
9 Cyberpunk 2077
Arasaka and Other Large Corporations Are Evil Incarnate
Few games have been as hyped-up pre-release as Cyberpunk 2077. While its launch was nothing short of catastrophic, the people at CD Projekt RED quickly took care of the game-breaking bugs, and over time, made the experience what it was always meant to be. As you progress through the story and explore Night City and its outskirts, you’ll learn more about V, Arasaka, and other evil corporations that basically rule the world.
The more you learn about the sociopolitical state of V’s dystopian society, the bigger the world feels. Whether you choose to be a Street Kid, a Nomad, or a Corpo, you’ll never run out of interesting things to discover. All in all, Cyberpunk 2077 has hundreds of hours of fun to offer, and a lot of excitement waiting for anyone who wants to give it a go.
8 Fallout 4
Finding Relics from the Past Complements the Experience
There are many things about Fallout 4 that shouldn’t work together, but they do. I mean, on paper, the experience of traversing a post-apocalyptic wasteland while listening to 1950s hits of real-life artists sounds bizarre, to say the least. However, once you’re walking through the Boston Commonwealth while “Uranium Fever” plays, it’s easy to understand why this title is so hyped up.
10 Open-World Games You Should Definitely Avoid
With these games, maybe you should enjoy other titles first, or perhaps it would be preferable to stare at a blank wall.
Since one of the main objectives of Fallout 4 is scavenging, you’ll often come across relics from the past. Whether it is magazine issues, bobbleheads, or a few other collectibles, there’s always something new to discover, and every discovery makes the world feel just a bit larger each time.
7 Subnautica
A Literal Ocean of Possibilities
I’ll be honest, the first time I was about to play Subnautica, I didn’t think much of it, as the concept of an oceanic world where exploration is key to survival sounded a bit dull to me. However, I was quickly proven wrong, and before I knew it, I was spending hours upon hours enjoying the experience of exploring Planet 4546b.
This title pits you against an entire ecosystem that wants to see you dead, so it would be fair to say that it’s an open-world where the map is the real boss. In Subnautica, the more prepared you are, the more you can explore, and the more you’ll discover.
6 Horizon Zero Dawn
Learning About the Downfall of Civilization Changes Everything
The concept of Horizon Zero Dawn is arguably one of the most original that we’ve seen in the last few decades. Not particularly because of its post-apocalyptic setting, as others have done that ad nauseam, but because of its premise of corrupted mechanical creatures and how the end of the world played a role in their condition.
The more you explore, the more you’ll learn about humanity’s downfall and the different tribes that have spread across the world. Not to mention that your compendium of mechanical creatures will also be greatly increased, making the game feel larger-than-life sooner than you think.
5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Hundreds of Quests Providing Useful Knowledge
While it might not be the largest on this list, I’d go as far as to say that The Witcher 3: WIld Hunt is still a very extensive game, and that no side or main quest in it ever feels like fluff, but rather as something substantial that has a purpose to fulfill. This is only proven further by the Blood and Wine, and Hearts of Stone expansions, which add even more depth to the experience.
The Continent is vast, and every book, creature, and plot that you discover adds greater dimensions to this title. And since we’re on this topic, The Witcher 4 is one of those exciting upcoming open-worlds, and I personally can’t wait to have it in my hands to see how this world is expanded even further.
4 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Kingdom of Hyrule Keeps On Giving
Although The Legend of Zelda franchise has been around for decades, it’s safe to say that both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have been some of Nintendo’s most highly praised releases of the last 10 years. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, builds on the previous title while retaining many of the aspects that made it great.
10 Open Worlds We Wish We Could Experience Again for the First Time
Wipe our memories and start over.
The Kingdom of Hyrule, despite already being a well-known location, just keeps on giving, and will likely keep doing so for many years to come. Like its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is designed so you can’t choose the wrong path, and it’s a blast to get lost in.
There’s Religion, Politics, and Much More to Learn Over Time
While The Elder Scrolls 5: Skryrim is by no means a new title, it still holds up wonderfully well today. Granted, its graphics and game mechanics do feel quite outdated compared to more modern titles. But even so, the experience of completing it for the first time, or as part of a replay session, is always great.
There’s so much to discover in the land of Skyrim, from the College of Winterhold and all its knowledge, to all the Dwemer ruins spread throughout the map. The more you learn about Skyrim’s history, the bigger the world feels, and the more eager you’ll feel to explore it all.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
A Game So Vast, There’s Even Aliens In It
While Rockstar Games’ biggest cash cow is still the Grand Theft Auto franchise, it’s undeniable that Red Dead Redemption 2 is not only a masterpiece, but also gave the franchise worldwide recognition and mainstream popularity. Traversing the American Wild West as Arthur is always rewarding thanks to the various NPC interactions, quests, and interesting things to discover.
The first time I ran into a UFO, I couldn’t believe my eyes, and that experience, along with everything else the game has to offer, made playing Red Dead Redemption 2 an absolute pleasure. And that’s just one of the reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 beats many other open-worlds.
1 Elden Ring
Hundreds of Pages Worth of Lore
Lastly, there’s Elden Ring, which, in my opinion, is the title with the most extensive and rich lore on this list. The first time I played and completed the game, I was already amazed by how, no matter how much I explored, there always seemed to be something I missed. But it wasn’t until I actually sat down and started reading the lore behind Marika, Godfrey, and Radagon that every replay session started to feel larger-than-life.
Anyone who’s enjoyed playing Elden Ring should take the time to learn about The Lands Between. Whether it is through a Wiki or a YouTube video, I promise it will give your next replay a much more nuanced feeling.
10 Open World Games With Amazing Side Quests
These games have such immersive universes that the optional content ends up being just as good as the main campaign.
- Security Camera Installation – indoor/outdoor IP CCTV systems & video analytics
- Access Control Installation – key card, fob, biometric & cloud‑based door entry
- Business Security Systems – integrated alarms, surveillance & access control
- Structured Cabling Services – voice, data & fiber infrastructure for new or existing builds
- Video Monitoring Services – 24/7 remote surveillance and analytics monitoring
Author: 360 Technology Group
