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For a game you can happily wander away from, look for more than a large map: the best open worlds give you reasons to take the wrong turn. These ten picks, all first released in 2020 or later, offer different rewards for roaming—from hidden routes and risky encounters to side stories, improvised machines, and city-block discoveries. The ranking is subjective, not a universal scorecard.
How these games make wandering worthwhile
“Since 2020” here means the game’s initial release was in 2020 or later, not that an older game received a new port or edition. The list weighs how each world draws you off the main route, how freely you can explore, how much combat pressure you face, and whether optional stories and activities feel rewarding. Those are editorial criteria, not a measured scoring system.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Open World: Video Games and Contemporary Art | $53.78 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Ghost of Tsushima - PlayStation 4 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mad Max - PlayStation Hits (PS4) | $18.64 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Just Cause 4 - PlayStation 4 | $11.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Elden Ring - PlayStation 4 | $33.32 | Buy on Amazon |
The four best-supported examples in this selection are Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Horizon Forbidden West. Their dates and platform details differ, so check the edition and system before buying.
1. Elden Ring
Why you’ll get lost
FromSoftware’s open-world RPG turns curiosity into a gamble. A strange ruin, distant landmark, or path around a fortress can lead to a secret, a new threat, or a fight you are not ready to win. The freedom to retreat from a punishing encounter and look for another route is part of its exploration rhythm: getting stronger can mean finding somewhere else to go rather than repeating the same battle.
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Who it suits
Choose it if you enjoy discovery without constant hand-holding and accept that exploration can end in difficult combat. Bandai Namco dates the game to February 25, 2022; PlayStation describes traversing its world on foot or horseback and finding secrets and mysteries. Bandai Namco’s game listing identifies it as an Open World RPG.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Why you’ll get lost
Hyrule is a place to investigate and a toolkit to experiment with. The Ultrahand building system lets you devise ways to cross gaps and reach places, so wandering can turn into a small engineering problem rather than simply following a marked path. The game expands exploration into sky and underground areas, giving familiar landmarks new context and offering puzzles and destinations away from the main route.
Rank #2
- Available Now - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a new cooperative multiplayer experience inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology.
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure.
- The rise of the Ghost: Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
Who it suits
It is a strong fit for players who like playful problem-solving and making their own traversal solutions. Nintendo’s original Switch release was May 12, 2023. Nintendo also lists a physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition; that is specifically a Switch 2 product, not a claim that every edition is for that system.
3. Cyberpunk 2077
Why you’ll get lost
Night City rewards detours through its dense urban layout: side jobs, gigs, and encounters give the streets purpose beyond getting from one main-story marker to another. Its appeal is less about wilderness and more about moving through a labyrinthine city whose districts and activities keep pulling you into new local stories.
Rank #3
- Be Mad Max - Become the iconic post-apocalyptic warrior, crafting and upgrading Max's equipment and weapons to survive by combining melee combat, gunplay and tactical techniques. Gamers must form alliances as they work towards the goal of building their "Magnum opus."
- Immersive savage Wasteland - Explore the gritty, dynamic world while braving the treacherous landscapes, hostile weather patterns and deadly marauders.
- survive the open-world landscape - Staying alive isn't easy. Players clash with deadly factions and gangs through scores of dangerous side-missions and quests in the dynamic open-world full of exploration.
- intense vehicular combat - Engage in dynamic inter-vehicular combat, taking down enemy vehicles with a range of powerful weapons. Car combat is entirely physics-based, so no two battles are ever the Same.
- build the ultimate survival machine - Players design, customize and upgrade their ultimate vehicle-the Magnum Opus-choosing from different car chassis and a slew of upgrades including mounted weapons, armour and engines to survive another day
Who it suits
Pick it if you want a story-led role-playing game in a city setting, with optional jobs alongside the main plot. Bandai Namco lists its release date as December 10, 2020. The Phantom Liberty expansion adds the Dogtown district, a spy-thriller story, gigs and side quests, weapons and items, and repeatable open-world activities, according to CD PROJEKT RED’s September 25, 2023 launch announcement. It is an add-on; do not assume it comes with every purchase of the base game.
4. Horizon Forbidden West
Why you’ll get lost
This is the choice for a more guided, narrative-led journey that still leaves room for side quests and environmental detours. The changing environments provide a strong sense of moving through a larger world, while optional activities let you spend time with stories beyond the central plot.
Rank #4
- Day One Edition includes Neon Racer Pack with these DLC items Neon Racer Supercar, Neon Racer Wingsuit, Neon Racer Parachute; see description for full details
- Bring The Thunder Soar through the skies with your wingsuit Skydive, Base Jump and Free Dive, as you fight your enemies harnessing extreme weather to your advantage
- Rico’s Ultimate Mission Spearhead the rebellion and defeat a hi tech private military organization; Face off against the most capable adversary yet; Uncover the mystery behind Rico’s Father’s past
- Huge South American World 100 square kilometers to explore from rainforest to desert, and across snowy mountain peaks as you explore the world of Solis from bustling cities to rural grasslands
- Creative destruction at its best Customize your new grapple hook with evolved and new capabilities; Experiment with military jets, helicopters, turbo fueled sports cars, and construction vehicles
Who it suits
It suits players who want exploration and side content wrapped around a clear adventure narrative. PlayStation dates the game to February 18, 2022, and describes it as an open-world adventure. Its guide lists PS4 and PS5; confirm the edition and platform on the particular store listing before purchasing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Why you’ll get lost
Marvel’s New York makes movement itself a reason to roam. Swinging across an expanded city turns a trip to an objective into an opportunity to explore another neighborhood or stumble into an activity. It offers a more immediate, kinetic kind of open-world wandering than a wilderness built around navigation and survival.
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Best Value
- ELDEN RING is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki—creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series; and George R.R. Martin—author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to-date
- HIDETAKA MIYAZAKI: President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls
- GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: the #1 The New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire—A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons
Who it suits
Choose it if you want a superhero story and fast city traversal. PlayStation’s open-world guide highlights the expanded Marvel’s New York. Sony Interactive Entertainment reported that the game sold more than 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours, in a company timeline entry dated October 23, 2023; that is a launch-period sales figure, not a measure of quality or exploration depth.
Quick Recap
Choosing the right kind of open world
- For mystery and combat risk: Elden Ring makes detours rewarding but potentially dangerous.
- For creative traversal: Tears of the Kingdom lets you build solutions to exploration problems.
- For city stories: Cyberpunk 2077 makes optional work part of a dense urban setting.
- For a narrative-led adventure: Horizon Forbidden West balances its central journey with side quests.
- For movement-driven sightseeing: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 makes crossing the city part of the pleasure.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
