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There is no single best story-driven open-world game for every player. Choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Red Dead Redemption 2 for character-focused stories, Ghost of Tsushima for cinematic samurai action, Cyberpunk 2077 for a build-driven science-fiction city, or Elden Ring if you want to piece together a more discovery-led story while exploring.
How to choose a story-driven open-world game
The biggest difference is how each game tells its story. Some put a defined protagonist and authored scenes at the center; others let exploration, setting, and scattered discoveries do more of the work. Your preferred setting and combat style matter just as much.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Open World: Video Games and Contemporary Art | $53.78 | Buy on Amazon |
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Ghost of Tsushima - PlayStation 4 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Mad Max - PlayStation Hits (PS4) | $18.64 | Buy on Amazon |
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Just Cause 4 - PlayStation 4 | $11.80 | Buy on Amazon |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 4 | $33.15 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Game | Story and setting | Play style | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Geralt searches the war-torn Northern Kingdoms for his adopted daughter, Ciri. | Fantasy role-playing, melee and magic, with a main quest and side stories. | Players who want a defined protagonist and a substantial fantasy journey. |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are outlaws on the run in America in 1899. | Western action and exploration in a detailed historical setting. | Players drawn to an outlaw story and a slower-paced frontier world. |
| Ghost of Tsushima | A samurai story built around revenge and honor in feudal Japan. | Cinematic sword combat and stealth. | Players who want a direct action premise and samurai setting. |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Mercenary V navigates Night City, a dystopian science-fiction setting. | Urban exploration and character-build choices; Johnny Silverhand is a notable character. | Players who prefer a futuristic city and experimentation with builds. |
| Elden Ring | A mysterious fantasy world whose story is more discovery-led than dialogue-led. | Open-world action RPG combat, exploration, and character creation. | Players who enjoy challenge and uncovering lore as they roam. |
These are practical distinctions, not standardized review scores or an objective ranking. For a direct, character-centered narrative, start with The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Ghost of Tsushima. If you would rather uncover the world’s mysteries through exploration, consider Elden Ring.
Best picks by story and play style
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — for a fantasy quest with a defined protagonist
CD PROJEKT RED describes The Witcher 3 as an open-world role-playing game about Geralt’s search for Ciri across the war-torn Northern Kingdoms. Its combination of a clear central goal, fantasy setting, and side stories suits players who want a character-led journey without giving up the freedom to wander.
#1 Best Overall
The publisher describes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered as a version with upgrades and enhancements to visuals, performance, and gameplay. The publisher page lists the Complete Edition with the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, and current-generation upgrade availability including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. CD PROJEKT RED also says standalone expansion listings are delisted and the Complete Edition replaces the base game across digital storefronts; exact packaging can vary by territory and platform. Check the official Witcher 3 page before buying.
Red Dead Redemption 2 — for a historical Western and outlaw drama
Red Dead Redemption 2 follows Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang as they try to survive while on the run in America in 1899. PlayStation’s 2026 editorial highlights the world’s exceptional detail, making this a natural choice if you want a historical Western setting around a character-focused outlaw story. Its appeal is less about fantasy builds and more about inhabiting that frontier world.
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.
PlayStation’s open-world game catalog article includes the game among its descriptions of open-world titles. That article also notes that PlayStation Plus Game Catalog availability is limited to Extra and Premium/Deluxe memberships, differs by region, and may change, so check your local store for current availability.
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PlayStation presents Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut as a samurai adventure centered on revenge and honor, with stealth and sword combat. It fits players who want a historical Japanese setting and a more immediate cinematic action premise than a lore-first role-playing game. See PlayStation’s open-world games guide for its official description.
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
Ghost of Yōtei is a separate game, not another edition of Ghost of Tsushima; PlayStation describes it as a standalone experience set 300 years later.
Cyberpunk 2077 — for a dystopian city and build choices
In Cyberpunk 2077, V is a mercenary in Night City. PlayStation’s descriptions emphasize the city, character attributes and builds, and Johnny Silverhand. Choose it if futuristic urban exploration and shaping a character’s capabilities sound more appealing than a historical or fantasy setting.
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
Phantom Liberty is an expansion, not the base game; PlayStation’s description associates it with the Dogtown area. Verify the platform and edition listing so you know whether the package you are considering includes the expansion. PlayStation’s open-world guide and 2026 catalog article describe the game and its expansion.
Elden Ring — for exploration, challenge, and story you discover
Elden Ring lets you create a character and explore on foot or horseback, uncovering secrets and mysteries across its world. Its story delivery is more discovery-led than a conventional dialogue-centered drama, so it is a stronger match if you enjoy interpreting what you find and tackling demanding action RPG combat.
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
Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion and requires the base game. Bandai Namco describes it as adding weapons, equipment, skills, enemies, bosses, and plotlines. The Tarnished Edition is designated for Nintendo Switch 2 only. Check Bandai Namco’s official Elden Ring page for the edition and expansion details relevant to your platform.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which game should you start with?
- Choose The Witcher 3 for a fantasy quest centered on a named protagonist, with major story expansions available in the Complete Edition.
- Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 for an outlaw story in a historical American frontier setting.
- Choose Ghost of Tsushima for samurai revenge-and-honor drama, sword combat, and stealth.
- Choose Cyberpunk 2077 for a dystopian city, mercenary story, and character builds; check whether your edition includes Phantom Liberty.
- Choose Elden Ring for challenging combat and exploration where the story is largely uncovered rather than delivered as a conventional character drama.
Check the edition before you buy
Edition names and included content can differ across platforms and storefronts. The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring have current edition details on their publishers’ pages, while the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion requires Elden Ring. For the other games, confirm whether the listing is for the base game, a Director’s Cut, or a package with an expansion. Catalog subscriptions are a separate consideration: PlayStation says its Game Catalog lineup varies by region and can change, so confirm availability in your local store.
