Let’s be honest — there’s nothing quite like firing up your PS5, sinking into the couch, and losing yourself inside a world so massive and alive that you forget dinner even exists. Open world games have a way of doing that to you. One minute you’re following the main quest, and the next, you’ve somehow spent three hours exploring a mountain range you spotted in the distance.
If you’ve been searching for the best open world games to play right now — especially the best open world games on PS5 — you’ve landed in the right place. I’ve put together this guide after spending way too many late nights testing, exploring, and yes, getting lost in these virtual worlds so you don’t have to do all the guesswork.
Whether you’re brand new to the genre or a seasoned explorer, there’s something on this list for everyone.
What Makes an Open World Game Actually Worth Playing?
Before we dive in, let’s clear something up. Not every game with a big map deserves the title of “best open world game.” A huge map stuffed with repetitive tasks and lifeless NPCs isn’t immersive — it’s a chore.
The truly great open world games share a few things in common:
- A living, breathing world — NPCs that react, weather systems, and environments that feel real
- Player freedom — the ability to approach quests, exploration, and combat your own way
- Rewarding exploration — stumbling upon something cool should feel like a discovery, not just a checkbox
- Story that pulls you in — even when you’re just wandering, there should be lore, depth, and purpose
With those standards in mind, here are the games that truly deliver.
🎮 Best Open World Games on PS5 (2026 Updated List)
1. Elden Ring — The Gold Standard of Open World Design
If there’s one game that rewrote the rulebook on what an open world can feel like, it’s Elden Ring. FromSoftware took their signature punishing combat and wrapped it inside a world so rich and mysterious that every fog-covered hill felt like a question begging to be answered.
The Lands Between is enormous, but more importantly, it’s dense. There are no waypoints screaming at you to go somewhere specific. You just… explore. And the rewards for that curiosity are some of the most memorable gaming moments you’ll ever experience.
Why PS5 players love it: Silky smooth performance at 60fps, fast loading times, and the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree adds even more brilliant content.
Best for: Players who love challenge, mystery, and rewarding exploration.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World
2. Red Dead Redemption 2 — Still the King of Atmosphere
Years after its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the most stunning open world games ever made. Rockstar Games built a version of the American frontier so detailed, so alive, that it almost feels wrong to call it a video game.
You play as Arthur Morgan — an outlaw caught between loyalty and morality — and the world around you breathes with him. Rain soaks your clothes. Animals behave realistically. NPCs remember you, react to you, and sometimes surprise you in ways no other game manages.
Why PS5 players love it: The PS5 version runs beautifully and the DualSense controller adds a surprising layer of immersion.
Best for: Story lovers and players who want to get completely lost in a world.
Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World
3. Ghost of Tsushima — A Visual Masterpiece
Originally a PS4 title, Ghost of Tsushima feels like it was made for PS5. The free upgrade brings it up to 60fps and 4K resolution, and the result is one of the most visually gorgeous games you can play on any platform.
You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai defending feudal Japan against a Mongol invasion. The combat is fluid, stylish, and incredibly satisfying — but what really sets this game apart is the world itself. Golden fields of wheat, crimson forests, snowcapped mountains — every frame looks like a painting.
Why PS5 players love it: Native 4K/60fps, fast loading, and the Director’s Cut adds the brilliant Iki Island expansion.
Best for: Players who love samurai culture, fluid combat, and jaw-dropping visuals.
Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — The RPG That Changed Everything
There’s a reason The Witcher 3 still shows up on best-of lists nearly a decade after its release. CD Projekt RED created a world so packed with meaningful content that you could genuinely play for hundreds of hours and still find something new.
The PS5 next-gen update breathes fresh life into this classic — ray tracing, higher frame rates, reworked textures, and DualSense haptic feedback make it feel like a brand-new experience. Plus, both the Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone DLCs are included, adding dozens more hours of some of the best storytelling in gaming.
Why PS5 players love it: The next-gen patch is a massive upgrade — this is now the definitive way to experience this masterpiece.
Best for: RPG fans who want incredible storytelling and a deep, living world.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World
5. Horizon Forbidden West — Sci-Fi Open World at Its Best
Guerrilla Games delivered something truly special with Horizon Forbidden West. The world is a breathtaking blend of lush post-apocalyptic nature and advanced technology, and the story — a deep dive into futurism, AI, and the survival of humanity — keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Combat against the massive, mechanical creatures is genuinely thrilling, and the map is packed with tribes, secrets, and side stories that are worth every minute of your time.
Why PS5 players love it: Built from the ground up for PS5 — the visuals, the haptic feedback, the adaptive triggers — it all comes together brilliantly.
Best for: Players who love sci-fi narratives and action-heavy gameplay.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World
6. Cyberpunk 2077 (with Phantom Liberty DLC) — The Comeback Story of the Generation
Look, everyone knows about Cyberpunk 2077’s rocky launch. But here’s the thing — the game that exists today is not the same game that released in 2020. CD Projekt RED has poured years of patches, updates, and the outstanding Phantom Liberty expansion into it, and the result is one of the most immersive open worlds ever made.
Night City feels alive in a way few games can match. Everyone around you has their own routine, their own story. The neon-soaked streets, the dark alleys, the corporate towers — it’s all woven together into something that sticks with you long after you’ve put the controller down.
Why PS5 players love it: The PS5 version finally runs flawlessly — 60fps, ray tracing, and lightning-fast load times make this the ideal platform.
Best for: Players who love dense, story-rich worlds and moral grey areas.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World
7. GTA 5 (GTA Online) — Still Going Strong
It’s remarkable that Grand Theft Auto V — originally released in 2013 — is still one of the most played open world games on PS5. The expanded PS5 edition brought improved visuals, performance modes, and new features to Los Santos, and GTA Online continues to receive content updates that keep the community massive and active.
The sandbox freedom of GTA 5’s open world is still unmatched in many ways. Whether you’re causing chaos in the streets or building your criminal empire in Online mode, this is a game that never really gets old.
Best for: Players who want pure sandbox freedom and a thriving online community.
Genre: Action-Adventure / Open World
8. Hogwarts Legacy — Magic in an Open World
For Harry Potter fans, Hogwarts Legacy was a dream come true. Set in the 1800s wizarding world, it gives you free rein to explore Hogwarts castle, the surrounding Scottish highlands, villages, and dungeons — all with magic at your fingertips.
What makes it stand out as one of the best open world games on PS5 is just how faithfully and lovingly the wizarding world has been recreated. Even small details — the way portraits move, the hidden rooms, the magical creatures — make exploration genuinely joyful.
Best for: Harry Potter fans and anyone who wants a warm, wonder-filled open world.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World
9. Forza Horizon 5 — Now on PS5 Too!
For a long time, PS5 players had to miss out on one of the greatest open world racing games ever made. That changed in April 2025 when Forza Horizon 5 finally arrived on PlayStation. Set across a stunning recreation of Mexico covering over 100 square kilometers, it’s an absolute joy to drive through.
The open world here isn’t just a backdrop — it’s the whole point. Racing through jungle roads, drifting across desert plains, and exploring hidden corners of the map make this one of the most fun open world experiences available right now.
Best for: Racing fans and casual players looking for pure, beautiful fun.
Genre: Racing / Open World
10. Rise of the Ronin — Japan’s Open World Evolved
Team Ninja — the studio behind Nioh and Ninja Gaiden — delivered something bold with Rise of the Ronin. This PS5 exclusive drops you into 19th century Japan at a time of political upheaval and asks you to navigate it however you choose.
The combat is challenging and rewarding in typical Team Ninja fashion, but what surprised many players was the depth of the open world itself — bustling cities, varied landscapes, and a cast of historical figures woven into a gripping narrative.
Best for: Action RPG fans who want history, challenge, and beautiful Japanese settings.
Genre: Action RPG / Open World (PS5 Exclusive)
Quick Comparison Table
| Game | Genre | Best For | PS5 Optimized? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Action RPG | Challenge lovers | ✅ Yes |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Action-Adventure | Story & atmosphere | ✅ Yes |
| Ghost of Tsushima | Action-Adventure | Visuals & combat | ✅ Yes |
| The Witcher 3 | Action RPG | Deep RPG fans | ✅ Yes (Next-Gen) |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Action RPG | Sci-fi & exploration | ✅ Yes |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Action RPG | Immersive city life | ✅ Yes |
| GTA 5 | Action-Adventure | Sandbox & online play | ✅ Yes |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Action RPG | Magic & wonder | ✅ Yes |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Racing | Driving & exploration | ✅ New! |
| Rise of the Ronin | Action RPG | PS5 exclusive action | ✅ Exclusive |
Tips for Choosing the Right Open World Game for You
With so many amazing options, picking where to start can feel overwhelming. Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- Want a challenge? → Start with Elden Ring
- Want emotional storytelling? → Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3
- Want something visually stunning on PS5? → Ghost of Tsushima or Horizon Forbidden West
- Want a city to explore? → Cyberpunk 2077 or GTA 5
- Want something lighthearted and fun? → Hogwarts Legacy or Forza Horizon 5
Final Thoughts — Which Open World Game Should You Play First?
There’s genuinely never been a better time to be a PS5 owner who loves open world games. The library is stacked with titles that don’t just offer big maps — they offer worlds that feel real, stories that stay with you, and moments you’ll talk about long after the credits roll.
If I had to pick just one game for someone jumping into the genre for the first time, I’d say start with Ghost of Tsushima. It’s accessible, stunning, and the kind of game that makes you fall in love with open world gaming all over again.
But honestly? Every game on this list deserves your time. So save this page, work your way through them, and enjoy every second of getting lost in worlds that are bigger and more beautiful than anything your younger gaming self could have imagined.
Have a favourite open world game that didn’t make this list? Drop it in the comments below — I’d love to hear what you’re playing!
