The 51 best Open Worlds: Play Worlds, which we will never forget

Open game worlds are far beyond trend status today, but have firmly established themselves in video games. Whether action adventure, role or racing game: No matter which genre you will find Open Worlds who want to explore. But which of these game worlds are the best? We asked ourselves this question in the Gamer editorial staff and tied our 51 loved one Open Worlds in hours of discussions.

Important: This is explicitly a purely subjective list, thus reflects the opinion of our editors. Of course, you can have other opinions regarding the ranking, and we are curious which your loved ones are open worlds. Write us in the comments!

Table of Contents:

51 to 26 Rank 25 to 1

51 — Canada (The Long Dark)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Genre: Adventure Release Year: 2014

Rae: The Long Dark is one of these survival games in which I die again and again because I distracted from the beautiful world the time — and the survival aspect — forget and a tragic end find. Although it works well as a never-ending winter level in the first moment, in which everything is immersed in a deep, gripping snow layer, just that makes The Long Dark but so fascinating: the dedication to make a single boom and as varied as possible. This deceptive beauty in a very own style ensures that the cold and threat of the merciless world is even more insistent and the postalapary-tantan Canada becomes so unforgettable.

50 — Mountain world (A Short Hike)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Genre: Adventure Release Year: 2019

Dennis: A Short Hike is one of these games, which is probably very few of you, let alone the small bird adventure itself played. Therefore, you should do that if you want a game that conjures you for a narrow tale two hours a smile in the face. Whether you fly with the little flatter man over the colorful mountain landscape, a round with the rowing boat turns or sparked in the middle of the snow a small campfire, thanks to the childlike look and the beautiful fashion style you have a good mood. A Short Hike also proves that an open game world does not have to be huge to fascinate us.

49 — Golden Island (Immortals: Deny Rising)

Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2020

Toby: The Golden Island in Immortals: Deny Rising has something of a theme park, because here four large different areas rely on manageable space. Each area is subject to one of the mythological gods: in Aphrodite's valley there are approximately lousy waterfalls and green meadows, while in Ares Cave of the War Dusty Does and Earths dominate. Explaining all this makes a celestial fun, especially thanks to the agile hero who can climb on almost everything and then enjoy the great foresight. A real surprise open world, in which thanks to numerous side tasks is only too easy to deliver from the actually planned way.

48 — Community Worlds (Minecraft)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U Genre: Sandbox game Release Year: 2009

Hannes: If you give a creative community as many possibilities as MINECRAFT has done from the beginning, the results can be absolutely breathtaking. Sure, there are countless servers that only have half-hearted-built huts and in sightless castles — but there is so much more. Whole cities and fictional worlds (for example, middle earth) are rebuilt with great detailed loyalty. Some worlds grow over years and become more and more complex and more ingenious. Whether flying kingdoms, shuddering mansions or steampunk cities on the back of huge turtles. Everything is possible in Minecraft.

47 — Island World (Super 3D World + Bowler's Fury)

Systems: Switch Genre: Jump & Run Release Year: 2021

Hannes: Sure, in the 3D world, Super Mario has done in the mid-1990s. But only with Super Mario Odyssey, the levels were slightly more spacious. How to look like the Open World Future of Nintendo's Mascot shows us Bowler's Fury, the playable extension, which connects the Switch new edition of Super Mario 3D World. Instead of looking into limited areas for secrets, we can move here freely and experience a new kind of discovery urge that there was not so far with Super Mario. This allows new opportunities to be creatively consumed and tackle even more playful finesse from legendary Jump & Run brand.

46 — Vvardenkell (The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrow ind)

Systems: Xbox, PC Genre: RPG Release Year: 2002

Hannes: The Elder Scrolls games are huge and often can simply impress with their size, the game world. As well as the island of Vvardenfell from The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrow ind but has much more to offer the adventure in the home of the dark elves. Unlike, for example Oblivion and Skyrim, each respectively Nordic on more classic fantasy Viking world put the world of Morrow ind is truly unique and is still regarded as the favorite among the fans.

Offering huge insect-like silt strider the quick travel, enormous mushroom towers where to hide magician and countless Deemed ruins, where the rampaging machines of the lost Dwarf people are on the loose — of which from going forward again more, dear Bethesda.

45 — Maidens (Sable)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Adventure Release Year: 2021

Hannes: As for the pure design, acts Maidens — the game world from Sable not particularly extraordinary. A sprawling desert with hidden caves, erklimmbaren rocks and scattered ruins. It is but can stand out from the crowd, the unique art design of the game that Maidens. To race with the floating bike over the dunes, just seems different when everything looks then as if it were straight out of the comic works of the French artist Jean Giraud. The particular graphic style makes for rich, vibrant colors and clear contours, but stands out while still from the famous cel-shaded look at — incomparably beautiful.

44 — Yard (Far Cry 6)

Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X / S, PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Shooter Release Year: 2021

Annika: Far Cry 6 now offers no high-end tropical world that makes me constantly amazed. Enough pretty spot for postcard motifs Yard has with its beaches and jungle areas but still has to offer. On top of it a few Spanish Sayings of the NPC and Latin American music on the radio, and the wanderlust announces loudly. I only say: Living 'La Vida Local and Ricky Martin! Well, Yard itself would be with his guerrilla war might not be the ideal vacation, but the Cuban flavor was perfect hit

43 — Hope County (Far Cry 5)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Shooter Release Year: 2018

Annika: Snow-capped mountains, dense forests, cabins on the lake and small farms — Apart from the religious fanatics invites Hope County formally to relaxed hiking excursion. But the fictitious district in the US state of Montana impressed not only with the environment but also with light effects, music and many cultural details that make the country so beautiful flair consistent. The Open World of Far Cry 5 offers so although far less change from the domestic Central Europe such as the tropical Yard Far Cry 6, but sprayed his whole own charm. I have at least as rucksack felt back to my real tour of the northern United States.

42 — Kingdom of Bohemia (Kingdom Come: Deliverance)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: RPG Release Year: 2018

Dennis: A grounded, realistic medieval setting that comes along with a credible Openwork: Such a combination we find in almost any other video game. Whether we run through dense green forests and large meadows to make in a small village resting or visit an imposing castle: Kingdom Come: Deliverance feels genuine and credible to, which is also because, as developer Warhorse Studios meticulously have based on real Bohemia, The world as it is represented in the game, therefore, could exist in real life. In addition, we do not zuschüttet Kingdom Come with Quest markers and HUD elements, and we thus do not realize all five steps, that we are in a game.

41 — solar system Nomad (Outer Wilds)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2019

Hannes: Open Worlds can be very different look. We are now exploring realistic cities, sometimes we climb mountains in strange fantasy worlds — and yet these worlds often work on a similar principle. In Outer Wilds but the wind is different, because here there is not only an entire solar system in zero gravity to explore the planets are in constant change.

To explore the world of Outer Wilds, we need information and the right timing. Within a time loop we have to be in the right place at the right time to advance the story — and who can already suspect that, for example, ebb and flood could play a role? This approach adds various levels to the right compact world, which we recognize and open up and opening up and develop — that does not feel real discoveries.

40 — Riverton (Divinity: Original SIN 2)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Genre: Role play Release Year: 2017

Hannes: Yes, the Fantasy World Riverton from Divinity: Original SIN 2 serves such some clichés. If you have an approximate idea of ​​how a world looks full of magicians, orcs, trolls and mercenaries, your Riverton is already very close. But that does not change in the fact, how beautiful and miraculous complex the game world is designed. In every small village, on every small clearing and in every hidden cave we find new quests, stories and adventure — and conveys an extremely dense atmosphere.

Riverton does not work alive, because animals and NPCs follow their daily routine (which is still added), but because the world always feels thoughtfully worked out. No matter if we just follow the main story and just listen to the speaking fungus, which we can only randomly understand thanks to a selected ability.

39 — Afghanistan (Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Release Year: 2015

Hannes: For the Hoc hang's last headers of the Metal Gear series, Kolyma had once again chosen a world political setting. With the Afghanistan of the 1980s, we act in the middle of the Soviet intervention, which came into conflicts with the Mudschahidin after a fingered military coup. This gloomy scenario that influences Afghan society to this day is facing the beautiful mountain landscapes of Afghanistan.

In combination with the rather dry climate, we offer one — for video games rather unusual — game world, which stands out above all by their Calgary. But this does not narrow the Afghan landscape, but underscores much more rather rustic beauty. Garnished with the bitter taste that this country has been affected over decades.

38 — Australia (Fora Horizon 5)

Systems: Xbox One, PC Genre: racing game Release Year: 2018

Dennis: Developer Playground Games Crafts for each of your Fora Horizon games visually impressive game worlds. Whether Mexico in the latest offshoot or Great Britain in its predecessor. However, my personal favorite is Australia from Fora Horizon 3, which may also be that the land of kangaroos and Koalas (and incredibly friendly people) has been a special place since my first detour in 1999. With off-road vehicles it goes through the outback, with the Nobel cart through the skyscrapers of surfers paradise and for the small cooling in between, the beach buggy is sent to the cool wet. There is a holiday mood!

37 — Victorian London (Assassin's Creed Syndicate)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2015

Linda: Assassin's Creed Syndicate not only plays in the troubles and fantastic London, but also one of the most exciting epochs of human history. As Evil and Jacob it takes me to the Victorian Age, which Ubisoft has really implemented here. London is dirty, gloomy and picturesquely beautiful. I climb on the Big Ben and watch passive carriages from above.

I jump on the Thames of ship to ship, while on the horizon magnificent buildings and smoking chimneys pillar. So I'm going on one with the city, sucking her liveliness, can feel her and almost smell (well, the latter would certainly not be so pleasant).

36 — New Bordeaux (Mafia 3)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Release Year: 2016

Hannes: When it comes to the Open World-Re-educations real place, it is always particularly interesting when a specific era is also taken up in the history of these cities. New Bordeaux is the setting of Mafia 3 and a fictitious version of New Orleans towards the end of the 1960s — i.e. a time in which social change was on the agenda.

The southern flair of New Bordeaux ensured fresh air and not offered more the super cooled atmosphere of New York. Instead, the city seems like a swamp of different cultures, lifestyles and music influences. To dip for only feel in this particular time, each visit New Bordeaux worth.

35 — Randomly generated world (Do not Starve)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Genre: Action / Survival Release Year: 2013

Rae: The World of Do not Starve (Together) lives mainly through its randomness and its distinctive style that has often been compared in the past with Tim Burton. He is dark, scrawled and unique. Compare him with Burton Do not Starve is not fair. Everything in this world wants to kill us and the titular hunger that plagues us, sometimes the smallest problem. It is precisely this danger posed by the quirky, dark world, but also makes them so special and irresistible place to every little angle to explore. Even after countless hours can always discover new details, which ensures that I will always lure back over and over again in the world of Do not Starve and its extensions.

34 — Aurochs (Yakuza)

Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X / S, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Wii U, PS2 Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2005

Hannes: The Yakuza series has often long mistakenly referred to as a type of Japanese GTA many years — while the two franchises could hardly be more different. This also applies to the game worlds, for the giant cities from GTA 5, GTA 4 and Co. is a small and intimate and therefore so authentic Aurochs opposite.

Consisting of only a few streets, to Aurochs lots of passers-by and Waste focuses on an extremely dense atmosphere full of neon signs, parked bicycles in the gutter. Of particular interest is also that Aurochs occurred over the years in various Yakuza offshoots and adapt to the respective setting. So we travel the game world in the 1980s, the Naughtier years and — most recently in Yakuza: Like a Dragon in the present.

34 — Coda (Anthem)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Release Year: 2019

Rae: One of the reasons why I am so sad about the early end and wasted potential of Anthem, is the world of sci-set title, Coda. In short: it is stunningly beautiful and full of secrets that I want to reveal. Throughout her are gigantic ruins, which raise the question of what is actually happening here is that I now long to look abandoned, overgrown statues and dilapidated buildings of bygone days.

Especially the view from the top of the Javelin is fascinating and offers that we rarely get to video game worlds a whole new perspective. Unfortunately, I will never be able to discover the secrets of Coda — except Bioware should nevertheless continue even for a continuation on a different level. As long as I'm just still flying in my Javelin through the area, enjoy the view and dream of what-ifs.

32 — Greece (Assassin's Creed: Odyssey)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2018

Annika: Greece is huge, beautiful and my digital dream come dream holiday. The world of Assassin's Creed: but Odyssey shines not only with ancient buildings and a diverse landscape, but feels through the hustle and bustle very authentically. But it need not always be only white sand beaches, turquoise sea and colorful vegetation. In the DLC 'The Fate of Atlantis' we get served again thematically focused areas with the heavenly Elysium, the gloomy underworld and the magnificent Atlantis that are definitely worth a visit. At the latest one there every few seconds come under scenarios that bring the digital photo album to overflowing. I want the next plane to Greece, best right now!

31 — The Earth (Microsoft Flight Simulator)

Systems: Xbox Series X / S, PC Genre: Simulation Release Year: 2021

Hannes: There are many Open World games that try to depict the real world. Sometimes, the worlds are only inspired by the reality, sometimes actually goes around the Manhattan, Topics or London's in the world. The Microsoft Flight Simulator can only laugh, because there are no compromises. Who flies here from Belgium to Mozambique, flies from Belgium to Mozambique — for hours, quiet floating across rivers, mountains, seas. Unlike many other game worlds, the earth should not offer a playground here, which we search for secrets or interact with. Instead, the world forms an overwhelming backdrop for our aerodynamic walks, which are above all awe and amazement of sounding.

30 — Leak (Subnautica)

Systems: PS5, Xbox Series X / S, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Adventure Release Year: 2014

Eleven: Subnautica is not a horror game in the classic sense. There are no jump scares or grotesque monsters behind every corner. Rather, the horror hides proverbially under the (water) surface. On the one hand, the game invites you to explore — not only because I have to collect resources like food and water to survive, but also because I make myself a little easier with every scanned blueprint and any upgrade.

At the same time, every dive into the comment does a wet but also its own risk. Be it the steady fear of suffocation, the pressure through which I can not enter some areas without submarine or huge waterceatures that can mean the fast death. The underwater world of Subnautica is full of life and spurred me to discover ever new ungrounded depths. At the same time, the world never forgot me that I am a foreign body in her and creates such a unique feeling of clamping and discovering at the same time.

29 — Island (The Witness)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Puzzle Release Year: 2016

Annika: The island of the riddle game The Witness is hardly surpassing diversity. From caves over desert ruins, an orchard and swamps, to a tree house and a city, is very important here with 18 areal variety. Here, however, not only impresses the quantity, but also the quality. Because the areas are so beautiful with their vigorous colors and the comic look so pretty picturesque that I would like to have had more puzzles to discover. From a permanent musical accompaniment, the game may have been able to benefit, but even without this, the other sound design proves to be very successful.

28 — Night City (Cyberpunk 2077)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, PC Genre: Role play Release Year: 2020

Dennis: Today we think about cyberpunk and especially to the Mega Metropolis Night City, we often have empty streets in memory, blurred faces of NPCs and a wealth of bugs. These sad images of the console version allow forgetting how much love for detail has flowed into the Open World and how impressive the action RPG can look — at least on a corresponding computer. Here, graphics escape with the finest ray tracing is offered and a world that only dripping in front of cyberpunk atom and in which one completely loses. Hopefully also across platform.

27 — Manhattan (Spider-Man Miles Morales)

Systems: PS5, PS4 Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2020

Linda: Anyone ever in New York City can certainly confirm: the East Coast Metropolis, and especially the concrete jaw of Manhattan, is really as fascinating and unique as it comes over in films and series. Skyscrapers that are impressive during the day and magical and at night due to their illumination. The hustle and bustle on the streets, people who cars, the noise — many of them are impressing Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales. And as a small cream — or rather snow fuels: thanks to the winter atmosphere in the PlayStation game, the scene looks all the same er.

26 — Lego City (Lego City Undercover)

Systems: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U Genre: Action Adventure Release Year: 2013

Hannes: That it can be fun to run around in game worlds built from Lego units, we know from countless Star Wars, Marvel and Harry Potter offshoots. In LEGO City Undercover, however, this concept is driven to the top, because there is a GTA-like Open World city to be explored, which consists completely from Lego. Lego's passers-by, Lego Handsome, Lego bus stops, Lego pre-state forests — just a huge game world, instead of small levels. This ensures a unique atmosphere that blends over the otherwise conventional Open World Design.

On the night side you will find the places 25 to 1!