The best open-world games in 2024

If you need a break from sprawling RPG games or gritty FPS games, then you find a new adventure in our selection of the best open-world games around. While these games might feature huge maps and long narratives, you’ll soon be swept up in exploring sandy beaches, fantasy worlds, or even 1950s Los Angeles. Anything can happen this roster of open-world games.

To help you track down the best of the best, we’ve rounded up our essential picks for the greatest open-world games you can play right now on Nintendo Switch and mobile. If you’ve had your fill of open-world games once you’ve read this list, you can also check out some other recommendations we’ve got for you.

Whether it’s the best mobile multiplayer games for those looking to spend some time with others or the best games like Civilization, there’s a little something for everyone here.

Here are the best open-world games:

Genshin Impact – mobile

When Genshin Impact first arrived, many thought it was a bit of a Breath of the Wild clone that wouldn’t stick around for all too long. How wrong they were, with this game still going strong in its fourth year, with new updates and characters arriving in-game every couple of months. Better still, it’s free to play.

Giving you numerous characters to have in your party, an open world full of secrets, and lots of seasonal events, Genshin Impact is one of the best open-world games, and what makes it better is that it’s a game you can play forever. And it’s coming to Switch soon if you’re not up for playing it on your phone. (We’ve got a Genshin Impact Switch release date guide to keep you up to date, too).

Play Genshin Impact for free.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch

If you thought Hyrule was big in Breath of the Wild, oh boy, Tears of the Kingdom has something to show you. The scale of this game is unlike anything else we’ve ever seen before, with no ‘open areas’ or ‘open zones’, just a proper open world in the truest sense of the term. There are endless hours of gameplay here, so leap from the sky islands, and float through an incredible adventure.

To get off to a solid start in Hyrule, check out our guides for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gleeoks, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom shrines, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom depths, and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom old map, and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom enemies.

The Witcher 3 – Switch

If you’re looking for an open world that’s gorgeous, maybe play this on a different platform. But if you’re after deep characters, rolling hills, and scary monsters, this is the game for you on Switch.

The key with The Witcher 3 is the side quests, which are celebrated to no end. But there’s good reason; these are definitely the best side quests in any videogame, leading down winding narratives and engaging gameplay moments. It’s a must-play.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Switch

Sure, this game first arrived closer to the Nintendo Wii era than the Switch, but thanks to a solid porting job, you can enjoy one of the most engaging RPGs of the 21st century on the go. It’s got everything from combat to crafting to cave exploration, and it just never gets old.

With some stellar DLC offerings to expand your experience and a big replayability factor thanks to the varying classes and game-changing decisions, Skyrim still holds up as one of the best action RPGs on Switch. Better still, it’s often on sale, so you can potentially pick it up at a discounted price.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – Switch

For anybody out there playing Elden Ring who wants to have a bit of a history lesson, go pick up Dragon’s Dogma. So much about it has seeped into many open-world games over the years, yet the game doesn’t get as much credit as some others.

With magic and melee combat, large beasts for you to clamber up and grab onto, and a story that ends in the wackiest way, Dragon’s Dogma is a strange, excellent concoction that everyone should check out.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag – Switch

Ubisoft’s recreation of the Caribbean in Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is endlessly gorgeous and enjoyable. You climb in the shoes of a pirate assassin, sail the high seas, and do lots of murders in beautiful places. Oh, and it’s part of the Rebel Collection on Switch, so you get AC Rogue too, which is an alright game.

Black Flag is often talked about as the best Assassin’s Creed game, so it’s definitely worth a look. If you’re more of a fan of Italian escapades, check out our Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection review to see what we think.

Xenoblade Chronicles – Switch

The slow burn that has been Xenoblade Chronicle’s rise to stardom is great to see, considering it has some of the best open-world games out there all in one series. Back when Monolith Soft released the original in Japan, fans had to fight for a Western release.

Now, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a headline title for Nintendo this year. If you want to go back to where it all started before the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 release date, check out the original on Switch. It has an expansive, beautiful world full of strange creatures and excellent storytelling.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Switch

For more JRPG goodness, look no further than the grandaddy of JRPGs. Dragon Quest has been around forever (Square Enix released it a year before the first Final Fantasy game), and it’s a mega-hit in Japan.

If you’re looking to get into it, the best place to start is with Dragon Quest XI. It has a grand, world-ending story, gorgeous monster designs, and lots of turn-based battling to keep you engaged.

A Short Hike – Switch

Those of you looking for a more peaceful open world, or just not looking to murder anyone, look no further than my personal game of the year for 2020, A Short Hike. It‘s a tiny little adventure where you meet quirky people, solve their problems, and try to hike up a mountain.

It‘s delightful, and a great example of a small game still being one of the best open-world games. No matter what people say, size doesn’t always matter.

L.A. Noire – Switch

While the open world in L.A. Noire may seem a little barren, that doesn’t stop it from being an excellent game. Full of magnificent writing and dialogue suited to the period, the game tells the story of Cole Phelps, a cop in the LAPD, climbing the ranks and solving crimes.

It has wonderful storytelling, and most people tend to overlook things that it does better than any other games out there, just because the open world is kinda empty. Who cares when everything else is as good as it is?

Sky: Children of the Light – Switch and mobile

Developed by Thatgamecompany (who also developed the similarly excellent Flow, Flower, and Journey), Sky: Children of the Light has a delicate open world, beautifully realized, with seven kingdoms to explore.

Like Journey before it, there are clever, subtle social elements to make everything that much more impactful. And it’s free-to-play, which is even better. We also have a Sky: Children of the Light review if you need more convincing to play one of the best open-world games for free.

Oceanhorn – Switch and mobile

If you fell in love with Breath of the Wild and just need some more as soon as possible, then Oceanhorn may be for you. It’s an unabashed Zelda-like, even down to the main character. But that doesn’t stop it from being engaging.

It has some great puzzles, some pretty world design, and a sequel, so if you like the first game, there’s more where that came from. Who knows? This could develop into a series as sprawling as The Legend of Zelda in time.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch

The game that launched the Nintendo Switch also happens to be one of the best games of all time. It’s covered in things to discover, leaving you to explore with very little direction. Just the way we like it.

There are gentle dragons swimming past waterfalls, massive mountains to climb, or just strange glows in the distance. Everything that intrigues you leads to a surprise. Just be sure to carry enough food to keep your health in the green as you adventure through Hyrule.

Minecraft – Switch and mobile

Open worlds don’t come much more open than that of Minecraft’s. If you still haven’t experienced the unbridled joy of finding yourself in a massive sandbox, it’s time to do it. If you haven’t played Minecraft for a while, this is your reminder to jump back in. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular games on the planet.

Whether you want to build a world just for yourself or team up with friends to build something impressive, it’s your choice to make. To help you get started, check out our Minecraft servers, Minecraft skins, and Minecraft download guides. 

GTA The Trilogy Definitive Edition – Switch

While these were initially released with a myriad of bugs and glitches, these handheld ports of Rockstar Games’ seminal open-world classics are in far better shape these days. This bundle brings together the original trilogy of GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas, each of them armed with various fidelity improvements and gameplay enhancements. New lighting effects bring a more realistic sheen to these games, as it echos some aesthetic changes seen in more games like GTA 5.

Of course, it doesn’t look like the modern-day Rockstar opus, but they don’t look too shabby either. We reckon that this bundle is worth picking up alone just for Vice City, as its impeccable vibes, soundtrack, and ode-to-cinema style story are still superb to this day. Yes, many of you may prefer San Andreas, but we wouldn’t be there without Vice City’s essential groundwork. 

No Man’s Sky – Switch

While No Man’s Sky has had a rocky road to redemption over the years, Hello Games’ ambitious sci-fi game has become an excellent title boasting heaps of features that even genre rivals like Bethesda’s Starfield are missing. You’ll be discovering new randomly generated worlds at your own pace, gathering resources, and starting your own perfect life among the stars. There’s a mysterious story to complete too, and it is just as mind-bending as it is enthralling to unravel.

No Man’s Sky really shines because of the continuous update it receives too, all of which are completely free for players across all platforms. The most recent update added a whole new fishing mechanic and other aquatic features to the game. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, No Man’s Sky is a total blast.

Hogwarts Legacy – Switch

You can dive right into the iconic Wizarding World in Hogwarts Legacy, which is available on Nintendo Switch for all you Potterheads. While this version of the game isn’t as strong visually compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S counterparts, this is still an enjoyable experience if you’re looking for a pocket-sized adventure.

Hogwarts Legacy is set way before Harry Potter’s birth, giving you a peek into the world way before Voldermort came to town. Of course, there are some cheeky easter eggs to uncover, and plenty of spells to master.

Red Dead Redemption – Switch

Rockstar Games’ superb western is an essential open-world game for your Nintendo Switch. Set after the events of Red Dead Redemption 2, this classic title sees you step into the shoes of outlaw John Marston as he hunts down his former gang. The game’s world is outstanding, giving you an authentic depiction of the old west, taking influences from iconic spaghetti western movies, music, and more. Even after 14 years, Red Dead Redemption is still a masterpiece. You’ll even get Undead Nightmare bundled with it.

Batman Arkham City – Switch

Arkham City is available through the Batman: Arkham Trilogy collection, and is easily the best of the bunch when it comes to getting your DC Comics fix on Nintendo Switch. While Arkham Knight has the Batmobile and a huge Gotham City to roam around within, it’s performance stops it from joining this list right now. Arkham City, however, fars much better on Nintendo’s handheld.

Picking up immediately after Arkham Asylum, most of Gotham’s criminals are now isolated within Arkham City, an area of Gotham separated by intense security – and a masssive bridge too. You’ll be battling plenty of iconic villains as you foil a grand plot that stretches further than Batman could have imagined. Combat is so damn satsifying, and Arkham City’s world design is as immaculate as it was all those years ago.

That’s that, then. Thousands of hours of the best open-world games for you to get lost in. Go on then, get lost! If you do decide to give Genshin a go, check out our Genshin Impact codes list to get some free stuff and get off to a good start. Or, if you’re in the mood for freebies, grab something good with our free Monopoly Go dice and Coin Master free spins guides.