Video games have come a long way since their humble beginnings. In the early days of gaming, there were only a handful of genres to choose from. One of the most popular genres was the open-world game.
Open world games are characterized by their large, explorable worlds. These games often give players much freedom in how they want to play.
There are a lot of best open world games PS4. Here are a few of the best.
Best PS4 open-world games
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Geralt is not without flaws. His surroundings aren’t much better. War has ravaged much of the countryside, with savage monsters that no longer hide in the shadows preying on unsuspecting citizens. In contrast, others strive to remain anonymous in the human-dominated terrain.
Yet because of this, the Witcher 3 (opens in a new tab) is the most OK open-world game to play right now. Because everything is damaged in its unique manner, there is always something for Geralt to do displayed on peeling notice boards (for gold, of course).
Stick to the dirt rural roads and assist locals with creatures baying at the door. At the same time, they stare at you and your yellow eyes suspiciously, bargain with a well-meaning poltergeist in the center of a metropolis, or investigate all those cryptic question marks sprinkled throughout the globe.
The flawed environment of The Witcher 3 makes for a perfect game, which means it’s set an extremely high standard for the future of open-world games.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
(Playable on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X)
It makes no difference whether you wish to hunt. It doesn’t matter whether you want to assist Dutch to reach his elusive ambitions or if you want to have the fanciest rootin’ tootin’-ist clothing in all of America: Red Dead Redemption 2 is jam-packed with activities that will keep you engaged from the moment you enter its realm.
On its own, the plot follows Dutch Van Der Linde’s struggles to keep his gang viable while avoiding his ego, all while being watched over by his devoted comrade Arthur Morgan.
Its story of a rapidly fading period of outlaws as civilization creeps into the Wild West means there are lots of individuals in need of your assistance. However, you could always rob them…
Each section is so beautiful that it hurts your eyes as you attempt to take in every detail: Rockstar’s game will have you digging for dinosaur bones, solving a murder mystery, or even summoning the famed Red Dead Redemption 2 vampire.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the finest open-world games to play right now due to the sheer range of options and things to do, so what are you waiting for, partner?
Read also: Is Red Dead Online Cross Platform?
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC
GTA 5 (opens in new tab) was always one of the top three open-world games. You’re aware of it. I’m aware of it. For Christ’s sake, it’s the most successful entertainment product of all time!
Driving through the winding streets, taking advantage of certain adult clubs, skydiving, stabbing sharks with knives, tracking a serial killer, fleeing the police (or fighting them if you want that 5-star wanted rating), going full Trevor and causing as much chaos as possible, and do I need to keep going?
Grand Theft Auto is a network of illegal exploits and mind-boggling possibilities. Every inch of the environment is teeming with NPCs to influence, tasks to complete, or just gigantic heights of hijinks to indulge in. It’ll eat you whole, spit you out, and leave you wanting more.
See also: Is GTA Cross Platform? GTA Offline vs GTA Online 2022
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Do you see that mountain? You can do it. You may also use octopus balloons to float a raft in the air or transform a fallen tree into a lethal weapon.
Combining the ingenious mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild(opens in new tab) is what makes its open world so deliriously freeing, as it encourages that special breed of mad scientist experimentation, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best Nintendo Switch games(opens in new tab) available right now, as well as one of the best open world games.
Instead of objectives driving you throughout the globe, you’ll discover that curiosity gets the best of you most of the time since Breath of the Wild’s landmarks are genuinely interesting and provide the opportunity to learn more about the planet before Calamity Ganon hits.
Alternatively, you might go in search of the 600 beautiful Korok Seeds. Or hone your culinary skills. Take on a Lynel, for example. Or…you get the picture.
5. Horizon Forbidden West
Available on: PS5, PS4
Horizon Forbidden West has done what many sequels have failed to achieve before: it has outperformed its predecessor.
You are providing a broader and more diverse open world than the original, with each side mission adding something fresh and intriguing to the one you’ve already explored.
Aloy’s next journey is magnificent and unforgettable, with a fantastic graphical showcase of what the PS5 is capable of if you play it on the latest hardware.
6. Ghost of Tsushima
Available on: PS4, PS5
Hold down your startled expressions if you see a samurai game full of swords, blood, and violence on a list of the finest open-world games to play right now. Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima(opens in new tab) is surprisingly serene when the swords aren’t clashing.
Create haikus while marveling at a tranquil lake, reflecting on your father’s death in a hot spring, following a fox through the Forest to a secret shrine, or just seeing what that smoke in the sky is all about.
A basic user interface, waypoints indicated by fluttering yellow birds, and the wind combine to create one of the most intriguing and natural open-world experiences to date. Of course, it helps that the fighting and plot are also excellent. This is not one to be missed.
7. Elden Ring
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
The sense of mystery that shrouds practically everything in Elden Ring is one of its most remarkable qualities as an open environment.
Good open-world games make you wonder ‘what’s over there?’, but all too frequently, repeated features like towers to climb and enemy bases to clear mean you already know. That is, providing it hasn’t been marked on the map in the past several hours of play.
The location of FromSoftware reveals nothing and lends excellent pleasure to its investigation. Every door or a new place is both exciting and dangerous, and the absence of apparent allusions or roots to its universe frequently means that even when you can see anything, you’re not sure what to anticipate.
The open world format has also mellowed From’s traditional game design approach. I won’t claim it’s more approachable since there are still tricky bosses and high-level regions that will deliver you what’s left of your ass in seconds.
On the other hand, the flexibility to roam eliminates the grind of more linear games like the Dark Souls series, allowing you to walk out and explore, leveling up at a more leisurely rate and reacting to the obstacles ahead.
8. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X
All of the previous Assassin’s Creed titles have been excellent open-world games, but Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a must-play, especially since it’s already one of the top Xbox Series X best PS5 games.
Valhalla takes you to the Dark Ages, journeying through England as Viking Eivor to locate a new home for your clan, building on the advancements made in Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (both of which are well worth your time).
Build your colony, make new friends, build new alliances, participate in politics, and go exploring to discover the mysteries and riches hidden in ancient England.
9. Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X
The world of Skyrim does not revolve around you. A necromancer is attempting to animate a skeleton somewhere in the wilderness.
During the day, you’ll see a bunch of bandits fighting a giant (RIP), or you’ll stroll into a neighboring hamlet only to have a dragon attack you as you stumble out of the inn.
Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim(opens in a new tab) is built for storytelling, and it’s so anxious for you to experience its joys that even if you avoided every central town, you’d still encounter 30% of its missions in the wild.
The landscape is chock-full of things to do, strange sights to view, critters to impale with sharp instruments, NPCs to pickpocket, eerie Dwemer ruins to explore…oh, and dragons to kill. Even after a casual 100 hours (those are novice statistics), there are still tasks to be discovered and secret monsters to be slain.
It isn’t easy to overstate Skyrim’s influence on the lives of gamers worldwide, but to get a decent understanding of its significance and what Elder Scrolls 6(opens in a new tab) has to live up to, jump in and start your new life in its universe.
10. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Available on: PS5, PS4
Marvel’s Spider-Man was one of the few games that revitalized the superhero genre. Insomniac’s game, which launched first on PS4 and then received a PS5 patch, sees us swinging across a stunning reproduction of New York, complete with massive side missions and other activities to balance the memorial tale.
It’s also worth noting that Spider-Man: Miles Morales is situated in the same open environment and continues the tale. It’s shorter and more compact but just as interesting, so it’s worth looking into.
11. Genshin Impact
Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PC
What if you combined Breath of the Wild with JRPG themes and a dash of anime? So, hello and welcome to Genshin Impact.
Teyvat’s universe is full of secrets about who you are and why you’re there. With continual updates and new characters being introduced regularly, there are plenty of reasons to delve in. Did we mention it’s completely free?
12. Sea of Thieves
Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
Sea of Thieves provides an open-world playground where you may create your adventures. Build your crew, uncover riches, and more as you become a renowned pirate.
This game has gone a long way since its first release in 2018, with regular updates and expansions. It also has a fantastic community, which adds to the pirate illusion.
13. Forza Horizon 5
Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
Forza Horizon 5 is the only racer on my list of the greatest open-world games, but it more than deserves to be there. This arcade racer sees you touring Mexico as the next Horizon festival, a massive celebration of all things on four wheels and some unique visitors.
It’s beautiful, has great music, and always has something fresh for you to do. And, of course, the variety of vehicles available is mind-boggling.
14. Days Gone
Available on: PS4, PC, PS5
Days Gone is another excellent horror-filled open world, with hordes of hundreds of zombies eager to assault you. You take on the role of Deacon St John, and despite his unfortunate moniker, this biker has quite the tale to tell.
It’s enticing, albeit grim, universe with human tales to balance out the horrors of the zombies (or breakers, as they’re called). Poking about in every nook will reward you, exactly as you’d expect from a well-crafted open-world game.
15. Halo Infinite
Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
Halo Infinite brought the infinite to Halo. Well, not exactly, but the vast open world does wonders for Master Chief and company.
It isn’t a big open world, but it pushes you to explore and move through it, unlocking new locations. Between the set pieces, it’s a fantastic universe to reside in, with many reasons to return. There’s a reason why it’s the finest Halo planet ever.
Read also: Is Halo Infinite Cross Platform?
16. Dying Light 2
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
The sequel to the initially infected murdering, parkouring melee title arrives, delivering an open world that is equally as fascinating as the first.
The globe of Dying Light 2 is a massive area to explore – try to stay out of the path of the scurrying hordes – with constant incentives to keep peering around the next bend. While the tale may not have been as choice-based as many had hoped, this is still an excellent open-world game for anyone searching for a survival-horror twist.
Read also: Is Dying Light 2 Cross Platform? Tips New 2022
17. Mad Max
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mad Max, created by Avalanche Studios, follows Max Rockatansky as he travels across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Rockatansky must construct the Magnum Opus, a vehicle that will be used in the war against a band of raiders.
This action-adventure game focuses on vehicular warfare, with players able to equip weapons and armor directly on their vehicles. Modifying and personalizing a vehicle allows players to grow stronger and more easily overcome their opponents. Mad Max’s open environment is a landscape of deserts, canyons, and dark tunnels.
18. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Fans of the medieval period will enjoy Kingdom Come: Deliverance. This action RPG from Warhorse Studios is set in the Kingdom of Bohemia, an Imperial State of the Holy Empire. The game, set in 1403 Bohemia, tries to give historically authentic material.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance portrays the son of a blacksmith as he seeks vengeance on the culprits of his village’s terrible slaughter. During his voyage, the guy launches a rebellion against the king and strives to return the true ruler to the throne.
19. Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
This action RPG is inspired by the wildly famous The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings franchises. Middle-earth: Shadow of War takes place after The Hobbit but before The Lord of the Rings.
Fans of Tolkien’s works will like this open-world title. Players join Ranger Talion and the spirit of the eld lord Celebrimbor as they build a new Ring of Power in the hope of using it to defeat the evil Sauron. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, you may explore the open globe of Middle Earth.
20. Just Cause 3
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
This 2015 action-adventure game is the third in the Just Cause series and takes place six years after the previous installment. Rico Rodrigues, the series’ protagonist, strives to preserve his hometown of Medici in Just Cause 3.
General Sebastiano Di Ravella, a fictitious tyrant, has taken control of the region. From a third-person viewpoint, players may explore the 400-square-mile tropical island of Medici. In addition, players may navigate about the island using items such as a grappling hook and a parachute.
21. Metro Exodus
Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Metro Exodus is the third chapter in the Metro series and a first-person shooter created by 4A Games. The trilogy is based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s books Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light.
The game combines survival horror and stealth elements and is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland of the former Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Players must avoid traps and battle zombie-like entities. In 2021, a new game version was launched for next-generation platforms.
22. Far Cry 5
Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Far Cry 5, developed by Ubisoft, is similar to its predecessors in that the plot centers on bringing down a despotic tyrant, albeit this time its cult leader Joseph Seed.
The fifth part in the series, set in Hope County, Montana, follows Eden’s Gate, a doomsday cult. Players take control of a junior deputy sheriff stranded in Hope County and must collaborate with a rebel organization to free the area. The gameplay focuses on battle and exploration using a variety of weaponry.
23. The Forest
Available on: PC, PS4
As the name suggests, the Forest takes place on a thickly wooded peninsula. Players follow Eric Leblanc as he battles cannibalistic tribes in his quest to recover his son Timmy, who was lost in an aircraft disaster. The game has nonlinear gameplay with no predefined tasks or goals.
Players are free to make their own survival choices. A sequel to The Forest is presently in the works, with an October 2022 release date.
Read more: Is The Forest Cross Platform? PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S?
24. ARK: Survival Evolved
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
ARK: Survival Evolved, developed by Studio Wildcard, finds players abandoned on an island teeming with wandering dinosaurs.
The goal is to stay alive while ancient creatures and even hostile human gamers wander the island. The open-world title lets players explore the island on foot or by riding a dinosaur. In ARK: Survival Evolved, firearms and homemade weaponry protect against other people and wildlife.
Read more: Is ARK Cross Platform?
25. No Man’s Sky
Available on: PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
No Man’s Sky was designed by Hello Games on four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trade. The result is a massive cosmos with over 18 quintillion planets.
Each planet has its ecology, replete with unique flora and animals as well as alien creatures. Players progress in the game by mining minerals and utilizing them to improve different pieces of equipment, construct planetary bases, and expand their space fleet.
27. Batman: Arkham Knight
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
7 Days to Die is an intriguing game since it was an early access product financed by a considerable Kickstarter effort that was never completed. This survival horror game, which simulates the aftermath of World War III, is still in early access.
Nuclear war has devastated significant areas of the earth, and players must now struggle to live by finding shelter, food, and water. Supplies may be scavenged while battling off hordes of zombies caused by a new strain of the disease. Despite its promise, 7 Days to Die is no longer being produced.
28. Death Stranding
Available on: PC, PS4, PS5
Rocksteady Studios created Batman: Arkham Knight to follow the 2013 game Batman: Arkham Origins. It is the fourth primary entry in the series and takes place nine months after the events of Batman: Arkham City.
The game follows Batman as he faces off against Scarecrow. The eerie villain has unleashed a city-wide assault on Gotham City, forcing inhabitants to flee. Scarecrow and the enigmatic Arkham Knight then hatch a plot to combine a slew of criminals and defeat Batman.
29. Mafia: Definitive Edition
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Death Stranding stars Norman Reedus from The Walking Dead and is set in the United States after a catastrophic catastrophe causes terrifying animals to wander the world. Sam Porter Bridges, played by Reedus, is charged with bringing supplies to outlying outposts.
Death Stranding is an open-world action game that creators have characterized as comparable to the Metal Gear series. It makes sense, considering that they were both developed by Hideo Kojima. This stealth-heavy action game is available on PS4, PS5, and PC.
30. Lost Judgment
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Mafia: Definitive Edition completely recites the original 2002 PlayStation 2 game. Everything in this old game has been redone for newer systems, with fantastic results.
Hanger 13 was able to retain the charm of the original game while creating a wholly new experience. Lost Heaven’s open world is magnificent, and, like LA Noire, it brilliantly recreates the sense of a great metropolis in the first part of the twentieth century.
The game may be purchased alone or as part of the Mafia Trilogy, which contains remastered versions of Mafia II and Mafia III and all DLC.
31. Monster Hunter World
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Lost Judgment is the sequel of Judgment, a Yakuza series spin-off. It takes place in Tokyo’s Kamurocho neighborhood.
Like the original game, Lost Judgment contains a remarkably accurate replica of Tokyo, replete with actual stores and arcades with real games such as Puyo Puyo and Virtua Fighter.
It is a must-play for Yakuza fans, realistic open-world game enthusiasts, and Japan aficionados. Check out the original game, which was recently remastered for the PS5.
32. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
When Monster Hunter World was initially revealed, it was viewed with suspicion. It deviates significantly from the Monster Hunter formula that made the series one of the most popular in Japan.
However, it proved to be a huge triumph for Capcom. Not only has World made the series a big success in the West, but it has also gained popularity in Japan. Monster Hunter World is unquestionably the finest way to get started with this wildly popular franchise. Be warned: playing alone is difficult. Find some pals to join you in the fray.
33. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Skyrim has been re-released on almost every device with a screen—or without, in the case of the Amazon Alexa edition. The Elder Scrolls V was so influential in the gaming industry that many games on this list may be traced back to it.
Skyrim plays just as well now as it did when it was first published, if not better, considering all of the updates made in the decade following. This fantastic fantasy open-world game may be why Bethesda hasn’t published The Elder Scrolls VI. Nothing else will make it worthwhile to play.
33. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
PC, PS4, and Xbox One are all supported.
Hideo Kojima’s decades of effort on the series culminated in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It is the first Metal Gear game to incorporate an open-world concept, giving the stealth king a new level. Phantom Pain represents the greatest of the Metal Gear series.
Because there isn’t likely to be another mainstream game in the series, at least not by Kojima, it’s also an exceptionally high note. Even as a first-time Metal Gear experience, it is a terrific game and one of the best of the age.
34. Minecraft
Available on: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
What more is there to say about Minecraft that hasn’t already been said? For many, it’s the game they grew up with or have spent years playing with their children.
For many others, it is the game they are now growing up in. It is a worldwide phenomenon unlike any other. The open world of Minecraft is a blank canvas for people to do and construct anything they desire.
In this game, hours, days, and weeks might be wasted in the quest to establish the ideal empire.
Read also: Minecraft Dungeons Review New 2022
35. Terraria
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, PSVita
(Playable on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5)
Terraria (opens in new tab) is so rich in possibilities that it borders on sandbox/open-world territory. Build your house and protect it against the horrible creatures that will attempt to suck your brains out of your nose.
You may ignore the beasties and go deep into the soil to gather precious materials, or you can explore to your little, pixelated heart’s delight.
Build stronger armor, weaponry, and even a jetpack, and then wait for one of the game’s bosses to strike you on the spur of the moment. There’s always something greater to construct, whether a new cavern to explore or another level to add to your home.
Read also: Is Terraria Cross Platform? Tips Full Guide 2022
Verdict
The Open World genre is vast, with a wide range of games offering numerous characteristics, each of which might be unique or be better than other games in the same genre.
Developers may experiment with so many different methods and ideas that even the most ideal system might seem wrong in a few ways. Aside from that, the 45 games we’ve explored today all have various characteristics that make them seem distinct in their way.
Some of which you may have previously played, while others may pique your interest so much that you will end up gushing and enjoying it for years to come. It is what draws Open World enthusiasts who like a variety of facets of the games together.
Glitchmind hope you enjoy reading this comprehensive list of the best PS4 open-world games. Please tell us which one is your favorite and if you would suggest it to other gamers in the comments area below!
