#10 - GTA SA
Kicking off the list is a legend from 2004, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This game was a game-changer when it dropped, giving players a massive slice of early ’90s California-inspired chaos.
#9 - Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 from 2008 doesn’t get the love it deserves, but its world design is a masterclass in chaotic fun.
#8 - The Witcher 3
Wild Hunt hit in 2015, it redefined what an open-world RPG could be. Its world, spanning the war-torn Northern Kingdoms, is a breathtaking mix of haunting beauty and gritty realism.
#7 - God of War (2018)
God of War (2018) isn’t your typical open-world game, but its interconnected realms earn it a spot on this list.
Moss
#6 -Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima (2020) transports you to feudal Japan, where you play as Jin Sakai, a samurai defending Tsushima Island from Mongol invaders.
#5 - Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough launch in 2020, but its world design? Untouchable. Night City is a neon-drenched dystopia that feels like a living, breathing cyberpunk novel.
#4 - Elden Ring
Elden Ring (2022) is FromSoftware’s open-world magnum opus, blending their signature brutal difficulty with a world that’s as beautiful as it is dangerous.
#3 - Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) is Rockstar’s love letter to the Wild West, and its world is a masterpiece of immersion.
#2 - Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Swinging into second place is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023), which takes the open-world formula and polishes it to a mirror shine.
#1 - No Man’s Sky
Taking the top spot is No Man’s Sky (2016, with major updates through 2025). What started as a controversial launch has become a universe-spanning triumph.