It could be said that open-world games encapsulate gaming's best attributes and push them to their logical extremes — they offer fully fleshed-out alternate realities for the player to explore as they wish, generally affording them unprecedented levels of agency and freedom in determining their path through it. An open-world game has the potential to, almost literally, become a second life for the player to disappear into.

So it should come as no surprise that some of the gaming industry's most prolific titles manifest as open-world games. As luck would have it, a generous number of titles are at players' fingertips if they happen to have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. But which world should someone dive into next? What are the best open-world games on Xbox Game Pass?

Updated April 2, 2024: Recently, Game Pass has welcomed a couple of sandbox and open-world projects in the form of Space Engineers and Lightyear Frontier. While still in early access, the latter is already enjoyable, although it remains to be seen whether it evolves into one of Game Pass' best open-world games. Maneater is also open-world and fairly fun; meanwhile, No More Heroes 3 is decent despite its bland open-world.

In case someone prefers physical copies, a link will be provided to a game's Amazon listing page, provided one exists. Also, each game's Metascore will be listed, and the Xbox Series X/S score will be prioritized if it is available.

1 Minecraft

Metascore: 88

No game encourages freedom and exploration the way that Minecraft does. As soon as players spawn into the world, there are no boundaries restricting what they do next. Building a mansion in the forest, mining to the depths of the world, or crafting the most intricate roller coaster are all options on the table.

Though there are no quests sprinkled throughout the world of Minecraft, the ability to do anything so chosen is the game’s main appeal. Minecraft is the ultimate sandbox project, and players are only limited by their imagination. Mojang's masterpiece has been an inescapable part of the gaming industry for so long that a recommendation is unnecessary by this point. Anyone remotely familiar with gaming is aware of Minecraft, and they almost certainly know if the project is for them or not. In terms of open-world Game Pass games, almost no other project comes close to matching Minecraft's importance.

2 Palworld

A Blend Of Concepts That Works Surprisingly Well

Coming out of nowhere and instantly establishing itself as one of Game Pass's best open-world games, Palworld is almost unbelievably good, especially considering it is still in Game Preview. Pocket Pair aimed for the stars by delivering a project that, on paper, appears to spread itself too thin to offer any real depth in one field; however, somehow, the 2024 game comes together to create a surprisingly cohesive experience. Now, this is still an early access release that is a work in progress, so anyone who jumps in should expect to encounter a few bugs and issues along the way. Palworld runs pretty well for this type of release, but it is still a ways off from completion, so expectations should be kept realistic. That said, the current version has more than content to justify a recommendation on its own, all with the knowledge that the future should come with a stream of new updates.

What is Palworld? Well, that question is somewhat difficult to answer. Before its debut, it was described as "Pokemon with guns," a reductive statement that holds some truth but hardly paints a full picture. Set in a fairly impressive open-world, Palworld is – first and foremost – a survival exploration game. Players will need to set up a base, manage their food, and craft items to increase productivity and protect themselves from the elements. That is all well and good, but the novelty comes from the introduction of Pals. Players can catch a wide assortment of monsters who fit different types. Along with helping out in battles, Pals are also crucial for exploration and base-building. They even need to be taken care of since they also get hungry.

Palworld casts a wide net that allows it to cater to various audiences. People yearning to catch them all will find an engaging monster-collection game with well-designed creatures with genuine purpose. Survival fans will find a fairly accessible experience that offers depth and challenge through its combat and team management. Meanwhile, players who wish to explore a fresh-feeling realm will find a lot to love in Palworld's open-world. While not the biggest or the most beautiful setting in the genre, Palpagos Islands is a fun sandbox to explore.

3 Forza Horizon 5

Metascore: 92

Playground Games' Forza Horizon series has served as a reliable source for ambitious open-world racing games, and the fifth entry maintains the high standard synonymous with the license. Set in Mexico, Forza Horizon 5's map is considerably more diverse than its immediate predecessor, with each region having its own aesthetic that allows it to stand out.

Like with all of these games, Forza Horizon 5 blends realistic visuals and an authentic world with over-the-top arcade-style gameplay, and it is a match made in heaven. Playground consistently crafts sandboxes that are just a blast to drive around in, and FH5's map is overflowing with content that caters to both single-player and multiplayer preferences.

Forza Horizon 4 is also on Xbox Game Pass and a great option for anyone who wishes to drive through Scotland.

4 Skyrim

Metascore: 82

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has long been a definitive staple of the open-world catalog, and it’s likely to remain that way until the next chapter of the mainline Elder Scrolls saga manifests. Even today, players still wander the snowy tundra, lush forests, and decrepit dungeons of Skyrim in droves, which is no mean feat considering the base game was released in 2011.

If for some reason someone is yet to embark on the epic tale of the Dragonborn, now’s as good a time as any. And if they already have, then they can pick from an extensive selection of mods that are available for Xbox consoles and fabricate a new twist on a familiar adventure.

5 Microsoft Flight Simulator

Metascore: 90

Not every person who owns an Xbox Series X/S will gravitate toward Microsoft Flight Simulator, but there are undoubtedly people who specifically purchased the console to play this flight sim. After spending a year as a PC exclusive, Asobo Studio's project finally made its way to Microsoft's latest hardware, and even a couple of years after its launch, the 2021 release is still among the console's most impressive technical showcases. As its title suggests, the game seeks to accurately recreate the experience of piloting a plane, at least to the point that gaming allows. While somewhat realistic, Flight Simulator is relatively accessible by the subgenre's standards, so newcomers who have never sat down in a virtual cockpit can rely on a detailed tutorial to teach them the basics.

Generally, Flight Simulator's gameplay is structured around flight plans, which are linear by design. However, players are given free rein in how they approach routes since they can plan their own flights through the World Map mode. Essentially, Earth is Microsoft Flight Simulator's open-world, and while players might not be able to land and go for a stroll, they can witness the planet's majesty from the skies.

6 Terraria

Metascore: 84

Debuting in 2011, Terraria's staying power is beyond proven by this point. Re-Logic's action-adventure title pushes exploration to the forefront, presenting players with all the freedom in the world to traverse its impressive procedurally generated sandbox map.

Blending combat, survival, and crafting elements, Terraria is rich and diverse, and the game comes with an incredibly passionate fanbase. Besides the standard version of the campaign, Terraria comes with plenty of other modes that alter its difficulty, leading to wildly different adventures.

7 Grounded

Metascore: 82

After a lengthy spell in early access, Grounded has finally made its full debut. A "normal" backyard becomes a dangerous sandbox filled with terrifying creatures after players are shrunk down so that a blade of grass towers over them. Finding themselves in a sticky situation as they try to make their way back home, the protagonists must survive this strange land as they adapt to its ecosystem.

Grounded is an imaginative open-world game that takes inspiration from its contemporaries while still carving out a unique voice that sets it apart from the crowd. Obsidian is responsible for some of the most fully realized worlds in gaming, and Grounded is another feather in the developer's cap.

8 Sea Of Thieves

Metascore: 69

Rare's Sea of Thieves had a somewhat rough launch, but the game has improved by leaps and bounds since its debut. Although not devoid of enjoyment for solo players, this title should be experienced alongside a group of mates since so much of Sea of Thieves depends on the crew making its own fun.

As pirates in a vast and gorgeous open-world, adventure is constantly at their beck and call as crews seek to complete trade missions, find buried treasure, and survive against a Kraken or a ghost ship. Rare regularly releases updates for Sea of Thieves that introduce new ways to interact with the sandbox and other players who exist within it.

9 Yakuza 0

Metascore: 90

Xbox Game Pass sure loves some Yakuza. Subscribers can play through the entire main saga, starting with Yakuza 0 and ending with Like a Dragon. That amounts to eight lengthy campaigns that feature consistently fantastic storytelling, lovable or unforgettable characters, enjoyable minigames, and small but dense open-worlds. Technically, Kiwami counts as the first title since it is a remake of the original PS2 game, but newcomers should just start with Yakuza 0. Not only is it a prequel that takes place prior to every other entry, but it is also arguably the franchise's peak, which is saying something.

Set within two Japanese cities, both of which are lively and overflowing with personality, Yakuza 0 follows Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima's early days in the Tojo Clan. Both protagonists are wildly different from each other, and their stories start fairly isolated but eventually come together in an interesting way. Along with the central narrative, which is nothing short of brilliant, the game is filled with side stories that range from hilarious to heartbreaking.

After completing Yakuza 0, players should press forward with Yakuza Kiwami, which tells the next chapter in Kiryu's story. Admittedly, this entry is not among the franchise's strongest efforts, but it is still pretty good. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is far better too. Conversely, players can jump into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which marked a new era in the series. While not completely disconnected from the past, this title features a new protagonist, battle system, and setting.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is another Xbox Game Pass option worth considering. The spin-off throws familiar faces into Japan's Edo period, providing a historical lesson with a Yakuza twist.

10 Valheim

A Survival Open-World Game Done Right

After existing solely on Steam for roughly two years, Valheim eventually joined Xbox's Game Preview initiative, making it available to Game Pass subscribers. Regardless of platform, Iron Gate's Viking-themed survival title is nothing short of fantastic. While still a work in progress, the current version is still relatively robust; in fact, the game in its current state is likely to keep most players entertained for longer than the vast majority of fully released open-world projects.

Utilizing procedurally generated maps, Valheim drops players in a reasonably big world that is split into biomes. From there, they must craft weapons and armor that will allow them to survive the various enemies and bosses that populate the world. As a bonus, this title also supports base building, and the system is fairly deep as well. While the combat system is just decent, Valheim shines when taken as a whole package rather than focusing exclusively on one element.

11 Batman: Arkham Knight

Metascore: 85

Rocksteady's Batman Arkham trilogy set the benchmark for superhero games, and many would argue it is still the standard-bearer. As Arkham Asylum and City are, unfortunately, not on Game Pass, newcomers might want to search beyond Mircosoft's subscription service to start with the first game (and Batman: Arkham Origins is also quite good). However, Arkham Knight is available on the platform and, unsurprisingly, fantastic.

Bringing to life Gotham City instead of just its prison, Arkham Knight has an atmospheric open-world that is still impressive all these years later. Rocksteady did a stunning job of capturing the spirit of the DC Comics through its storytelling, environmental design, and combat. While Arkham Knight's batmobile sections are divisive, the vehicle itself controls well, even if it might overstay its welcome.

12 Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Metascore: 87

Xbox Game Pass has three Assassin's Creed games: Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Each title is an ambitious open-world game packed to the brim with content, both mandatory and optional. There is not all that much separating the games in terms of quality, and someone's preference might come down to whether they prefer Origins' Ancient Egypt, Odyssey's Ancient Greece, or Valhalla's Viking setting.

Although it can be quite polarizing compared to Origins, Odyssey fine-tunes some of its predecessor's mechanics, particularly the combat system. Visually, the game arguably represents the franchise's peak, especially since its setting allows for a wider berth of diverse locations than Valhalla. Out of all three titles, Odyssey is the most immersive, and it even tells a pretty good story by the franchise's standards. All three titles are extremely long, but Odyssey does not threaten to overstay its welcome to the same extent as Valhalla.

As Origins is the first chronological entry, newcomers to the series should start with that title; however, the franchise's releases can be enjoyed as standalone adventures, so Odyssey is still an option.

13 No Man's Sky

Metascore: 77

When it was first released back in 2016, No Man's Sky was lambasted for its lack of gameplay and unpolished design. Many fans were upset that the release seemed to lack many of the initial promises that were made by the developer, Hello Games. Thankfully, even though it was critically panned during its initial release, designers stuck with the title and continued to improve it as much as possible in the following years.

Nowadays, No Man's Sky is leaps and bounds better than what it once was. Players are finally getting the space epic they'd hoped for, and feelings toward No Man's Sky are incredibly positive in recent years. Players that are looking for a fun, in-depth, and downright addictive open-world should hop into this now fantastic adventure.

14 Fallout: New Vegas

Metascore: 84

Though Fallout 4 may be New Vegas’ shinier, newer, and (slightly) better-optimized cousin, New Vegas is considered the crown jewel of Fallout’s three-dimensional, first-person outings for a reason. With Obsidian helming the effort, the role-playing elements that were present in Fallout 3 were polished to a mirror shine that Fallout 4 couldn’t seem to pull off in succession.

The Mojave wasteland may look a bit dated by modern standards, but the Courier’s fateful journey after being shot and left for dead still makes for a timelessly wild adventure.

15 Starfield

Metascore: 83

Starfield was the biggest title added to Xbox Game Pass in 2023. Bethesda's latest RPG was in development for a very long time, and it was also the developer's first IP in decades; consequently, the game was always going to be huge, regardless of whether it lived up to the hype or not. While perhaps not attracting Skyrim levels of praise, Starfield is nevertheless an impressive feather in Bethesda's cap, one that represents a step forward in a few areas. Its character customization, gunplay, and companions might just be the best in the company's history, at least when solely counting games developed by Bethesda Game Studios. While it takes a few hours to get going and can be largely ignored, the main story is pretty good too.

Like most of Bethesda's flagship releases, Starfield is open-world, although it is a different breed than Skyrim or Fallout 4. As the map is spread over a large selection of planets, players will be spending a lot of time fast-traveling from place to place, which breaks immersion to an extent. It is possible to jump on a ship and fly through space, but it is not a big part of the overall experience nor can players land on planets. Basically, Starfield does not have a seamless world that players can traverse in its entirety without a loading screen, instead offering smaller self-contained areas that make up a larger universe. This is not necessarily a criticism, but it does grant the game a different flavor than most of Bethesda's other classic open-world RPGs.

16 Goat Simulator 3

Metascore: 78

Goat Simulator 3 is a fever dream in the best possible way. Taking inspiration from franchises like GTA while very much doing its own thing, Coffee Stain's sandbox project strives to deliver unbridled chaos, and it largely succeeds in its endeavor. Xbox Game Pass has both Goat Simulator and its sequel (don't ask about Goat Simulator 2), and while fun can be had with the former, it is difficult to recommend in the latter's presence. Therefore, provided someone can handle the thought of not knowing the full story, they should jump directly into Goat Simulator 3.

This should go without saying, but this game does not take itself too seriously, and the campaign sets the tone right out of the gate with a cute nod to Skyrim. After that, players are fairly quickly unleashed in San Angora, an impressively large map that is made to be broken. Unlike the first game, the sequel provides a more curated single-player campaign through the implementation of traditional missions, although their contents are anything but ordinary. As fun as it can be to run around and chaos mayhem, Goat Simulator 3 really comes alive when played with friends.

17 A Short Hike

Metascore: 82 (PC)

Open-world games are synonymous with lengthy campaigns that seem to last forever. Generally speaking, if someone starts one of these projects, they will be ready to commit a few weeks of their lives, if not longer. While volume is a major selling point of open-world or sandbox experiences, a few games buck this trend and provide brief adventures that can be completed in a single sitting. A Short Hike is one such outlier, and the indie project lives up to its title's adjective.

Cast as Claire, players find themselves in a mountain park, with their only "goal" being to reach the summit to receive a phone call. Accomplishing this task requires expanding Claire's abilities and finding golden feathers, a process that should not take very long. In the meantime, Claire can explore the park and interact with other visitors, be it by taking on a few side quests or engaging in a mini-game. Overall, the game is straightforward and generally lets players decide how they would like to interact with the world; however, they are encouraged to slow down and take in the world around them.

18 Immortals Fenyx Rising

Metascore: 81

Ubisoft loves open-worlds maybe a little too much. Overexposure and product exhaustion are very real things, and regardless of the quality of the individual projects, the sheer volume of Ubisoft open-world games in existence has made them feel ordinary.

Immortals Fenyx Rising will not impress anyone who is completely burned out on the Ubisoft formula, but it might hit the spot for fans who want something familiar but still different. Inspired by Greek mythology and taking a few hints from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this action-adventure game blends colorful visuals with fun hack and slash combat and a comedic story, all the while delivering a large but not overwhelming map. While optional content is present, Immortals Fenyx Rising gives players room to decide the extent they wish to interact with these quests.

19 Sunset Overdrive

Metascore: 81

Insomniac has spent recent years crafting superhero-themed adventures featuring everyone's favorite neighborhood wall-crawler; however, Marvel's Spider-Man was not the developer's first foray into open-world territory. Sunset Overdrive might be one of the more underappreciated titles of the 2010s, and the game's brilliant movement system ranks it among the best open-world games on Game Pass.

Basically a large playground, Sunset City is filled with rails and zip lines, encouraging players to take to the skies and grind their way above the streets. The gunplay is also fun, particularly once players unlock their full arsenal of weapons.

20 The Evil Within 2

Metascore: 82

2014's The Evil Within sought to fill the horror void left by Resident Evil's descent into action territory, and while not perfect, the game did its job. The sequel expands things by taking place in the simulated town of Union, which Sebastian enters to try and save his daughter. While nowhere near as large or packed with side content as, for example, a Far Cry setting, Union can be freely explored, even if Sebastian is generally guided down a path. There are not all that many open-world horror projects since these types of stories tend to benefit from more curated experiences, but The Evil Within 2 shows the genre can work within a less restrictive structure.

Even though slightly spread out, Tango's game still manages to produce its share of genuine scares thanks to some fantastic creature designs. In some ways, The Evil Within 2's open design helps enhance the tension since there is the sense that something horrifying (like Anima) could always be right around the corner. While it might not have too much competition, The Evil Within 2 is the best open-world horror game on Game Pass.