To the delight of some and the disappointment of others, open-world video games are starting to dominate the gaming industry. Plenty of linear games are still being released, but many AAA publishers are choosing to sign off on games with huge open worlds.

Open-worlds were once predominantly restricted to RPG games like the Elder Scrolls series, though in the last decade, it has begun to creep into unexpected places like the puzzle genre with The Witness and the racing genre with titles like the Forza Horizon series. Another genre that has begun utilizing open-world maps is horror. A genre that was once known for narrow corridors and periodic jump scares is opening its borders to offer huge, atmospheric maps that dare players to explore them.

Updated on December 4, 2023, by Mara Cowley: Open-world games remain as popular as always, dominating a sizable part of the industry and earning scores of fans and praise from critics. The amount of freedom they offer appeals to fans who enjoy exploration, and now even some non-linear franchises want a slice of the action, bringing other genres to the open-world market. As such, a couple more enjoyable open-world horror games have been included for brave explorers to delve into, if they dare.

18 Welcome To Hanwell

Metacritic Score: N/A

Despite the name of the game, players most likely will not feel welcome in the eerie open-world game based on a world of nightmares where monstrosities called Anomalies roam the streets, attacking anyone they come across. A Council was formed to keep residents safe, which did work, for a short while. But after the Council fell, Hanwell became a dangerous place to explore, and this is exactly where players find themselves waking up.

Pulling themselves out of a morgue, players must use whatever they can find at their disposal to survive the dangers here. The map is fairly impressive, reflecting an English city with residential homes, pubs, and stores without becoming so mundane that it loses any fear factor, and once players venture inside any buildings, that's when the game truly shines with an oppressive atmosphere that has players fearing what may lie around the next corner.

17 The Sinking City

Metacritic Score: 71

US Navy soldier Charles Reed became a PI after his service in the war, and his job brings him to Oakmont, an extremely remote and hidden village in Massachusetts, at the request of one Professor van der Berg, who has been suffering nightmarish visions. Upon arriving in the city, it becomes apparent nearly everyone living there has been inflicted with these visions, and there is definitely something dark underfoot in Oakmont.

Eldritch creatures, detective work, and a good amount of exploration are the key gameplay elements of this Lovecraftian open-world game. With multiple endings, and the creative and horrifying force of Lovecraft's work behind it, cosmic horror fans will find much to enjoy in this title, and it is a worthy visit even for those who have never dabbled much with the genre.

16 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

Metacritic Score: 75

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is one part of the sprawling S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series that pioneered open-world horror games when it debuted back in 2007. Despite being such an aged game, it still manages to deliver an impressive world to explore and plenty of scares, combat, and even some RPG elements.

Clear Sky is a prequel to the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The game differentiates itself from its predecessor with the inclusion of faction wars, a mechanic that lets players join a faction's constant battle against its competitors and join in the share of rewards if they gain territory. All in all, Clear Sky may not be the most impressive S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game, but it is an impressive open-world horror experience in its own right.

15 Dying Light

Metacritic Score: 75

Dying Light certainly didn't turn too many heads with its lackluster Metacritic scores of 74 and 75, but this did not deter some gamers, as its ambitious features drew attention that eventually turned public opinion favorable.

The game had a smartly balanced day and night cycle, with the night bringing in more dangers for players to contend with, well-integrated free-running mechanics that put titles like Assassin's Creed to shame, and enjoyable co-op multiplayer to share the fun with friends. Although the story of the zombie apocalypse and the meddling of the military is weighed with some cliches, Dying Light is still a well-rounded open-world game deserving of a chance for fans of the genre.

14 Project Zomboid

Metacritic Score: N/A

The Knox Infection has ravaged the world, turning anyone who contracts it into a mindless zombie with only the thought of human flesh on their mind. No one knows where it came from or who it started, but everyone knows to avoid it.

That's exactly what the player is tasked with doing, out in Kentucky in America, which has been dubbed by survivors as Knox City. Along with zombies, players need to monitor hunger, fatigue, stress, and boredom in order to keep their character alive and well. This makes Project Zomboid an in-depth open-world horror game with fun and challenging gameplay with a variety of in-game modes to ensure it never gets stale.

13 Days Gone

Metacritic Score: 76

Days Gone was developed by Bend Studio and was released exclusively on PlayStation 4 in April 2019 before, like many PlayStation exclusives as of late, arriving on PC a couple of years later.

Days Gone was one of the most divisive games of 2019, with many fans and critics divided on the title, exemplified by its 76 Metascore being partnered by an impressive 8.8 user score. The story, missions, and open-world design all garnered a mixed reception, but that doesn't mean that the game is one that should be missed. It is yet another story of a zombie-infested world, but the characters feel more real thanks to their fleshed-out personalities and realistic reactions to events. For players looking for a more personal zombie story more along the lines of Last of Us than Resident Evil, it is the title for them.

12 Sons of the Forest

Metacritic Score: N/A

First, there was The Forest, and now, there is Sons of the Forest, giving players more of the popular and beloved open-world survival horror experience. Set many years after the events of the predecessor, it sees a team of private military contractors searching for a missing family on an island called Site 2. As expected, the helicopter is shot down, killing almost all of the crew, and leaving only two survivors.

This is how the game kicks off, getting players ready for a tough survival challenge. Players must scavenge for resources to build shelter, keep themselves fed, and survive the mutant cannibals that live on the island. For gamers who enjoyed the first Forest game, there will be much for them to love in its sequel.

11 Dying Light 2 Stay Human (77)

Metacritic Score: 77

Dying Light 2 Stay Human tells the tale of a world that has fallen to a rabies-like infection, and though the world was eventually spared from the virus, the scientists couldn't help themselves and began performing experiments, resulting in a far deadlier virus that escaped the confines of the lab.

Like its predecessor, the game's narrative struggled to impress most fans and critics. However, the game's unique parkour mechanics and open world make Dying Light 2 more enjoyable to play, and its vast open world ripe for exploration is sure to impress open-world fans. Players just need to be careful that they do indeed stay human while contending with the infected they share the world with.

10 The Long Dark

Metacritic Score: 77

The Long Dark may be one of the most grounded open-world horror games on the market, as it does away with zombies and monsters and instead incorporates the horror of real-world threats such as freezing to death or being eaten alive by wildlife. Players assume the role of a crash-landed pilot Will Mackenzie, and his struggle for survival in a frozen wasteland.

Body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and the wildlife that inhabit this frozen tundra are all threats the players must contend with, challenging them to balance all their survival needs to see another day. It's a tough game that certainly isn't for those new to the survival genre, but those who brave the cold will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience. So, grab those rations and flares, it's time to brave The Long Dark.

9 State of Decay

Metacritic Score: 79

Set in the fictional Trumball Valley, players assume control of Marcus Campbell, an unremarkable store clerk leading an ordinary life until the world he knew devolves into a zombie apocalypse that he and his friends were surprised by after returning from a fishing trip. They team up with other survivors in order to try and spare themselves from becoming a zombie, which is where its game mechanics come into play.

State of Decay pioneered the implementation of modern base building in survival horror video games. As well as building sturdy defenses, players will need to utilize the game's many mechanics like stealth, third-person combat, and material scavenging to ensure their survival. This all culminated in an impressive game that wowed critics and players alike, as these mechanics are seamlessly integrated into this open-world game.

8 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

Metacritic Score: 80

The final game in the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy that spanned across just two years, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is set after S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and takes players to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Exclusion Zone in Ukraine, where the government is cashing in on the gold-rush to fund an invasion on the power plant.

Call of Pripyat is an impressively ambitious game that holds several varying factions, a wide open-world map ripe for exploring, a crafting system that allows players to upgrade the equipment, and a world that event occurs each day that is a prelude to a blowout. Jam-packed with so much content, GSC managed to create a fantastic game that runs like a dream. Open-world fans should definitely have this one on their radar if they have not already played it.

7 Darkwood

Metacritic Score: 80

Darkwood differentiates itself from the other entries on this list with its top-down perspective. Despite the perspective, Darkwood's forest is immersive, atmospheric, and horrifyingly unsettling. Set in the late 80s, a mysterious forest has reclaimed a large part of land and is continuing its steady spread, no one knowing how or why. Those who remain trapped in the woods are ravaged by a mysterious plague.

Players take on the roles of various characters and their experiences with this strange phenomenon. Scary, supernatural, and full of threats, Darkwood sets itself apart as perhaps the scariest open-world game, with each passing minute scarier than the last. Players will need nerves of steel if they are to survive the terrifying machinations of the evil forces present in Darkwood.

6 The Evil Within 2

Metacritic Score: 82

Following the lackluster reception of The Evil Within, Tango Gameworks decided to switch up the gameplay for the sequel by implementing an open world. Players reprise the role of Detective Sebastian Castellonos, diving into STEM to rescue his daughter who was assumed dead in a house fire.

Once inside STEM, players will face a multitude of horrors in the shoes of the Detective, facing off against horrifying monsters that the series has become known for while crafting items to give themselves a better shot at survival. The shift to an open-world map came as a surprise to fans who played the more linear predecessor, but this is just one of the improvements the sequel made.

5 Metro Exodus

Metacritic Score: 82

The Metro series tells the tale of a world that has fallen into nuclear fallout, driving people underground to escape the reaches of the radioactive air that has rendered the surface world inhospitable, and mutated any creature that remains. Exodus takes place over the course of one year, following on from the events of the previous game, Last Light. The main character Atryom learns humanity has not gone fully extinct, but this might not be the blessing he thinks it is.

Players were given a taste of all four seasons with day and night cycles as they embarked on their journey across Russia, immersing players with realistic season and day cycles while levying missions and monsters against the players in the expansive, open-world map. Players are given the freedom to approach missions how they wish, similar to titles like Dishonored, with a karma system that can affect the players' experience within the world of Exodus.

4 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Metacritic Score: 82

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl's placement on this list impressively secures spots for the entire S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, exemplifying why the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is so highly anticipated. Released in 2007, Shadow of Chernobyl was the first entry in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, introducing players to an alternative reality where the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone had a second nuclear disaster.

Though it is primarily a first-person shooter, Shadow of Chernobyl also incorporates RPG elements to help players feel more immersed in the world. With a large number of items scattered around the map, wildlife, and human settlements, exploration is hugely encouraged and players will be justly rewarded for doing so. An engaging plot and in-depth gameplay and mechanics are wedded in this one, impressive open-world game all players need to experience.

3 Subnautica: Below Zero

Metacritic Score: 83

Subnautica: Below Zero is the sequel to one of the most esteemed survival horror games of all time, Subnautica. Like its predecessor, the game tasks players with diving into an alien ocean with little to no knowledge of what will be lurking in the dark waters below, finding old wreckages, hunting down hostile fishes, and trying to survive the dangers of the waters.

The sequel's most notable change from the original Subnautica is that it adds large land biomes, giving players a break from the horrors of the ocean. However, players will soon learn that the ice is no safer than the water. The game still does an impressive job of tapping into most people's fears of the deep, dark ocean, but there are moments of peace and beauty to be found in the expansive ocean. With so much to do and see, players could easily while away hundreds of hours in Below Zero, without finding every secret.

2 The Forest

Metacritic Score: 83

Endnight Games' The Forest begins much like the popular TV show Lost, as a plane crash leaves the player on a mysterious island (or peninsula in this case), thrusting the player into a grueling and frightening survival horror experience.

The game's overarching objective is to find the protagonist's kidnapped son, though the player isn't forced to search for him, as they are given complete freedom to explore The Forest in any way that they choose. Although the game is undoubtedly scary when playing alone, exploring the open world with friends can, perhaps unintentionally, turn The Forest into the funniest game of 2018. Either way, this title remains one of the most impressive open-world horror games, where players will run into no shortage of things to do and places to explore.

1 Subnautica

Metacritic Score: 87

If someone was browsing through the shelves of a video game store and came across Subnautica, they may look at the bright blue sea on the front cover and expect the game to be similar to the relaxing Endless Ocean on the Nintendo Wii. Those people would be in for a nasty surprise though, as although Subnautica doesn't officially class itself as a horror game, it would be classed by some as the scariest game on this list.

The game taps into many common fears, such as the fear of the unknown, fear of darkness, fear of monsters, and fear of isolation, as it dumps the player into an ocean on an alien planet, and as one might expect, the waters are home to all manners of alien sea creatures. Exploration, crafting, hunting, and surviving are the main objectives of this open-world, or more specifically, open-sea title.

MORE: The Most Immersive Open World Games (November 2023)