The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is one of the most groundbreaking open-world RPGs ever developed. Like its predecessors, Skyrim provides gamers with a rich and extensive, and explorable open world to immersive themselves. The most appealing thing about The Elder Scrolls games is that they are designed to provide unique stories and adventures for players, where every decision they make affects the game world around them.

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That sense of openness made the series and The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim one of the most influential in gaming, where even action games have aimed to top Skyrim's size and interactivity. Now, open-world games seem to be focused on giving gamers a dynamic world full of sights to explore, side quests, and naturally occurring events similar to Skyrim. At 15 square miles, Skyrim's world is big, but this list looks at other gaming worlds bigger than Skyrim that should keep players busy for a long time.

Updated August 21, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: Skyrim is a stunning and vast game capable of drawing players into its world and immersing them in a fantasy adventure. For many, it is a benchmark for open-world RPGs and deserves the multiple ports across platforms it has received. Despite being a massive game, it's not close to being the largest. There are more vast and open worlds that dwarf the map of Skyrim, but not all are as densely packed. This list is updated to include more titles with bigger worlds than Skyrim.

16 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 21 Square Miles

Witcher 3
  • Release: 2015
  • Developer: CD Projekt Red
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt was released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC in 2015. A Nintendo Switch port followed in 2019, which holds well up compared to more powerful consoles. However, the Witcher 3 is best on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and powerful PCs.

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The fact that The Witcher 3 looks and runs so well on the Nintendo Switch is relative to just how good masterful the developers at CD Projekt Red are in creating beautiful worlds. At 21 square miles, the world of The Witcher is significantly smaller than others on this list, but it still feels and looks massive. The cities, towns, and villages are distinctive, and the map is packed with secret caves, dungeons, and hundreds of quests.

15 Sacred 2: Fallen Angel – 22 Square Miles

Sacred 2 - exploring on horseback
  • Release: 2008
  • Developer: Ascaron
  • Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel was released on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2008. It is a traditional top-down open-world RPG widely considered the best game in the series by fans. Much of this is down to the size of Sacred 2's huge open-world map, which is 22 Square Miles in total.

In addition to the size of the map, there are caves and dungeons to explore that can be up to levels deep, and surface dungeons and buildings can be up to four stories. Furthermore, the world is split into different regions with distinct climates, terrain, architecture, and NPCs.

14 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild - 28 Square Miles

nintendo switch best metacritic exclusives legend of zelda breath of the wild 1
  • Release: 2017
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Platform: Switch and Wii U

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released for the Nintendo Switch and the Wii U in 2017. Despite being released on an older machine in the Wii U, Breath of the Wild is still home to one of the most beautifully made open-world games in the last decade.

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While it is not as dense or filled with towns like The Witcher 3 or even Skyrim, the world of Hyrule is vast and open to be played and approached in any order. The serene wildlands of Hyrule stretch up to 28 square miles and are a pure joy to explore.

13 Red Dead Redemption 2 - 30 Square Miles

red dead redemption 2 mod joker skin
  • Release: 2018
  • Developer: Rockstar
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Red Dead Redemption 2 was released in 2018 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC. It is a Western-themed action-adventure game that is the closest that fans can get to realizing their cowboy fantasies to their fullest.

The game is 30 square miles and features one of the most densely packed and beautiful worlds. Many towns are gritty, dirty, and realistic. They look like they have been ripped from the set of HBO's gritty western series, Deadwood. The world is immersive and packed with reactive and endless activities, hunts, and side quests.

12 Elden Ring - 30.5 Square Miles

A Tarnished encountering Alexander
  • Release: 2022
  • Developer: FromSoftware
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Despite not being at the top of this list, Elden Ring is still a vast open-world RPG that feels bigger than it is. There are many secrets and an underground world almost as big as the overworld. It would take a long time to uncover everything in Elden Ring, even after getting the Platinum trophy for completing the game.

Unsurprisingly, Elden Ring is the most extensive game using FromSoft's famed Souls formula. It features several interconnected and well-designed dungeons and areas within its world. It captures the feeling of a stranger in a strange land like no other.

11 Grand Theft Auto 5 - 31 Square Miles

gta 5 lighting system realism
  • Release: 2013
  • Developer: Rockstar
  • Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Grand Theft Auto 5 was first released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. An enhanced version of the game was launched on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2014 and on PC in 2015. Even though GTA 5 is technically a last-gen game, it is still seen as the benchmark for open-world games with a modern-day setting and looks even better since it launched on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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Grand Theft Auto 5 is not just bursting at the seams with places to go and things to see but is teeming with life, personality, and a realistic but albeit satirical representation of California. Additionally, it features a great cast of memorable characters and protagonists that players will love and hate for their actions but ultimately care about their fates.

10 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla - 38.5 Square Miles

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Eivior looking into the Horizon
  • Release: 2020
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

As the third entry in the Mythology trilogy - Assassin's Creed: Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, one would expect Assassin's Creed: Valhalla to boast a larger map than its predecessor. That is not the case, however, as in terms of map size, Valhalla is less than half the size of Odyssey.

In fairness to Valhalla, Odyssey also focuses on exploring the Mediterranean Sea, where Valhalla has more varied terrain across Norway and Britain with more landmass to explore. The content in Valhalla has also been expanded with its new maps, content, and upcoming DLC. As such, there is more than enough to explore for open-world fans.

9 Forza Horizon 5 - 41 Square Miles

offroad race caldera
  • Release: 2021
  • Developer: Playground Games
  • Platform: PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Released as one of the big hits for the Xbox in 2021, alongside Halo Infinite and Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 5 stands as one of the best racers available on any platform.

The game offers a larger open world than its predecessors, with vast and varied landscapes to explore. There are mountains, volcanoes, jungles, and several towns to discover quests, missions, races, and secrets.

8 Dragon Age Inquisition - 45 Square Miles

bioware dreadwolf character specialization skills abilities
  • Release: 2014
  • Developer: BioWare
  • Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Critically acclaimed at launch, the fantasy RPG from BioWare, Dragon Age: Inquisition, remains one of the best RPGs in the dark fantasy genre. Far from being underrated, it has become overlooked in recent years, with megahits like The Witcher 3 and Baldur's Gate 3 dominating lists. However, the award-winning hit from BioWare deserves more praise from RPG fans.

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The visuals hold up very nicely despite being a cross-gen game, and the world is a joy to explore with secrets and lore that fans of Skyrim will appreciate. Accompanied by an epic score, dark storyline, and an outstanding voice cast, Inquisition is a huge game that would complement the library of RPG fans.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom - 53.61 Square Miles

Tears of the Kingdom Player Creates Rathian From Monster Hunter
  • Release: 2023
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Platform: Switch

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most beautiful games on the Switch. It features a timeless art style and an astounding open world to explore. It is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and reuses the map. However, the game features explorable land in the sky and underground, giving it more scope and size.

YouTuber Sunowaddle painstakingly measured the entire map and concluded that Tears of the Kingdom is 53.61 square miles. He calculated the depths and the verticality of Nintendo's epic adventure, revealing that it is significantly larger than its predecessor.

6 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey - 90.7 Square Miles

Assassin's Creed Odyssey
  • Release: 2018
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey launched on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC in 2018. It was also released at the launch of the Google Stadia game streaming platform in 2019. Odyssey is set in Ancient Greece during 431 BC.

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It is the second game in the series to use an ancient setting after Assassin's Creed: Origins, which is set in Ancient Egypt. Odyssey is a massive 90.7 square miles and is an epic from start to finish with beautiful and colorful visuals and some of the best world-building this generation.

5 Xenoblade Chronicles X – 154 Square Miles

xenoblade chronicles x
  • Release: 2015
  • Developer: Monolith Soft
  • Platform: Wii U

Xenoblade Chronicles X was released on the Nintendo Wii U in 2015. It is the second game in the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Chronologically it is a spin-off from the mainline trilogy due to its departure in design and gameplay, such as a user-created avatar and other MMO-like mechanics.

XCX is a vast and open-world RPG. At 154 square miles, the player can explore an uncharted planet occupied by dangerous monsters and creatures. While the game lacks the density and activities of other games on this list, exploration is still just as compelling.

4 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands – 170 Square Miles

ghost recon breakpoint wildlands same different 4
  • Release: 2017
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands was released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC. It was a departure from the linear mission style of its predecessor, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Wildlands is set in an open-world fictionalized version of Bolivia.

The player is tasked with capturing divisions of the map and liberating the areas from the cartels. The game features an expansive world that allows players to use the environment and implement the day and night cycles to gain tactical advantages.

3 Death Stranding – 230 Square Miles

6 Death Stranding
  • Release: 2019
  • Developer: Kojima Productions
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and PS5

Death Stranding was released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 in 2019, with a PC release in 2020. It was developed by Kojima Productions and created by the man behind the Metal Gear Solid series Hideo Kojima.

The world of Death Stranding is an enormous 230 square miles designed with the Decima engine created by Guerilla Games and used in Horizon Zero Dawn. It is a vast sprawling world that takes a long time to traverse, but it is also a beautiful one and one that can immerse players with its unusual sights and sounds.

2 Just Cause 3 – 390 Square Miles

Just Cause 2
  • Release: 2015
  • Developer: Avalanche Studios
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Released in 2015 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC, Just Cause 3 is an open-world action game developed by Avalanche Studios. At 390 square miles, it is the biggest game in the series and delivers more verticality than ever before.

Just Cause 3 lacks a compelling narrative, but it is a videogame that provides its players with incredible creative freedom. In terms of being able to perform death-defying stunts, the game is the closest gamers will get to playing James Bond or Ethan Hunt in a Mission Impossible movie.

1 Final Fantasy 15 - 780 Square Miles

Final Fantasy 15 Fifth Anniversary

Final Fantasy 15 takes the top spot on this list with a massive 780 square miles. However, the numbers can be misleading, as much of the terrain is empty. It doesn't feel like an explorable kingdom like Skyrim or The Witcher 3. There seems to be a lot of unrealized potential and too many ideas that didn't pan out.

What is explorable in Final Fantasy 15 is still beautiful, making it a match for even Final Fantasy 16 in some areas. Moreover, when played with its DLC - especially Episode Ardyn - FF15 has more context and impact with its story of friendship and loss. The combat system is excellent, and Ardyn is superb as the main antagonist.

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