Best Open-World Games On Xbox Game Pass

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

?

In case someone prefers physical copies, a link will be provided to a game’s Amazon listing page, provided one exists.

Starfield

Undoubtedly,

Starfield

will be remembered as the biggest title added to Xbox Game Pass in 2023. Bethesda’s latest RPG has been in development for a very long time, and it is 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 another 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.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Added out of nowhere back to Xbox Game Pass,

Grand Theft Auto 5

is comfortably among the most famous open-world games of all time, standing alongside

Breath of the Wild

,

Skyrim

, and

Minecraft

as the genre’s mainstream peak. Rockstar’s masterpiece debuted at the tail end of the Xbox 360 era, garnering universal praise for its gorgeous Los Santos setting, enjoyable story, multiple protagonists, and addictive

gameplay

. Since then, the game’s single-player has been entirely overshadowed by

GTA Online

, a multiplayer mode that is also part of the package available through Game Pass. Rockstar regularly updates this content with new events or items, so while the mode’s chaotic nature might not be for everyone, those who enjoy it have a lot of material at their fingertips.

Despite initially debuting in 2013,

GTA 5

‘s campaign holds up well, especially since Rockstar has released native Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions. The narrative centers around a trio of criminals who have wildly different temperaments, backgrounds, and motives. Their dynamic starts out interesting and only improves as the story progresses. Outside the main missions,

GTA 5

is absolutely stacked with optional content designed to simply allow players to spread mayhem across Los Santos’ streets.

Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

Although

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

was a fantastic adventure in its own right,

Shadow of War

perfected the franchise’s proposed mechanics and elevated them by giving players the freedom to explore a large open world. Those who fell in love with the original release’s gameplay elements will enjoy a finely-tuned system that includes new moves and abilities while maintaining the engaging combat from the flagship title.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

also enhanced the Nemesis System, giving the world even more life as players find themselves occasionally harassed by enemies that previously defeated them. This feature is the franchise’s main selling point, and it deserves all the praise flung its way since it makes the world seem like it’s morphing to match the player’s actions.

No Man’s Sky

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.

Now, in 2023,

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.

Grounded

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.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Over the Summer, Xbox Game Pass welcomed two

Assassin’s Creed

games:

Origins

and

Odyssey

. 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 two in terms of quality, and someone’s preference might come down to whether they prefer

Origins

‘ Ancient Egypt or

Odyssey

‘s Ancient Greece.

As the latter is the former’s sequel, it fine-tunes some of its predecessor’s mechanics, particularly the combat system. 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.

Stranded Deep

Stranded Deep

is a pure survival game. After a plane crash, players find themselves stranded in the Pacific Ocean surrounded by a couple of islands. As tends to be standard for the genre, the gameplay loop revolves around managing meters relating to stuff like hunger and sleep, collecting resources, building shelter, and exploring.

Stranded Deep

utilizes procedurally generated maps, so while the core mechanics might not change too much, each playthrough offers something a bit different.

Survival open-world games are an acquired taste, and

Stranded Deep

is a reasonably challenging entry in the subgenre. That said, the title is relatively unique compared to other projects on Game Pass, and it is a good pick for anyone searching for a more hardcore campaign.

Valheim

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 an added 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.

Astroneer

Ready to go where humanity has not gone before? A crafting and building game,

Astroneer

drops players on a planet and tells them to set up a base and go explore. As resources are discovered and harnessed, players will be able to craft a wide range of tools, including the ability to expand their oxygen reserves to allow for longer expeditions away from home. Eventually, it will be possible to visit other planets.

Despite not offering much in the way of initial guidance,

Astroneer

is overall a relaxing sandbox game that encourages players to do their own thing. While there are some “main” missions, they are mostly there to provide structure to those who would prefer some direction to go along with their freedom. Even if it might not be a name that everyone recognizes,

Astroneer

is an impressive open-world game that strikes a unique rhythm that sets it apart from the other titles on Xbox Game Pass.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

covers the main nine

Star Wars

movies, presenting fans with an opportunity to play through the most memorable moments from the original, prequel, and sequel trilogies. Each film contains a couple of unique missions that are relatively linear in scope, although they do provide some room for exploration.

More importantly,

The Skywalker Saga

also includes free-roaming hubs that are effectively open-worlds. Players can travel to and investigate some of

Star Wars

‘ iconic planets and moons. While relatively relaxing, these sections can spontaneously turn into battle zones, so they are not just designed for sightseeing. If nothing else, this LEGO game allows fans to live within the

Star Wars

universe, one that has been immaculately recreated by TT Games.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

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.

Medieval Dynasty

Ever wished to live during the Middle Ages? Well,

Medieval Dynasty

presents an opportunity to actualize that dream, and the game prioritizes realism over fantasy. Render Cube’s title has no mythological monsters or chosen heroes; instead, players spend their time trying to survive and thrive in a world where achieving either requires a miracle.

As a survival game,

Medieval Dynasty

has all the elements synonymous with the genre, including a heavy focus on monitoring meters and collecting resources. In due time, players will see their small settlement grow into a community that no longer needs to worry about whether they will be able to eat at the end of the day. However, the expansion comes with its own challenges.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

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.

Valhalla

is incredible in isolation, but within context, it is just another

Assassin’s Creed

title.

Far Cry 6

shakes up its franchise’s ideas in a few divisive ways, but the game’s biggest flaw is that fact it is a license’s seventh entry in the span of a decade.

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.

Need For Speed Unbound

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has a number of

Need for Speed

games, most of which are polarizing.

Hot Pursuit Remastered

is decent if someone wants a classic-style arcade racer, while

Rivals

is underrated. Overall,

Heat

is probably the strongest of the bunch, but it somewhat suffers from feeling like

Forza Horizon

light. Simply put, the latter games are superior in nearly every way.

As such,

Unbound

gets the nod due to a unique visual presentation that helps set it apart from the competition.

Unbound

‘s anime art style is its most eye-catching feature, and if that aesthetic is not to somebody’s fancy, they might be better off sticking to some of the other

Need for Speed

projects on Game Pass. As the latest entry in the series,

Unbound

controls well and features a gorgeous open-world that is fun to explore; however, the game can be a grind, even after post-launch updates eased this issue.

Sunset Overdrive

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.

TheHunter: Call Of The Wild

TheHunter: Call of the Wild

is the definition of a niche product. While hunting game is a fairly common side activity in franchises like

Far Cry

, it is the sole focus of

TheHunter

simulation series. Players traverse rather large maps in search of prey, and

Call of the Wild

prioritizes realism above nearly everything else. Tracking and shooting targets is a slow and methodical process, one that punishes anyone who gets frustrated or tries to utilize shortcuts. Unsurprisingly, the gameplay loop will not appeal to everyone, particularly since the title removes any elements that might distract from the hunt.

Call of the Wild

has a wide range of reserves that serve as hunting grounds, and the game features zones from across the world. However, the base game only has Hirschfelden and Layton Lake, with the rest of the maps being DLC.

The Evil Within 2

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

.

Gotham Knights

Is

Gotham Knights

a great game? Frankly, no. It was always going to be a tall ask for WB Games Montreal’s DC project to live up to the

Arkham

series, but the 2022 release was probably more disappointing than most people anticipated. The game garnered a decidedly mixed critical reception, and the fan response was hardly better. While not the only thing to attract criticism,

Gotham Knights

‘ rendition of Gotham was one of the game’s biggest sticking points for most people. The open-world felt like a step back from 2015’s

Arkham Knight

, both visually and stylistically. For the most part, this iteration of Gotham just comes across like a generic metropolis with a few flourishes rather than a fully realized Gothic hellscape.

That said,

Gotham Knights

is kind of the perfect

Xbox Game Pass open-world game

. For all its failings, the title can still offer some fun. The story is strong for the most part, and the four playable characters all have their moments. The combat system leaves something to be desired, but it is not terrible either. While

Gotham Knights

is difficult to recommend as a standalone purchase, DC fans who have been eyeing the game since its release should give it a try during its Game Pass stint.

Burnout Paradise Remastered

Burnout

is an all-around great franchise, one that produced some of the most entertaining racers of the early 2000s.

Burnout Paradise

adapts the series’ frantic gameplay to an open-world structure, providing players with complete freedom in how they pursue their racing careers. Although small compared to most modern settings,

Burnout Paradise

‘s open-world is varied and immaculately designed.

On these streets, speed is the name of the game, and there will be more than a few crashes along the way. The brilliance of

Burnout Paradise

‘s map becomes apparent once players memorize the ins and outs of its layout, letting them zip through its roads instinctively rather than following markers.

Just Cause 4 Reloaded

The

Just Cause

franchise has no illusions of grandeur. It simply provides chaos in a destructible world, and when done right, these games can be cathartic.

Just Cause 4

landed with a bit of a thud as it felt like a retread of its immediate predecessor and garnered criticism for its outdated visuals.

Just Cause 4 Reloaded

smooths some of the base game’s rough edges, presenting a more enjoyable overall experience. Set in the fictional Solís,

Just Cause 4

‘s world serves as a solid playground to spread mayhem across. If someone merely wants to spread chaos and blow up a few buildings, this game should scratch that itch.

State Of Decay 2

Building upon the foundations of its predecessor,

State of Decay 2

offers a string of sizable maps packed with starving zombies. Meagher Valley is arguably the best map in the game, but all the others have their positives, particularly Drucker Country and Cascade Hills.

Focusing nearly exclusively on survival,

State of Decay 2

tasks the player with building a community capable of withstanding the trials of existing within a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Conan Exiles

In 2018,

Conan Exiles

came out to a mixed reception, but the live-service game managed to weather that rough start and find a dedicated audience. Survival mechanics are generally a great fit for sandboxes, and many of the genre’s strongest projects simply drop players in a hellscape and challenge them to preserve for as long as possible.

Conan Exiles

largely sticks to that formula, although it also presents survivors with enough tools for them to potentially prosper, provided they are willing to do the work.

In terms of content type, Funcom casts a surprisingly wide net. Although not amazing in every area,

Conan Exiles

works as a single-player package with a fixed storyline, an endless PvE survival game revolving around base building and raiding, or a ruthless PvP option. It is up to the player to pick the server that best suits their preferences. For the open-world itself, the Exiled Lands are unforgiving, spacious but not overly big, and capable of producing the occasional impressive vista.

Conan Exiles

is not the prettiest

open-world Xbox Game Pass game

, but it is generally consistent.

Terraria

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.

Minecraft

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.

Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: 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.

Forza Horizon 5

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.

Forza Horizon 4

is also on Xbox Game Pass, and it is a great option for anyone who wishes to drive through Scotland.

Sea Of Thieves

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.

Batman: Arkham Knight

The open-world formula of the

Arkham

series is only enhanced with the Batmobile at your disposal. Hurtling through the streets of Gotham in Batman’s iconic vehicle is a rush. Though it is always fun to soar from mission to mission using nothing but Batman’s cape, the action is only heightened by intense car movement.

As with other games in the franchise,

Batman: Arkham Knight

is an exciting and easily digestible open-world adventure. The game also comes with plenty of content outside its main campaign.

Yakuza 0

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 out fairly isolated but eventually diverge 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.

Like A Dragon: Ishin!

Someone would probably need at least a three-month subscription to get through all the

Yakuza

games on Xbox Game Pass. If they were to accomplish that, they would be largely caught up to Kiryu and Ichiban’s stories, at least until new games are released.

Yakuza 0

serves as a great entry point into the franchise, and the same can be said to an extent for

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

; however, the rest of the titles should be played in chronological order. Consequently, the series requires quite an extensive time investment and commitment, especially for completionists who might find it difficult to step away once they get started.

Alternatively, players can just try out

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

to get their fill of

Yakuza

goodness without committing to an 8-part epic. Inspired by historical events and taking place in the Late Edo period, this spin-off game features many familiar faces, although they are slotted into different names and roles than usual. While far removed from the main entries, the story nevertheless has the same tone and structure, and this extends to the optional content and open-world.

Ishin!

was originally released in 2014, and while the remake looks pretty good, its combat is reminiscent of the older

Yakuza

games rather than

Like a Dragon

‘s turn-based system.

Fallout: New Vegas

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.

Far Cry 5

Far Cry

has become something of a love-or-hate franchise, but there is no denying that the games can be a lot of fun. The fifth entry is the only one available on Xbox Game Pass, and while it is not generally regarded as the license’s peak,

Far Cry 5

has plenty of positives in its favor. Set in Montana, the story follows a rookie marshal as they try to liberate the region from the manipulative clutches of Joseph Seed’s cult. The large but not exhausting map is split into three parts, each one governed by a disciple of Joseph. While the gameplay loop remains largely the same within each area, the story missions reflect the main cult member’s personality.

Consequently, the campaign is repetitive but seldom boring. As has become a franchise staple,

Far Cry 5

‘s villains steal the show, and they are all wildly different from each other. Faith Seed is especially memorable, although Joseph is also charismatic enough to believably serve as the cult’s idol. While not quite as diverse or exotic as some other settings in Ubisoft’s series, Montana nevertheless serves as a fun sandbox.

Prey

Prey

is a sci-fi thriller set in a space station that has been overtaken by an alien threat called the Typhon. As Morgan, players are cut loose onto a world they do not fully understand, and Arkane does a great job of maintaining that sense of mystery for most of the campaign.

Combining stealth, RPG, and Metroidvania elements,

Prey

is a difficult and immersive game that incorporates puzzles, first-person combat, and exploration. The space station might not be as huge as some other maps on Xbox Game Pass, but it is expertly designed and dense.

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