Open-World games offer a vast number of ways to play. They usually feature a wealth of quests and side-quests, along with collectibles and lots of action-packed moments with enemies. Heading out into an open-world always allows players to feel like they can play slowly and take in the sights while progress is made.
Starfield is just one of the many great open-world games on Xbox Game Pass
There’s a brilliant selection of games that fit into the open-world formula on Xbox Game Pass. The subscription offers plenty of games, new and old, with all kinds of genres being explored and great stories being told.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Open-world racing has been done many times since Burnout Paradise first released (see Forza Horizon 5), but none have quite inspired players like this. Perhaps it’s the whiteknuckle speeds, or maybe it’s the chaos in smashing into rival cars, whichever, Burnout Paradise Remastered is a thrill. The ability to speed through the map of Paradise City hopping into races, or to just cruise around looking for stunt jumps, makes this game a stand out from many other racers, even 15 years after it first smashed onto the scene.
Fallout 4
It’s not an open-world list without Bethesda. There are too many games to include once you reach this developer - Skyrim, Fallout, Starfield - we’ve picked the latest Fallout iteration because out of the third and fourth installments, this is the most accessible. It may not be as groundbreaking as the third game, but it’s arguably more attractive to look at, features base-building and a huge map that’s as equally engaging as any other Bethesda title. This will keep you ticking over until the Amazon Prime TV show starts.
Ghostwire Tokyo
If you fancy being a bit spooked in your open-world jaunts, Ghostwire Tokyo will deliver an atmospheric, rain-soaked Tokyo that is teaming with the supernatural. Once you start collecting missions, there’s so much to do here and you’re always kitted out with the best abilities to explore. Being able to glide and dash through the air makes exploring feel enjoyable. There’s a fair chunk to see too, whether that’s traditional temples, high rise buildings, or small corner stores. All of this accompanies combat that can be action-packed or built on stealth, depending on your playstyle. Plus, most importantly, you can pet all the animals.
GTAV
Perhaps the daddy of open-world games. The mummy of them, also. Whether you choose to play the single player or opt for the online experience, GTAV has everything you could want; cars to race around or cruise in, minigames and activities, crimes, businesses, heists. And if none of that tickles your pickle you could just go and hang out in the hot tub of a mega yacht off the coast. Where else can you gather with friends, rob a casino, dance at a club and then ride a rollercoaster? And make the most it now, because you know once GTA6 drops, it’s going to take over all our lives.
Minecraft
How can we not include the bestselling game of all-time? And before anyone says ‘it’s not open-world’ it goshdarn is. It’s the openest of all the open-worlds. Plus the only limit is your imagination. You can treat this as a world to build vast buildings or cities, or just live a little adventure, building up a life and tooling yourself up before vanquishing the Ender Dragon. With over 20 biomes and more details released every year, the world just keeps getting bigger and more beautiful. Minecraft is the most accessible game on this list and, much like LEGO, can be enjoaybly experienced by everyone.
No Man’s Sky
You can’t get more ‘open’ than the depths of space in No Man’s Sky. Starting out on a random planet your new adventure is going to take through countless solar systems where you will scan flora and fauna, earning credits, building bases and conversing with alien races. While there is a central goal to the game, you could, if you choose, simply travel from one place to the next exploring. With so much to see and do, the only thing holding you back is time. There are countless combinations of planets and animals to see, plus Hello Games is constantly updating the game for the better even seven years later.
Starfield
Okay, so we come back to Bethesda. It’s hard not to, and Starfield being their most recent hit means that it deserves a place here. Plus, it’s genuinely enjoyable and vastly different to Fallout from above. Starfield contains some of the best combat in Bethesda’s recent catalogue, and it combines a lot of the planet-hopping, space exploration of No Man’s Sky. With a vast number of planets to visit, plus a wealth of missions and sidekicks to travel with, you’re never short of things to do.
Yakuza 0
While the open-world of Yakuza 0 isn’t as large as the others on this list, it accompanies a brilliant story of loyalty, respect, and love. While we should recommend playing Yakuza Kiwami and its sequel before this one, it doesn’t hurt to start at Yakuza 0 (You can find most of them on Xbox Game Pass). It grounds two of the best RPG characters and can genuinely make a newbie fall in love with the series. The world of Yakuza contains many stereotypical Japanese sights, including hostess clubs, arcades, and sushi and whiskey bars. That’s if you make it through all the brutal street fights, that is.
Featured Image Credit: MicrosoftTopics: Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Starfield, Fallout, Minecraft, No Mans Sky, Yakuza