Given their expansive nature, open-world projects tend to be some of the longest video games in existence. It's possible to pour hundreds and thousands of hours into a single open-world game without exploring every nook and cranny.
While there are short open-world games out there, Shadow of the Colossus and Mafia immediately come to mind, most entries in the genre require a significant time investment. That's part of the reason these titles are so popular - they reward commitment with content and immersion.
Updated May 26, 2023 by Mark Sammut: 2023 might be less than halfway through, but the year has already produced a couple of long open-world games. They also happen to be fantastic.
The times are taken from HowLongToBeat. The included range covers from the time required to finish a game's main story to a completionist playthrough. The former will be used as the primary metric, while the latter will be used in the case of a tie. If releases in the same franchise clock in at similar lengths, they will be combined into a single entry. Also, a game must have more than a single polled time to qualify.
Release Date
July 17, 2020
Developer
Sucker Punch Productions
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Ghost of Tsushima
Serving as a swansong for the PS4, Ghost of Tsushima pushed Sony's last-gen hardware to its absolute limit. Set during the 13th century on Japan's Tsushima island, the game follows a samurai, Jin Sakai, who goes on a revenge mission after his clan is taken out by an invading Mongol army.
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Featuring a pretty good story along with a ton of side content, Ghost of Tsushima is, for the most part, a fairly conventional open-world game. However, it has a stellar hack and slash combat system and an amazing setting that has not been excessively explored within gaming. The gameplay is smooth as butter and packs enough of a challenge to be engaging while still remaining accessible. That said, players can always bump up the difficulty if they find themselves breezing past enemies.
Release Date
December 10, 2020
Developer
CD Projekt Red
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is infamous for having a disastrous launch. All the hype this game had accumulated was completely crushed as a result of unfulfilled promises and a litany of bugs that hampered the overall experience.
However, players who are willing to look past these faults and focus on the game's strengths can find themselves enjoying a narratively rich experience that's full to the brim with excellent characters. It's one of the longest video games around, which is fitting for a title made by CD Projekt Red.
Release Date
January 28, 2022
Developer
Game Freak
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Amazon Listing Page
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Finally, Pokemon went open-world, and Game Freak did a pretty decent job of adopting this style. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the franchise's most ambitious project in years, not just in terms of scale but also in its story and mechanics.
This time around, the focus is squarely on exploration and discovery as the time-traveling protagonist seeks to fill the Pokedex of the Hisui region. Hopefully, Arceus represents the franchise's direction moving forward, or at least sparks a new subseries revolving around open-world gameplay.
Release Date
February 10, 2023
Developer
Avalanche Software
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Hogwarts Legacy
So far, Hogwarts Legacy is 2023's biggest cross-platform open-world game. Avalanche's Harry Potter game brings to life the iconic school from the novels and movies, along with a few beloved locations that surround the academy. As the story takes place long before Harry, Ron, and Hermione are born, players are allowed to create their own legend that stands up on its own merit.
Even though its narrative and combat are decent and very good respectively, the game's world is undoubtedly its highlight. Harry Potter fans have long wished they could immerse themselves in the Wizarding World, and Hogwarts Legacy offers them that opportunity.
Release Date
October 28, 2008
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Fallout 3: Game Of The Year Edition
For the longest time, the Fallout series was limited to a top-down isometric perspective that was quite a blast in its own right. However, the manner in which Bethesda managed to modernize the series should definitely be commended.
Related: Fallout 3: Locations Most Players Missed
Fallout 3 was a return to form for the series that showcased the potential of the IP as an open-world action-adventure title. The game was absolutely massive and full to the brim with content, turning it into one of the longest titles ever made.
Release Date
March 06, 2018
Developer
Square Enix
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Final Fantasy 15: Royal Edition
Final Fantasy 15 saw Square Enix's JRPG franchise embracing a Western-inspired open-world, a decision that garnered a mixed reception. Released in 2016, the story follows a prince and his closest companions as they go on a cross-country trip in search of the protagonist's bridge to be.
Focusing on real-time combat and devoting a fair amount of time to exploration, FF15 is a rather different experience than most of the mainline entries in the franchise. In fact, the game's open-ended map seems like a direct response to the criticism levied at FF13's linearity.
Release Date
January 23, 2018
Developer
Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Subnautica
Set on a water-themed alien planet, Subnautica is a survival horror game that leans heavily into exploration. As Ryley, players are tasked with traversing this world in pursuit of clues that might reveal what happened to a crew that landed on the planet a decade prior; in the meantime, they are also searching for a way to head home.
Subnautica takes place primarily underwater, with the only exceptions being two rather small islands. The sea is filled with wonders and threats, including the terrifying Reapers. Open-world projects can feel a bit samey at times, but Subnautica's setting, horror elements, and first-person perspective differentiate the game from its peers.
Release Date
Developer
Guerrilla Games
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of those games with a world that players can absolutely lose themselves in forever if they wished. Playing as the ambitious and clever Aloy, gamers take up her teched-out bow and set out across a post-apocalyptic environment with mystic tribes, rolling hills, lush forests, and robot dinosaurs.
It goes without saying that Horizon Zero Dawn's greatest strength is its world. In a genre where that element needs to be big, bright, and beautiful, this game undoubtedly succeeds. The sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, offers more of the same, only slightly better.
Release Date
October 27, 2017
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Assassin's Creed Origins
Assassin's Creed Origins marked a new beginning for Ubisoft's franchise. Although the series had already experienced a lot of success prior to visiting Ancient Egypt, the games were starting to lose momentum; consequently, Origins shook things up by opting for a new combat system along with a heavier focus on loot.
Origins is one of the best Assassin's Creed games, and the 2017 release works well as a link between the action-adventure entries that preceded it and the RPG-driven ones that succeeded it. Unsurprisingly, the open-world is a sight to behold, and it manages to be expansive but not overwhelming.
Release Date
November 06, 2020
Developer
10tons
Platforms
An indie open-world survival game, Dysmantle establishes a gameplay loop that is irresistibly addictive. Set in a post-apocalyptic world featuring zombies, this title's bare-bones sound rather unspectacular, but everything comes together quite seamlessly for one main reason: progression is constant and highly enjoyable.
Players spend the majority of their time in Dysmantle destroying everything around them, and each action grants XP points that can then be used to forge better tools to cause even more devastation. It is a cycle that works brilliantly and ensures that grinding never feels pointless. The world is reasonably large too, even if the isometric camera angle makes the map seem smaller than it actually is.
Release Date
October 17, 2013
Developer
SNK Games, Elemental Games, Katauri Interactive
Platforms
PC
Although it certainly shows its age nowadays, Space Rangers 2: Dominators was an impressive sci-fi title when it debuted in 2004. The Russian game blends a surprising number of genres, from trade simulators to shoot 'em ups and RTS. The base game launched with hardly a shortage of content, but 2013's Space Rangers HD: A War Apart adds even more material to it, expanding this title to enormous lengths.
Space Rangers HD takes place in a universe where evil robots called Dominators are trying to take over everything. The player steps into one of the game's various civilizations and must set out to complete faction missions, take a few trips to hyperspace, and make enemies and friends along the way. Not everything about Space Rangers HD: A War Apart has aged gracefully, but the game's open-ended nature is admirable and greatly enhances its replayability, making it one of the longest video games ever.
Release Date
October 16, 2007
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition
It would be impossible to list out a wealth of Bethesda titles without mentioning the legendary Elder Scrolls series. After the massive success of Morrowind, it was only a given that Bethesda would pull out all the stops for the next game in the series.
Oblivion definitely didn't disappoint in this regard, featuring an excellent story that would keep gamers occupied for weeks, if not months. It's one of the greatest and longest video games of all time.
Release Date
March 26, 2019
Developer
Nine Dots
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Outward
Usually, fantasy RPGs cast players as prominent figures, heroes summoned by the stars to change the course of history. Outward opts for a different take as its protagonist starts off as a common adventurer who is merely trying to pay off a debut, and it takes a while for them to become involved in a more important narrative.
While Outward has plenty of issues such as unsatisfying combat, the game nails its open-world. Players are allowed to explore the map to their hearts' content, and the game opens up very quickly. Sure, some routes lead to death, but that is to be expected in this sort of fantasy world.
Release Date
April 23, 2013
Developer
Capcom
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
2012's Dragon's Dogma is a great action RPG, and Dark Arisen adds roughly 10 hours of awesome content to the base game. Capcom drops players in Gransys, a gorgeous open-world densely populated with monsters. While not colossal, the map is expertly crafted to maximize gameplay and combat, the latter of which is fantastic. Dark Arisen introduces Bitterblack Isle, a post-campaign area that significantly ramps up the difficulty and dread.
Dragon's Dogma does not have much in the way of memorable characters or writing, and the game's storytelling is unlikely to leave much of a lasting impression. However, almost everything else is well above average, and the simple act of exploration is satisfying. In 2022, Capcom announced that Dragon's Dogma 2 is on the way.
Release Date
September 26, 2017
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Fallout 4 - Game of the Year Edition
The sequel to Fallout 3 definitely had its fair share of detractors, with most people considering it to be a massive game that's devoid of any soul. However, there's no denying the fact that Fallout 4 has its merits.
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Exploration is still a blast, and settlement management is a welcome distraction that players can invest a ton of hours into. The combination of both these aspects - among many others - led to Fallout 4 becoming one of the longest video games around.
Release Date
April 26, 2019
Developer
SIE Bend Studio
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Days Gone
Days Gone got lost in the PS4 exclusive shuffle and garnered a polarizing reception at launch. The zombie open-world game centers around Deacon St. John, a biker who goes on a journey to track down his supposedly deceased wife. A surprisingly character-driven piece, Days Gone's lengthy campaign does have some pacing issues and a slow start, but things do pick up after a couple of hours.
Even if the narrative fails to hit the spot with someone, they can at least look forward to driving their bike across a beautiful world while they try to avoid the undead hordes.
Release Date
May 8, 2018
Developer
Funcom
Platforms
Conan Exiles is one of those titles that someone can easily sink more than a thousand hours into, however, the survival game comes with such a steep learning curve that it can be really difficult to get into. Conan Exiles does have a story that can be somewhat followed, but the majority of the experience revolves around the basic gameplay loop of scavenging, crafting, building, and interacting with other players.
RELATED: Conan Exiles: How To Build A Great Base In Admin Mode
In some ways, this open-world game is similar to Minecraft, at least when it comes to the sandbox. Conan Exiles has amassed quite a dedicated fan base since its launch, and the game still averages thousands of players on Steam.
Release Date
February 07, 2012
Developer
Obsidian Entertainment
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Fallout: New Vegas - Ultimate Edition
A rich story with a player-driven narrative, Fallout: New Vegas is considered to be the best game in the series-and the longest! Completing Fallout: New Vegas under the completionist method will take players over 100 hours.
The main story is about 27.5 hours, but those who take their leisurely time may beat all the game's content in over 300 hours. Talking to every NPC, completing all the game's quests, and unlocking those achievements or trophies will keep players up night and day.
Release Date
March 01, 2022
Developer
Piranha Bytes
Platforms
Amazon Listing Page
Elex 2
Piranha Bytes specializes in open-world games, an endeavor that goes all the way back to 2001's Gothic. Although typically known for their Eurojank, Piranha's projects are endearing and ambitious for the company's size. Gothic 2 is probably the developer's most famous title, but the Risen and Elex series also have their fans.
Debuting roughly a week after Elden Ring, Elex 2 was utterly overshadowed by FromSoftware's masterpiece. Now that the Lands Between has been fully explored, RPG fans might want to consider visiting Magalan for a fantasy sci-fi adventure. Elex 2 wastes little time in cutting players loose so that they can explore its world, and the game even hands out a jetpack.
Elex clocks in at 27 hours, along with a completionist time of 91 hours.
Release Date
December 15, 2014
Developer
Klei Entertainment
Platforms
Don't Starve is a popular open-world survival game with a permadeath mechanic; meanwhile, Don't Starve Together frames many of the same ideas around multiplayer, acting both as a sequel and a standalone experience. As both titles have their positives and are worth owning in their own right, players will need to decide which title is better suited to meet their needs. If someone is specifically looking to play with friends, Don't Starve Together is their only choice.
RELATED: Differences Between Don't Starve And Don't Starve Together
Don't Starve Together is the longer of the two projects, although the time required to complete playthroughs will vary greatly since this is one of those games that plays it fast and loose with its story.