Open worlds can be a bit controversial. While some of us love almost all of the open worlds out there, some gamers argue that not every game needs to be open world. And that’s true. Sometimes it’s better to have a streamlined adventure with carefully crafted events and story beats rather than a big, open, and empty sandbox where the most exciting thing to do is to collect things.
But fear not, in this case, I’ll present to you a few of the best open-world games available for the PS4. These are the ones that captured what open-world gameplay is supposed to be about, giving the player agency and freedom without sacrificing the story.
I decided to include one game per franchise for the sake of simplicity, and while I know that there are many amazing open-world games, I can’t include all of them.
I will prioritize PS4 exclusives and mix in my own personal, subjective preferences. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best open-world games on PS4 that you can lose yourself in.
inFAMOUS: Second Son
Starting off the list is what I consider to be a very underrated game that every PS4 owner should have. Back when the console came out, this was one of the first games to be announced, I was already a fan of the inFAMOUS franchise, so when I saw the trailer for this and took on the details and particle effects, lighting and everything the PS4 had to offer, I was psyched. Suffice to say. It didn’t disappoint.
It does get repetitive in certain areas, especially with side-missions, but never to the point where it gets boring.
You play as Delsin Rowe, the only main character in a videogame that you’ll want to both become pals with and punch in the face simultaneously. There’s a variety of powers at your disposal as you advance through the story that allows you to traverse the world in surprising ways.
A lot of the fun of this game is using your abilities to go from one point to another. After all, the inFAMOUS games are known for how fun it is to traverse their maps, and Second Son is the best one.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Another game that started as a PS4 exclusive, Horizon Zero Dawn puts you in the metaphorical shoes of Aloy. It throws you into a futuristic version of Earth that is overcome by dinosaur-like robots. Just hearing about the badass premise, you might think that this is just another action game. But there’s actually a lot of focus on the RPG elements, not to mention that most of what makes this game great is its narrative.
The story is engaging, and the worldbuilding will make you feel like you are walking in that world and not just sitting on your couch sipping on Mountain Dew.
The gameplay is reminiscent of the modern Tomb Raider games, which I love. The hunting, gathering, surviving, crafting are all addicting mechanics that will make you stay up late. If you want a big, beautiful world to explore and kill some robo-dinos on your way, then Horizon Zero Dawn is for you.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
One thing the best superhero games have in common is the traversal mechanics of their worlds. Gliding around in Arkham City, dashing and teleporting your way through Seattle in inFAMOUS, parkouring between buildings in Prototype, and of course, the web-slinging goodness of Spider-Man, which have never been as refined as in Marvel’s Spider-Man.
I don’t think I need to explain too much as to why this game’s open world is as well-regarded as it is, but I’m going to give you the nitty-gritty anyway. Basically, like every mainstream game critic will recite: “the game makes you feel like Spider-Man.” How does it accomplish that, though? Simply put, the swinging is easy enough to lose yourself into it, but the speed, the weight of each swing and
NieR: Automata
The world of NieR: Automata is beautiful to behold, as vegetation grows and wraps everything of what used to be a thriving civilization. In this action RPG, you play as android 2B as you explore the world around you. The combat is fluid, mixing shoot ’em up and hack-and-slash elements.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell that this is the kind of game that’d let you sit back and appreciate the virtual world the developers created, but you can. In fact, you can settle down near a water source and fish around for a bit. Thanks to your characters’ mobility, you’ll realize that you can reach a lot of places around you with a little imagination and the right skills.
The Outer Worlds
For all of you who love Fallout: New Vegas and thought it’s underrated compared to Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, I’ve got good news for you. You see, Bethesda wasn’t the one to make New Vegas. Instead, they handed the project to another studio called Obsidian, who are also the masterminds behind South Park: Stick of Truth and Knights of the Old Republic. As it turns out, they created their own game, and it’s as good as you can imagine.
You wake up from cryostasis and are greeted by Rick Sanchez. The game takes place in a space colony filled with retro-futuristic technology, quirky characters, and engaging RPG elements. The world is not only beautiful with space and alien shenanigans but also feels full of life.
The combat is really fun and varied compared to other games similar to this one. If you enjoyed the world of New Vegas, then you’ll love the alien colonies of The Outer Worlds.
Far Cry 5
Far Cry games have always taken players to wild, exotic lands. So, when I first heard that the fifth entry of the series would take place in Montana of all places, I was a little bit skeptical. For starters, how would they capture that feeling that only a Far Cry game can conjure without the beautiful yet unforgiving landscapes? It turns out that Ubisoft somehow managed to make an amazing Far Cry game without having it take place somewhere far away.
Wherever you look, you’ll find a sight to behold, not to mention the graphics are top-notch, making the act of exploring into an amazing experience in and of itself.
Not to mention that, unlike all of the other Far Cry games before it, this one ditched the mini-map in favor of a compass, got rid of tower-climbing, and introduced a system that allowed you to organically discover the world through interactions with NPCs.
And while in my personal opinion the setting of Far Cry 5 falls a bit flat, the way the developers created this chaotic version of Montana cut-off from the outside world it’s worth exploring every square inch of and enjoy your time with companions in good old Far Cry fashion, either by sneaking around or blowing shit up. Probably both.
Grand Theft Auto V
Ok, you knew this one was coming. Rockstar Games not only pioneered and popularized the open-world element in modern triple-A games but continues to grow and surprise us with the level of detail they put into every game they develop. GTA V is no exception. Rockstar created their own version of LA, highlighting the parts that make the city into what it is and capturing its spirit with a fidelity that only a GTA game could.
The realistic ragdoll physics, the flies swirling around the trash, the sunset in the beach and flip-flops that actually, well, flip and flop. The world is easy to be immersed in.
Not to mention that the gameplay is as addicting as any other GTA game that came before it, with plenty of side activities and the introduction of character stats that will have you trying different things to increase them. Add to that the fact that you can play as three very different but equally psychotic characters, and you have a sandbox unlike any other.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Out of all the Assassins Creed games, this one takes the cake. Of course, I’m not gonna lie, there’s nothing like the first time I ran through the rooftops of Venice during nighttime or the jawdropping view from the top of the Giza pyramids. Origins did an amazing job of capturing the lives of ancient Egypt with incredible fidelity, but it was the groundwork for Ubisoft to create Greece in Odyssey.
The world is larger in scope; there’s more emphasis on water exploration and battles. The NPCs feel more alive than ever, not only because of their facial expressions but also in their AI. Guards will sleep during the night, people will go on their daily routines, and the implementation of a War System, which adds to the conflict between the Athens and Spartans and makes it feel like it matters.
Gone are the days where you play in a war-ridden nation, yet the only battles you find are one-on-one brawls between the leaders of each side. Here, war is on a large scale.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Yeah, you knew this one was coming too. Just when we thought that there was no way Rockstar could top themselves with the level of detail in their virtual worlds, they add shrinking balls to the horses depending on the weather. Ok, little details that only the sharpest eyes will find are not the only thing Red Dead 2 has to offer.
The sidequests are organic, taking place as you explore the world in the disguise of random events, the NPCs feel like fully-fleshed people, and you can have your very own adventures riding your horse around rather than going to the main missions.
The wild west has never been more realized as it is on Red Dead 2. Your character has to get haircuts, take showers, your horse needs to be taken care of, and every event has a weight to it, defining the importance of your decisions throughout the games.
Of course, as always, the main missions are Rockstars’ weak point, not that they are bad by any means, but they’re usually pretty linear, and it’s still like that in this game. Where the game shines, however, it’s on the open world and side activities. Here, you can feel free and ride to the sunset.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
If there was any doubt in your mind that The Witcher 3 was going to be in the number one spot, then I don’t know what to tell you. Unlike most of the titles of these entries, where they lack on one area or another in terms of their worlds, Witcher 3 nails all of them.
Main quests, side quests, NPCs, random encounters, worldbuilding, interesting quests, naked people. You have everything you can wish from an open world in a nice, neat packet called Witcher 3.
There is a bit of a learning curve, but nothing that could scare off newcomers. Its broad appeal has attracted the masses and made it one of the most praised games of the decade. The story is engaging no matter how small of an event or inconsequential your actions. In almost every second, you’ll feel like you’re part of a breathing world.
For related content: