BEST OPEN WORLD GAMES PS5:
The vast and immersive worlds rendered in today’s open-world games can make PlayStation 5 owners feel like excited kids set loose in a candy store.
With jaw-dropping graphics and seemingly endless lands to explore, these games allow players to fully immerse themselves while crafting their epic adventures.
From swinging through vibrant jungles to sailing across mystical seas, the imaginative horizons are the limit. Veteran gamers and noobs alike will find plenty to love in these sprawling sandboxes filled with quests, characters, and surprises begging to be discovered around every corner.
So, power up your PS5, have a comfy seat ready, and prepare to lose yourself for hours in our picks for the most marvelous open-world offerings.
Just be warned – you might forget meals and bedtimes once these bad boys suck you into their mesmerizing worlds!
11 BEST OPEN WORLD GAMES PS5
11. The Last of Us Part II Remastered
| Game | The Last of Us Part II Remastered |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Naughty Dog |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | January 19, 2024 |
Naughty Dog pulls at gamers’ heartstrings again with their gut-wrenching masterpiece The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PS5. This emotional thrill ride throws players back into the shoes of an older, battle-hardened Ellie seeking justice in the post-apocalyptic ruins of Seattle.
While not a fully open world, the stunningly detailed urban areas offer plenty of room for exploration and strategic combat against aggressive human enemies and the horrifyingly mutated infected.
Get ready for an intense and poignant cinematic gaming experience as you guide Ellie through the flooded, vegetation-consumed streets, pushing her desire for revenge to its absolute limits.
Fair warning, though – have some tissues ready, as this profound story delivers incredibly heavy and depressing moments. But the bonds you’ll form with the characters make the pain worth enduring.
10. Yakuza Like a Dragon
| Game | Yakuza Like a Dragon |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Developer | Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio |
| Publisher | Sega |
| Release Date | January 16, 2020 |
Get ready for quirky and over-the-top fun in the vibrant underworld of Yakuza Like a Dragon. This genre-mixing title throws players into the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking yakuza grunt left for dead by his clan after taking the fall for a crime he didn’t commit.
The ramshackle streets of Yokohama brim with dangerous thugs and wacky inhabitants just begging to be discovered, along with tons of rewarding side quests guaranteed to make you smile, laugh, or scratch your head.
The combat feels fresh, too, playfully adopting a turn-based RPG style that keeps the beat-downs lively. And Ichiban is such a lovable, dorky hero that you can’t help but root for him as he endeavors to build his righteous clan.
So, soak up this sweet open-world odyssey through the eyes of gaming’s best new underdog. Don’t forget to occasionally smash some heads with bicycles and giant frogs!
9. God of War Ragnarok
| Game | God of War Ragnarök |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | November 9, 2022 |
Kratos and Atreus are back to melt faces in the Norse-inspired world of God of War Ragnarök. This sequel to 2018’s God of War carries on the father-son story as our duo journeys through the staggering Nine Realms in search of answers and allies before Ragnarök descends.
The environments here beggar belief, from the wide vistas of the icy north to towering forests and the rocky ridges of fiery Muspelheim. Packed with more of the series’ signature massive beasts and nearly non-stop action set pieces, Ragnarök also weaves in heaps of heart between the axe-swinging.
Seeing the gruff Kratos take tender steps to connect with his boy throughout this 30+ hour Norse saga is a treat. So grab your magical Leviathan Axe and get ready to decimate mythic baddies, explore every nook and cranny of the realms, and experience a riveting conclusion to the latest chapter in Kratos’ legend. Just be sure to bring tissues for the feels and a thirst for bloody battles.
8. Assassin's Creed Mirage
| Game | Assassin’s Creed Mirage |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Developer | Ubisoft Bordeaux |
| Publisher | Ubisoft |
| Release Date | October 5, 2023 |
Parkour through the bustling bazaar rooftops of 9th century Baghdad in the transportive open world of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. This stirring next entry in the beloved stealth series puts players in the shoes of nimble young Basim as he joins the ancient order of assassins, leaping across rickety wooden beams while honing his hidden blade skills.
Ubisoft smartly scales back the overwhelming size and scope of recent series titles for a more intimate, focused sandbox experience within the dusty Middle Eastern streets. Roam this visually striking setting from crumbling mosques to secretive underground tunnels, taking on evolving assassination missions and befriending colorful locals like the mischievous Roshan.
While overall smaller than the sprawling worlds of Valhalla or Odyssey, Baghdad overflows with atmosphere and personality. So sharpen your blades, flex your traversal muscles, and prepare for parkour heaven when Mirage launches later this year. Watch your step on those precarious rooftops, or you might end up in a clunky pile of robes below!
7. Horizon: Forbidden West
| Game | Horizon: Forbidden West |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Developer | Guerrilla Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | February 18, 2022 |
Pull on Aloy’s dirt-smudged boots once more to explore the breath-stealing frontier of Horizon: Forbidden West. Guerrilla Games takes their lush post-apocalyptic vision to stunning new heights with sprawling redwood forests, sweltering desert mesas, and misty tropical coastlines begging you to get lost for hours.
Each biome brims with intricate details, dangerous machines, and doodad-filled ruins offering sweet loot. And the varied tribes Aloy encounters add plenty of soul. She’ll have to master new gadgets like the gripping Pullcaster rope and quivering Diving Mask to access all of this sequel’s hard-to-reach nooks, as well as tame an array of epic mounts from velocipods to fearsome Clawstriders.
But have some tissues handy for that unexpectedly skillful storytelling, which hits harder than a rampaging Thunderjaw. So brace for a captivating mechanical beast-bashing spectacle that stretches the PS5’s graphical legs while tugging at your heartstrings from sunup to sundown!
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
| Game | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Rockstar Studios |
| Publisher | Rockstar Games |
| Release Date | October 26, 2018 |
As a PlayStation devotee since the PS2 era, I tip my hat to Rockstar for bringing the masterful open-world immersion of Red Dead Redemption 2 to the awe-inspiring capabilities of the PS5.
This frontier escapade transports you back to 1899 with its unparalleled visual detail and fluidity. From Arthur Morgan’s individual strands of hair blowing in the breeze to smoother framerates during chaotic gun battles, the enhanced power of the PS5 takes this already visually stunning title to unprecedented heights.
The tempestuous weather effects are especially jaw-dropping, whether you’re caught in an intense lightning storm or galloping through freshly fallen snow. The added visual pop makes exploration even more irresistible, as every nook and cranny of the sprawling map begs to be investigated.
And fan-favorite haptic feedback within the DualSense controller help ground you in this living world, from the thundering hoofbeats of your stallion to the kickback of a revolver. For open-world lovers, it simply doesn’t get better than this.
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
| Game | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Developer | Bethesda Game Studios |
| Publisher | Bethesda Softworks |
| Release Date | November 11, 2021 |
Even over a decade after its initial release, Bethesda’s beloved fantasy epic The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has carved its rightful place amongst the best open-world adventures ever. And now, seeing its wintry northern realm brought to life in stunning 4K clarity on the PS5 is enough to bring joy to this devoted PlayStation fanatic’s eyes.
Whether you’re a seasoned Dragonborn looking to revisit Skyrim or have somehow missed this masterpiece until now, the enhanced visuals make Tamriel’s frosty peaks and dungeon depths more irresistible to get lost in than ever before. The improved framerates also keep sword fights and magic battles feeling buttery smooth.
But beyond the technical boosts, the unparalleled adventure awaits here that no PS5 owner should deprive themselves of any longer. Few gaming worlds feat such breadth and depth of content and customization, with quests unveiling new surprises despite countless prior playthroughs.
4. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
| Game | Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Developer | CD Projekt Red |
| Publisher | CD Projekt |
| Release Date | December 5, 2023 |
As a cyberpunk genre devotee and PlayStation patriot, this enhanced next-gen release of Cyberpunk 2077 has me more hypnotized than a scav fixated on a BD headset. Night City has never looked more futuristic, thanks to the visual pop of raytracing that is only possible on the mighty PS5.
Neon lights practically leap off the screen before your eyes. And the city streets feel more alive than ever with boosted crowd density and traffic volume to match the hardware’s enhanced power. Those glitchy bugs that plagued the initial launch are now all but a distant memory as well. Yet beyond resolving those issues, CD Projekt Red has doubled on realizing their original vision with this Definitive Edition.
The already stellar main campaign seamlessly integrates the deeper lore and content from the Phantom Liberty expansion. At the same time, a host of customization options let you fine-tune the experience to your play style.
3. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered
| Game | Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | May 4, 2023 |
As a PlayStation fanatic since playing Spider-Man on PS1, I’ve dreamt of truly harnessing Spidey’s web-slinging abilities through an immersive open world. And Insomniac Games‘ Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PS5 finally delivers on that childhood fantasy. Swinging through a visually striking Manhattan as everyone’s favorite quippy Wall Crawler made me giddy.
But what’s truly awe-inspiring is how the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers help fully embody the physical sensations – feeling each ricochet off the web lines or strain in Spidey’s muscles as he zips between skyscrapers. From breeze-kissed hair physics to ray-traced puddle reflections, the enhanced power of the PS5 also takes the already gorgeous graphics to new levels of realism.
And Insomniac stuffs their Big Apple sandbox with plenty of variety between main missions, from back alley brawls with thugs to heart-pounding boss battles against iconic baddies like Rhino. Whether you invest in snazzy new threads or test drive unlocked abilities, the open-world activities let you craft your own friendly neighborhood superhero. For this proud PlayStation owner, this Spidey adventure delivers on all cylinders, fully capturing the exhilarating and lighthearted essence of the Marvel icon.
2. Marvel's Spider-Man 2
| Game | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | October 20, 2023 |
As a web-slinging fanatic, my hype levels were high, web-swinging high for Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2! Getting to fluidly switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they face off against heavy hitters like Venom and Kraven has this friendly neighborhood PlayStation patriot ready to stick to my DualSense controller for hours!
Experiencing their distinct abilities while exploring an expanded Marvel NYC crammed with new boroughs, iconic spots like Coney Island, and next-gen combat upgrades already has me excited to see how Insomniac spins this sequel into an open-world masterpiece. Web wings, don’t fail me now!
1. Ghost of Tsushima
| Game | Ghost of Tsushima |
|---|---|
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Sucker Punch Productions |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | August 20, 2021 |
Ghost of Tsushima stands tall as one of the most strikingly gorgeous and engrossing open-world adventures I’ve ever embarked upon. And now, seeing Sucker Punch’s samurai epic enhanced for PS5 has this fanatic thirsty to revisit 13th-century Tsushima Island’s tranquil bamboo forests and fog-cloaked battlefields.
Whether admiring the rustling golden leaves during autumn or the enhanced particle effects dancing in sunbeams, Ghost has never looked more like a playable painting. The striking contrast between beauty and violence throughout Jin’s journey also tugs my heartstrings. Yet beyond pushing visual boundaries, the exceptional melding of thrilling swordplay with creative stealth options has me fondly recalling my time in Tsushima.
From razor-sharp standoffs to cleverly using fire or distractions to outwit overwhelming odds, Ghost hands over incredible tools to craft your charismatic warrior persona. For PS5 owners who’ve yet to walk in Jin’s shoes, this open-world triumph remains an essential experience. So, ready your katana and write your warrior’s tale – the Golden Isle awaits your return!
