Best Open-World Games On 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?

Updated on September 26, 2024 by Mark Sammut: A new driving open-world game has been added to Game Pass, and it is very different from something like Forza Horizon.

A game’s quality is not the only deciding factor in its ranking. For instance, if a major open-world game has just been added to Game Pass, it will be listed at the top initially.

1 Expeditions: A MudRunner Game (Or SnowRunner)

• 	Expeditions: A MudRunner Game	SnowRunner
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC, Xbox One X, Xbox One	Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One
  Developer(s)	Saber Interactive	Saber Interactive
  Genre(s)	Driving, Simulation	Driving, Simulation
  How Long To Beat	50 Hours	93 Hours

OK, these two games are special cases since they are technically not fully open-world, although they drop players into decently sized areas that should be completed in order. That said, both Expeditions and SnowRunner are divided into maps/regions that can be mostly explored freely, and the former includes a free-roam mode that is unlocked once a certain number of expeditions are complete. So, despite their structures, both titles are capable of scratching that open-world itch, as long as somebody is also craving slow-paced games about overcoming environmental obstacles.

Saber Interactive’s franchise is an acquired taste. Although they have plenty of differences, SnowRunner and Expeditions‘ routine is largely the same. Players will be slowly guiding massive vehicles across bumpy and challenging terrain, trying to plot a safe and stable course that preserves their cargo (SnowRunner) or facilitates exploration (Expeditions). They will gradually unlock new trucks that are better suited for certain trips, and they have to manage things like fuel to ensure they have enough for a full trip. Both games are pretty difficult and time-consuming, and they can be frustrating at times. However, if their routines strike a chord with somebody, they can also be life-consuming.

2 Minecraft

The Ultimate Sandbox

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. Mojang’s masterpiece has been an inescapable part of the gaming industry for so long that a recommendation is unnecessary by this point. Anyone remotely familiar with gaming is aware of Minecraft, and they almost certainly know if the project is for them or not. In terms of open-world Game Pass games, almost no other project comes close to matching Minecraft‘s importance.

3 Skyrim

Timeless Open-World RPG

The Elder Scrolls 5: 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.

4 Palworld

A Blend Of Concepts That Works Surprisingly Well

Coming out of nowhere and instantly establishing itself as one of Game Pass’s best open-world games, Palworld is almost unbelievably good, especially considering it is still in Game Preview. Pocket Pair aimed for the stars by delivering a project that, on paper, appears to spread itself too thin to offer any real depth in one field; however, somehow, the 2024 game comes together to create a surprisingly cohesive experience. Now, this is still an early access release that is a work in progress, so anyone who jumps in should expect to encounter a few bugs and issues along the way. Palworld runs pretty well for this type of release, but it is still a ways off from completion, so expectations should be kept realistic. That said, the current version has more than content to justify a recommendation on its own, all with the knowledge that the future should come with a stream of new updates.

What is Palworld? Well, that question is somewhat difficult to answer. Before its debut, it was described as “Pokemon with guns,” a reductive statement that holds some truth but hardly paints a full picture. Set in a fairly impressive open-world, Palworld is – first and foremost – a survival exploration game. Players will need to set up a base, manage their food, and craft items to increase productivity and protect themselves from the elements. That is all well and good, but the novelty comes from the introduction of Pals. Players can catch a wide assortment of monsters who fit different types. Along with helping out in battles, Pals are also crucial for exploration and base-building. They even need to be taken care of since they also get hungry.

Palworld casts a wide net that allows it to cater to various audiences. People yearning to catch them all will find an engaging monster-collection game with well-designed creatures with genuine purpose. Survival fans will find a fairly accessible experience that offers depth and challenge through its combat and team management. Meanwhile, players who wish to explore a fresh-feeling realm will find a lot to love in Palworld‘s open-world. While not the biggest or the most beautiful setting in the genre, Palpagos Islands is a fun sandbox to explore.

5 Forza Horizon 5

Drive Through Mexico

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. Playground consistently crafts sandboxes that are just a blast to drive around in, and FH5‘s map is overflowing with content that caters to both single-player and multiplayer preferences

6 Diablo 4

Flawed Modern Take On A Classic RPG Formula

Blizzard’s latest games seem to reliably attract controversy. While garnering a positive reception at launch, Diablo 4‘s reputation turned sour incredibly quickly, with the goodwill not even surviving until the launch of the first season. Nowadays, the action RPG feels like a bit of an afterthought that is struggling to attract attention beyond its core playerbase, which can be quite volatile. Consequently, Diablo 4‘s Xbox Game Pass debut was not as exciting of an event as it arguably should have been, despite the game being comfortably one of the biggest names added to the service in 2024.

With all the negativity, one would be forgiven for forgetting that Diablo 4 is still a decent isometric hack and slash game. Sure, the endgame could be significantly better, and some of the post-launch updates did more harm than good. However, the campaign is generally solid, offering nearly 30 hours of entertainment. Obviously, Diablo has never been about the main story, but that does not mean players cannot treat the 2023 entry as a single-player experience with a definitive ending.

Prior to its release, Diablo 4 marketed its open-world heavily since it was a first for the series. Sanctuary is large, diverse enough, and filled with replayable content thanks to the procedurally generated dungeons. It is not amazing, but there are not all that many open-world hack and slash projects.

7 Microsoft Flight Simulator

Travel Across Earth’s Skies

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.

8 Terraria

Indie Sandbox Darling

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.

9 Grounded

Great Co-Op Survival Open-World Game

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.

10 Sea Of Thieves

Fun With Friends (Or With A Crew)

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. Rare regularly releases updates for Sea of Thieves that introduce new ways to interact with the sandbox and other players who exist within it.

11 Yakuza 0

A Gangster Epic (& Just One Of Many Chapters)

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 fairly isolated but eventually come together. Along with the central narrative, which is nothing short of brilliant, the game is filled with side stories that range from hilarious to heartbreaking.

After completing Yakuza 0, players should press forward with Yakuza Kiwami, which tells the next chapter in Kiryu’s story. Admittedly, this entry is not among the franchise’s strongest efforts, but it is still pretty good. Yakuza Kiwami 2 is far better too. Conversely, players can jump into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which marked a new era in the series. While not completely disconnected from the past, this title features a new protagonist, battle system, and setting.

Like a Dragon: Ishin
is another Xbox Game Pass option worth considering. The spin-off throws familiar faces into Japan’s Edo period, providing a historical lesson with a
Yakuza
twist.

12 Valheim

A Survival Open-World Game Done Right

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 a 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.

13 Tchia

Gorgeous & Unique Setting, Along With Fun Core Mechanic

Originally a PlayStation console exclusive, Tchia eventually made its way to the Xbox ecosystem and subscription service, making it a great and fairly novel addition to Game Pass’ open-world lineup. While incorporating various ingredients standard for the genre, Awaceb’s project has two things that set it apart from the crowd: a beautiful tropical environment based on New Caledonia and an inspired central mechanic that opens up a world of interactive possibility. The former is a visual treat for the eyes that is overflowing with gorgeous locals and vistas. Tropical settings are hardly “new” territory for open-world games, but Tchia‘s influences help give it a unique edge.

More importantly, the gameplay revolves heavily around soul jumping, a concept that allows Tchia, the endearing protagonist, to take over the bodies of wildlife and inanimate entities. Tchia has an impressive list of animals that are viable for soul jumps, ranging from land-locked beasts like cows to underwater creatures such as mackerel and airborne alternatives like doves. Along with just being fun to mess around with, these creatures combine to create a flexible and rewarding movement system. This mechanic also extends to combat, which generally involves taking over fire-based options. While fairly simplistic, the combat is quite enjoyable and offers a nice change of pace, especially since it is only a part of the puzzle and not the main focus.

Even if it might not be an all-time excellent open-world game, Tchia is charming and creative. The game blends impressive visuals with a decent story, an awesome setting, and great core mechanics.

14 Batman: Arkham Knight

Gotham Has Never Looked Better

Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham trilogy set the benchmark for superhero games, and many would argue it is still the standard-bearer. As Arkham Asylum and City are, unfortunately, not on Game Pass, newcomers might want to search beyond Mircosoft’s subscription service to start with the first game (and Batman: Arkham Origins is also quite good). However, Arkham Knight is available on the platform and, unsurprisingly, fantastic.

Bringing to life Gotham City instead of just its prison, Arkham Knight has an atmospheric open-world that is still impressive all these years later. Rocksteady did a stunning job of capturing the spirit of the DC Comics through its storytelling, environmental design, and combat. While Arkham Knight‘s batmobile sections are divisive, the vehicle itself controls well, even if it might overstay its welcome.

15 Mafia: Definitive Edition

A Faithful Trip To Another Era

An August 13 arrival, Mafia: Definitive Edition is a unique open-world experience in quite a few ways. For one, the game primarily takes place during the 1930s, and Hangar 13 went into painstaking detail to craft an authentic version of that era. Lost Heaven is fictional, but it is reminiscent of Chicago.

A classic gangster epic, the story follows Tommy Angelo’s rise to prominence as part of a powerful crime family. Mafia‘s writing and character work are arguably its strongest features, and they are preserved well by the Definitive Edition remake.

Another unique aspect of this project is that the open-world is not particularly interactive. Just to be clear, players can drive through Lost Heaven to their hearts’ content, and it is very immersive. However, there is not anything to do within the city beyond story missions; consequently, the open-world is mostly there to get players from beat to beat.

16 Dungeons of Hinterberg

Relaxing Dungeon Crawler That Is A Proper Escape From Reality

Flying slightly under the radar, Dungeons of Hinterberg is a great option for anyone craving an action RPG that is not too difficult or time-consuming. Reflected by its premise, the game offers a charming getaway from the struggles of everyday life, allowing the protagonist (and players) to just go with the flow, explore, and take on a couple of dungeons. Tired of her job, Luisa heads to the Alps to take on Hinterberg’s dungeons, which are spread across different biomes. She gets to decide how to spend her days, be it talking with the locales, investigating the gorgeous settings, or fighting enemies.

While not devoid of an overarching narrative, Dungeons of Hinterberg generally avoids pushing players down a specific route, instead encouraging them to traverse the four biomes as they see fit. The campaign’s ultimate goal is to complete the 25 dungeons, but getting there is a flexible process. Although divided into separate maps, the world is effectively a sandbox that players are free to traverse as they see fit, and each biome has a unique identity that sets it apart from its peers.

17 Octopath Traveler 2

Classic JRPG Throwback With Beautiful Visuals

An argument could be made that Octopath Traveler is a non-linear RPG rather than a traditional open-world, but the first game shares enough with the latter to warrant a mention. And, the sequel is even more open and free-flowing than its predecessor, making it even more worthy of an unabashed recommendation. Acquire’s JRPG is a throwback to the good old ’90s, offering gorgeous 2D-HD visuals, turn-based combat, and an epic fantasy setting that makes good use of an overworld. Similar to Live a Live, this franchise focuses on telling individual stories for each of its playable characters, and they are fairly disconnected from each other. Players are encouraged to explore the map freely and decide which order they want to tackle the questlines, although some are power-gated.

Octopath Traveler 2 does a better job than its predecessor of linking the characters through a main quest and their general banter. Unlike the first game, the heroes come across like a party in the sequel, rather than just people who happen to be fighting enemies together. As fun as this project is, Octopath Traveler 2 is mainly for people fond of old-school JRPGs rather than die-hard open-world fans.

18 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

An Ancient Egypt Epic

Xbox Game Pass has three Assassin’s Creed games: Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. 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 games in terms of quality, and someone’s preference might come down to whether they prefer Origins‘ Ancient Egypt, Odyssey‘s Ancient Greece, or Valhalla‘s Viking setting.

Although it can be quite polarizing compared to Origins, Odyssey fine-tunes some of its predecessor’s mechanics, particularly the combat system. Visually, the game arguably represents the franchise’s peak, especially since its setting allows for a wider berth of diverse locations than Valhalla. Out of all three titles, Odyssey is the most immersive, and it even tells a pretty good story by the franchise’s standards. All three titles are extremely long, but Odyssey does not threaten to overstay its welcome to the same extent as Valhalla.

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.

19 No Man’s Sky

The Universe Is Your Playground

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.

Nowadays, 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.

20 Fallout: New Vegas

A Complicated Desert

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.