Highest-Rated Open-World PS5 Games So Far, According to OpenCritic

This console generation, PS5 has been home to a huge number of open-world titles. Sony doubled down on the genre, capitalizing on its winning streak from the PS4 era, while other companies continue to explore what’s possible with this formula. Unsurprisingly, many of the best open-world games of this generation are direct sequels or part of long-running gaming franchises, with far too few completely original titles.

As GTA 6 nears its November launch, possibly taking the throne as the highest-rated open-world game of this generation, it seems like a perfect time to reflect on what came before it. Below is a list of the highest-rated PS5 open-world games that have defined this generation so far, bringing stunning worlds, unparalleled freedom, and hundreds of hours of play.

Runners-up & special mentions:

• Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut – 87
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 – 87
• Ghost of Yotei – 87
• Diablo 4 – 88
• Horizon Forbidden West – 88
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – 88
• Disco Elysium – The Final Cut – 89

8

Monster Hunter Wilds

OpenCritic Score: 89

Even though Monster Hunter Wilds’ world of the Forbidden Lands is a bit fragmented, each open zone is vast enough to qualify as an open world on its own, while its rich, detailed ecosystems and seasonal shifts work wonders in making it feel lively at all times. What matters most, though, is that hunting has never been more fun, with Wilds building on MH World’s strengths and taking them one step further.

Some early performance issues aside, Monster Hunter Wilds has already evolved into an admirable open-world action title to keep you occupied for hundreds of hours, suitable for veterans and newcomers alike. And the game will probably become even better soon, with the massive Ascendance expansion expected sometime next year.

7

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

OpenCritic Score: 89

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is often regarded as the best open-world RPG of this generation, outside of Elden Ring, with a narrative focus that puts characters and their stories above all else. This makes it a natural recommendation for any Witcher 3 fan, while KCD2’s authentic, historically accurate medieval world only adds to the immersion, with random personal moments that make it even more memorable.

Vast, beautiful, handcrafted, emotional, and challenging in all the right ways, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 keeps the bar high throughout its entire 100-hour runtime. As Warhorse is already working on the next Kingdom Come game, the question remains: will the studio manage to surpass this one?

6

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

OpenCritic Score: 90

Yakuza/Like a Dragon is a very curious case within the open-world genre: the series is as prolific as it is high-quality. Just on PS5, Ryu Ga Gotoku has already released several entries in the series, and compared to almost every other franchise, it’s night and day. So it’s even more impressive that Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth also joins the top five open-world games available on the platform.

In many ways, Infinite Wealth is the pinnacle of the entire Yakuza series: for the first time, it stretches beyond Japan, boasting one of the biggest maps that feels fresh to explore. Size isn’t everything, as Hawaii is also one of the most tightly packed settings in the franchise, brimming with quests, activities, and mini-games. The protagonist duo works wonders, while combat is another strength of Infinite Wealth. If only the story and some character arcs had matched Yakuza: Like a Dragon or Yakuza 0, it could have been the series’ all-time best.

5

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

OpenCritic Score: 90

One of the most unique and weird open-world titles in the PS5 lineup is undoubtedly Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. True to Hideo Kojima’s style, the game is unlike anything you’d expect and could be quite demanding to get into, with its tangled story and unusual approach to storytelling. It’s also a direct sequel that’s hard to recommend to those who haven’t played the original, if they hope to make sense of this universe at all.

Which is a bit of a bummer, as gameplay-wise, Death Stranding 2 is simply better in every regard, giving you many more options from the start to play your own way as you traverse the gorgeous, melancholic landscapes. Oh, it’s also one of the best-looking titles of the generation. It’s a shame that Death Stranding 2’s underwhelming sales were reportedly one of the reasons for Sony and Kojima’s split over the upcoming Physint.

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4

Satisfactory

OpenCritic Score: 91

Satisfactory is a different breed of open-world game, but it feels wrong to exclude it, even though it’s primarily a factory-building game akin to Factorio. Still, its unquestionable open-world nature, letting you freely explore its alien planet and build anywhere from a first-person perspective, makes Satisfactory a worthy addition to the genre this generation.

When it comes to Satisfactory, gameplay is king, and it’s executed so flawlessly that you can truly lose track of time. Often compared to a digital LEGO set with near-endless potential, Satisfactory is deep in every element, dense with features and possibilities, and also includes co-op options. What else is there to want?

3

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

OpenCritic Score: 91

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an open-world feast at its most generous: a sprawling RPG adventure so vast and packed that you can literally play it for months, and even become burnt out by its end due to the sheer scope, no matter how consistently high its quality is. Well, at least no one would dare to apply the annoying “is it worth the full price?” metric to this one.

In an attempt to do the legendary FF7 justice, Square Enix is now one step away from producing arguably the best RPG trilogy of modern times. Rebirth is exactly the kind of experience you want to take a vacation for, clear your schedule, and completely immerse yourself in exploration, story, character arcs, and emotional moments.

2

Forza Horizon 5

OpenCritic Score: 92

Probably the least “PS5 open-world game” among these, given that it’s essentially an Xbox port that arrived four years later, Forza Horizon 5 is another unavoidable title here, taking its place among the best and most-played driving games of this generation. A rare open-world series where each new entry gets even closer to perfection, FH5, like every Forza before it, is just a pleasant time right from the start.

From stunning visuals to a jaw-dropping car roster, there’s nothing out there to touch FH5, at least not until Forza Horizon 6 arrives on PlayStation. With its Japan setting, FH6 might just become a massive blockbuster for the platform and claim its predecessor’s crown.

1

Elden Ring

OpenCritic Score: 95

The one and only, Elden Ring still reigns as perhaps the most influential game of this generation and one of the highest-rated PS5 games so far, alongside Baldur’s Gate 3. An unquestionable open-world masterpiece, Elden Ring is easily among the most perfect RPG experiences we’ve seen, while the Lands Between has been firmly established among the best open-world maps ever made, period.

While Elden Ring is technically a brand-new IP, it’s a culmination of FromSoftware’s evolution in its own genre, brought to new heights masterfully and winning over even the biggest soulslike skeptics over the years. I could praise it endlessly, really, but I doubt anything new and substantial can be said about it at this point. An instant classic that deserves its place in every player’s collection.