Best Open-World Games If You Like Giant Open Cities To Explore, Ranked

Exploring a new city is always exciting, feeling its general vibe, finding interesting landmarks and discovering a few surprises around every corner. This is especially true in video games, made even better if the world is open, allowing players to venture out in any direction they wish and participate in whatever activities they choose, just like in real life.

Some cities in video games are huge, filled with interesting people to meet, fun quests to complete and other side endeavors to enjoy during their free time. Here are some of the best open-world games with giant cities, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall quality, how fun it is to explore, and how much there is to engage with in these locations.

8

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Web Swinging Through New York City

Open-World

Action-Adventure

Superhero

Systems

Released

October 20, 2023

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Building on the success of the prior games with a ton of new abilities and a larger map, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 allows both Peter Parker and Miles Morales to effortlessly traverse the various boroughs of New York City. Switching seamlessly between the two versions of the arachnid-powered superhero, web-swinging through the Big Apple is a complete thrill.

The Web Wings are a game-changer, giving players the chance to glide through areas with lower buildings, or even across open water to other islands. The super slingshot and wind tunnels also give extra speed in specific locations, making the large map easy to cover without losing too much time, plus it’s never boring.

7

Watch Dogs Legion

Futuristic, Dystopian London

Released

October 29, 2020

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Despite some gameplay and story issues that players and critics have with Watch Dogs Legion and its predecessors, it’s undeniable that their settings are very impressive. Legion’s futuristic London setting goes that step further, by making every civilian in the game serve a purpose, since they have the potential to be recruited to DedSec and controlled by the player.

Eight of London’s boroughs are featured, encompassing a hefty chunk of the UK capital and containing many of its major tourist attractions. Driving mechanics may not be the smoothest in gaming, but it’s fun to explore and compare these virtual locations to reality and experience all the little things that make this in-game world feel so alive.

6

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Three Large Cities Based On Real World Locations

Released

October 26, 2004

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

While the maps in later GTA games may be larger and arguably better designed, there is just something about the ambition of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that tips the scales. Set in the eponymous state, there are three major cities packed into its hefty island borders, each based on real-world locations and feeling unique.

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Los Santos is where CJ begins his journey, based on Los Angeles, before venturing off to San Fierro and Las Venturas, which are reminiscent of San Francisco and Las Vegas. Considering that every street seems to have something to do and gang wars make each district feel important, it’s no wonder that San Andreas is regarded as one of the best games ever made.

5

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Three Major Cities Feel Alive

Released

May 19, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

A decade after its initial release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt continues to impress new players and cause many debates among fans. One thing that’s never in doubt is the excellent design of the three major cities: Oxenfurt, Novigrad, and Beauclair, plus the plethora of smaller towns and villages spread across the various regions.

Each player will have their favorite, but these cities somehow feel alive and are packed with jobs or fun activities for Geralt to do. Novigrad and Beauclair are especially large and possess their charm, and the White Wolf can barely turn a corner in these metropolises without finding a fellow Gwent enthusiast, looking for a quick round of cards.

4

Sleeping Dogs

Gritty Undercover Police Drama In Beautiful Hong Kong

Released

August 14, 2012

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

Developer(s)

United Front Games

One of the myriad reasons to love Sleeping Dogs is its Hong Kong setting. Acting as the perfect backdrop to the otherwise harrowing and heavy story of undercover officer Wei Shen as he infiltrates the island’s criminal underworld, Hong Kong offers moments of brevity and wonder, giving the feeling that it’s a living and functioning society.

There is plenty to do too, from police and gang-related side quests to spectacular races on the island’s many winding roads, and even the underground fighting scene. While a much-hyped sequel has never materialized, Sleeping Dogs remains timeless and is always worth revisiting, especially to explore the massive city and enjoy a pork bun or two.

3

Cyberpunk 2077

The Thrills Of Night City

Released

December 10, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Despite its shaky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has received many positive updates and patches to make it a solid game, but one thing that has never been in doubt is the quality of its setting, Night City. The giant, futuristic metropolis perfectly encapsulates the essence of the cyberpunk genre, with its mixture of marvelous technological advancement and seedy dystopian undercurrent.

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Night City is brimming with missions and activities for V and plenty of interesting characters with whom they can interact. Split into six districts, each with its own characteristics and subdivisions, the city is full of inequality, from high-rise skyscrapers and trendy nightclubs to slums and gang-controlled neighborhoods.

2

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Cities In Japan And Hawaii

Released

January 26, 2024

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth takes a bold new step for the Yakuza/LAD series by taking the action outside Japan. Though it’s a fictionalized recreation, the depiction of Honolulu City in Hawaii shows off its complexities, from unmatched natural beauty to its more hidden aspects in the form of crime and poverty.

Of course, fans need not be concerned as a substantial amount of the game still takes place in Isezaki Ijincho and Kamurocho, two fictionalized versions of real districts in Yokohama and Tokyo. As is common in the series, there are plenty of side activities to do in these cities, including being a food delivery worker for Crazy Eats in Honolulu or collecting cans in Yokohama.

1

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

The Many Cities Of Ancient Greece

Released

October 15, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Pretty much any Assassin’s Creed game could comfortably find its way onto this list, as every entry in the series contains at least one large and painstakingly recreated real-world city. In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the bold choice was made to include 28 city-states, each owing allegiance to either of the two largest cities in the game, Athens or Sparta, in the Peloponnesian War.

The cities provide plenty for players to do, whether it’s part of the main questline, or side activities like assassinating leaders of city-states. Many of the cities bear some resemblance to one another, just as their real counterparts did, but the main cities and even the mythical Atlantis are breathtaking and full of life.

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