Game Pass Has So Many Awesome Open-World Games… Which Ones Are The Best?

Xbox Game Pass has dozens of open-world games, covering RPGs, survival, co-op, fantasy, sci-fi, racing, FPS, and more. Subscribers who are dying to get lost in another universe can turn to classics like Skyrim or GTA​​​​​​, or modern greats such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and The Outer Worlds 2. Basically, Game Pass covers everyone’s open-world needs completely.

Due to the sheer number of options, choosing something to play can be rather exhausting, especially in a genre known for projects that last more than 30 hours. I have spent way too much time browsing through the Game Pass catalog searching for that one title that speaks to me, only to boot up a game that I have already played exhaustively. Therefore, let’s make things simpler by ranking the best open-world games on Game Pass, covering both the old and the new.

1

Forza Horizon 6

Welcome To Japan

A new Forza Horizon 6 is always a cause for celebration. Playground’s franchise has hit nothing but home runs, and just when you start to think that the ceiling has been reached, the next game heads to Japan and reaches new heights. “Better in Japan” is a cliche that seems to frequently hold weight, and this open-world racer absolutely nails its sense of scale, beauty, and fun factor. As always, the map is massive but oddly easy to navigate, and driving from one point to the next is fun enough to be worth the journey on its own. The actual races are an absolute blast and occasionally venture into over-the-top territory, while still fitting the realistic visuals.

Forza Horizon 6 introduces a slightly different structure by casting players as newbies who don’t have any name recognition, so they need to race and qualify for the Horizon Festival (make sure to be snapping photos!). The game also emphasizes cultural showcases more than previous entries, with certain events being essentially guided tours. Unsurprisingly, the open-world is stunning, the gameplay is flawless (as long as you like arcade racing), and the selection of cars is overwhelming.

2

Subnautica 2

A Game Preview Done Right

May 2026 is all about Day One open-world games coming to Game Pass. Forza Horizon 6 is the heavyweight, but Subnautica 2 would be just as big if it weren’t still in Early Access. As part of Game Preview, this is not a full experience by any stretch of the imagination, and it doesn’t have an absurd amount of content; however, there is more than enough here to warrant a download, particularly if you have a couple of friends to play with. Ultimately, Subnautica and its sequels are all about player-driven exploration, and the current version lets you do that in the part of the map that is available. You can even build bases, even if you might be annoyed by some fish.

Co-op is Subnautica 2‘s main selling point, and that is already well implemented. The game also looks rather gorgeous, and it is just mesmerizing to exist within a world that is mostly set underwater. There really aren’t all that many open-world games that go with this type of design, so Subnautica 2 feels fresh.

3

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

An Absurdly Massive Open-World Game With Style, Charm, And Gravitas

Xbox Game Pass did things in reverse by first adding Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, with Infinite Wealth arriving about a month later. Now that the original is available to everybody, that should be the first game subscribers play, as the spin-off spoils a few things that happen in that story. That said, they are both fantastic and also different enough to stand on their own feet, and they combine to deliver roughly 100 hours of awesome Yakuza content.

Building on Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the 2024 sequel features both Ichiban and Kiryu as playable characters, although they are both supported by a few party members. While we get to visit familiar locations from previous games, Infinite Wealth‘s biggest selling point is its scenery: Honolulu City in Hawaii. Yes, the story takes Ichiban and Kiryu to another country, as they explore the beautiful location in search of the former’s mother. This was huge for the franchise, since it marked the first time a game left Japan. Honolulu is fantastic and well worth a playthrough on its own.

Infinite Wealth keeps the turn-based combat from its predecessor, albeit refined to provide a more satisfying overall experience. Although still a love letter to JRPG greats, the battle system has developed its own identity. The story lasts for a lifetime and arguably does not reach the absolute heights seen by Yakuza 0 or Like a Dragon… which is hardly a knock against it.

4

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

An Open-World Game That Justifies A Game Pass Subscription

While it might not necessarily be the biggest all-time open-world game on Game Pass, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the best reason to activate a subscription right now due to its 2026 debut on the service. Once again set in the Kingdom of Bohemia, 2025’s open-world masterpiece continues Henry’s story from the first game (which is also on Game Pass), offering an even bigger map and far more fine-tuned mechanics. Unlike its predecessor, KCD2‘s barrier to entry is not sky-high, and players should get into the flow of things relatively quickly.

Still, KCD2 is among the most realistic and grounded open-world titles of all time. A medieval epic that makes you work for all your progress (skills improve through practice), this journey is intended to be deliberate, challenging, and satisfying on the whole. Although improved from the original game, the first-person combat takes some getting used to, and you are given a few choices on what type of warrior you want to be. The world changes depending on the story’s progress and the player’s choices.

5

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Definitive Fantasy Open-World RPG

More than a decade has passed since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt‘s release, and labeling it as the best open-world game of all time has become a cliché. However, that reputation is fully earned, as very few games blend storytelling, exploration, world-building, and character work as seamlessly as CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece. The Witcher 3 is primarily hailed for its revolutionary optional quests, which raised the bar for the entire genre (and RPGs as well). This aspect not only holds up absurdly well, but also justifies a playthrough on its own.

For folks who played the original version on the Xbox One, you might want to give the “Complete Edition” on Game Pass a try, as the Xbox Series X/S update elevates the technical experience to a whole new level. Newcomers to both this game and the entire franchise should not hesitate and start with The Witcher 3, as it is surprisingly incredible even without additional context.

6

Sea Of Thieves

Potentially Game Pass’s Best Multiplayer Open-World Game

Rare’s Sea of Thieves had a somewhat rough launch, but the game has improved by leaps and bounds since its debut, and it is nowadays among the best multiplayer open-world games of all time. 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.

7

8

Skyrim

The Most Beloved Open-World RPG On Game Pass

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.

9

Minecraft

The Biggest Sandbox Game Pass Game

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.

10

The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian’s Delightful Open-World RPG

Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds is a fun AA open-zone game that gets a lot of things right, despite having obvious limitations due to its budget. The sequel essentially plays out like an AAA version of its predecessor, delivering far more expansive worlds, improved gunplay, and more consequential choices. Although personal preference will dictate whether it is better or worse than the original, the story and dialogue are generally fantastic, with both of them leaning into humor (but not as aggressively as the first game).

The Outer Worlds 2 did not make as big a splash as it should have in 2025, but it is one of those Game Pass titles that will likely continue to be discovered for years to come. Obsidian focused quite a bit on enhancing the open-world optional content, an area that the developer has sometimes struggled with; however, The Outer Worlds 2 doesn’t force anybody to engage with this stuff, and you can just play it like a relatively linear RPG.