The 9 Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games

Open-world games are tremendously popular thanks to the unparalleled freedom that they offer players. Well-crafted open-world games can offer players unique experiences that reward exploration, giving players a sense of wonder and discovery that linear games can’t quite achieve.

While some open-worlds, such as games in the Far Cry franchise, exist purely as sandboxes for combat systems, the open-worlds of games such as The Elder Scrolls are often dense with detail. Many open-world games take place in fantasy settings — or urban environments, as seen in Grand Theft Auto. However, the genre of science-fiction has also provided ample inspiration for many open-world games.

9

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Jedi Outcast, Meet The Open World

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor proves that the Star Wars universe is still a playground of epic proportions. Players step into the shoes of Cal Kestis once again, navigating a sprawling galaxy that feels more alive than ever. The planets are vibrant and dense with both familiar Star Wars lore and new, intriguing locations that keep exploration fresh.

What makes this game stand out isn’t just the sheer scale of its open world, but how it combines that with storytelling. One minute, players might be traversing ancient ruins filled with echoes of Jedi history, and the next, they’re dodging blaster fire in a bustling cantina. It’s the seamless blend of exploration and narrative that keeps players hooked.

The combat feels just as fluid and impactful as it did in Jedi: Fallen Order, but the real upgrade is in the world design. From the neon-lit streets of a smuggler’s den to the tranquil beauty of a distant forest moon, every area feels meticulously crafted. Plus, the dynamic weather and time-of-day changes make each location feel like it’s constantly evolving.

8

Starfield

To Infinity And Beyond

Bethesda’s Starfield is as ambitious as space games get. While many titles boast vast worlds, Starfield takes it to another level with an entire galaxy to explore. It’s not just about stepping out onto a new planet; it’s about uncovering its secrets, from ancient alien artifacts to human colonies thriving in the harshest conditions.

The exploration feels genuinely unrestrained. Players can land on planets scattered across star systems, and while some areas may seem barren, others pulse with life, from bustling spaceports to eerie alien structures. The mix of handcrafted and procedurally generated content means no two journeys feel the same.

The game’s layered narrative draws players deeper into its universe, weaving politics, survival, and the thrill of discovery into a story that feels personal despite its grand scale. Whether hunting down relics or mapping star systems, Starfield makes players feel like true spacefarers charting their own destinies.

7

Horizon Zero Dawn

The Future Belongs To Those Who Explore

Few games balance sci-fi and nature as beautifully as Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy’s journey through a world reclaimed by nature and dominated by machine life is one of discovery and survival. The remnants of a lost civilization lie buried beneath forests and mountains, while robotic beasts patrol the land, hinting at the world that came before.

Exploring this open world feels like unraveling a massive mystery, with every ruin and data log shedding light on humanity’s downfall. The juxtaposition of high-tech machinery and tribal life creates a setting that feels both ancient and futuristic. It’s a world constantly challenging players to adapt, be it through crafting, combat, or simply navigating treacherous terrain.

Climbing a Tallneck to scan the surroundings feels genuinely rewarding, as does hunting down rare machine components to craft new gear. The world’s lore, intertwined with its lush, decaying landscapes, makes every exploration feel purposeful.

6

No Man’s Sky

A Quiet Exploration Game With An Acquired Taste

No Man’s Sky was an infamous title for while after release due to a number of factors, but over the course of its development, it managed to salvage its promises into a fully-fledged game that will appeal to a very specific group of players. The planets of No Man’s Sky are still not quite as diverse as players would like, but the contemplative, exploration-focused gameplay can offer a relaxing and unparallel experience. The infinite nature of the game’s procedural generation ensures players will never run out of things to do, though the gameplay may get somewhat repetitive over time.

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No Man’s Sky is a fully-open world that allows players to fly through open space and traverse expansive alien environments, mining for resources and interacting with light survival mechanics as they do so. No Man’s Sky also features a fairly deep base-building system, giving players a place to rest and recoup between adventures.

5

Elite Dangerous

An Inaccessible But Awe-Inspiring Open-World Space-Sim

This open-world space-sim is a relatively inaccessible experience, but it rewards players that persevere through its initially tough learning curve. Once players have learned the basics, however, Elite Dangerous opens up rather quickly, leaving players with a mass of open space to explore.

The open world of Elite Dangerous may not be the most richly detailed world in gaming, but there’s something relaxing about the stark, quiet space. Carrying cargo across the often awe-inspiring stars and experiencing the occasional moment of beauty can be a tranquil experience that’s sure to be a favorite for a select few sci-fi fans.

4

STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl

A Persistently Intriguing, Melancholic World

STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl is a sci-fi RPG with elements of survival horror and FPS action that’s infamous for being an uneven, at-times buggy experience. However, its unique combination of gameplay mechanics and persistently intriguing open-world environments make it a one-of-a-kind experience that any fan of strange science fiction such as Roadside Picnic and the slow-burning but imaginative imagery of 1979’s Stalker should enjoy.

Despite its aging graphics and somewhat bland colors, the world of STALKER: Shadow Of Chernobyl remains enjoyable to explore thanks to several memorable locations and engaging survival gameplay; players must manage their resources and pay careful attention to their surroundings if they’re to survive out in the Zone, and players that fail to make suitable preparations for every outing will likely be punished by one of the Zone’s many dangers. The world is also populated by a variety of wandering NPCs that help to make the Zone feel alive, even when the player isn’t interacting with it, and it’s always a welcome sight when a few guitar-toting stalkers show up along the way.

3

Cyberpunk 2077

Vibrant, Bustling Streets Across Several Districts

As one of science-fiction’s most popular subgenres, there have been plenty of games to take on a cyberpunk setting, but Cyberpunk 2077 is arguably one of the best to feature an open-world. The crime-ridden, neon streets of Night City are constantly revealing new and interesting locations, characters, and narrative threads, rewarding players for exploring its bustling environments. Furthermore, Night City features an array of districts that help to offer visual variety as players progress through the game, preventing the experience from becoming stale.

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Cyberpunk 2077 can be an incredibly immersive experience, especially now that the game is in a more stable place than it was at launch, and the game’s richly detailed open-world helps to immerse players in its narrative.

2

Outer Wilds

A Seamless, Cozy Open-World Puzzle

This cozy sci-fi experience sets players off on a distinct adventure through space, flying through the game’s seamless open-world to explore a variety of mysterious planets and exotic locations. Each planet in Outer Wilds is wildly different from the last and can be explored freely. The music, atmosphere, sound design, and wonderfully minimal visuals work together to offer a consistently wholesome experience.

Outer Wilds does feature a time-loop mechanic that limits the player’s time in its world, but this rarely interferes with the gameplay, instead acting as a reset for the player. This allows the game to feel surprisingly bite-sized, allowing players to play through one satisfying loop in a short session. The sheer variety and unique environments of each planet is one of the biggest selling points, as well as the immersion created by manually flying the ship across the solar system.

1

The Outer Worlds

A Fallout-Adjacent World That Combines The Wild West With Sci-Fi

Published by the legendary Obsidian Entertainment (of Fallout: New Vegas fame) and sporting Fallout creator Tim Cain and his good friend, Leonard Boyarsky, as its directors, The Outer Worlds is a wild adventure that takes place across several distinct open-world locations. The game features a sense of humor that fans of Fallout will appreciate, and similar FPS RPG gameplay to that of Fallout: New Vegas — with a few minor twists.

The game’s lovingly crafted open-world environments, however, are the real standout. The tongue-in-cheek writing, colorful characters, and deeply interesting companions make for a consistently joyful adventure that’s almost reminiscent of great sci-fi television like Firefly and Westerns such as Deadwood. Overall, The Outer Worlds will likely appeal to fans of both the Wild West and science-fiction alike, as well as those that appreciate the biting humor of earlier Fallout titles.

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