Sometimes, gamers crave a title they can lose themselves in for hours. Open-world games offer this potential, yet they can also be frustratingly tedious. The sheer scale of these games is both their greatest strength and their biggest weakness. Some boast massive maps that demand significant time investment simply to explore.
However, with focused design, open-world games deliver incredibly immersive experiences with high replayability. The realism achieved in some of these game worlds is truly breathtaking. Regardless of personal preference, the following titles are among the best-selling in gaming history. Let's explore some of the most immersive open-world experiences available.
Updated January 6, 2025 by Mark Sammut: 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for open-world games. Several major titles are slated for release, and we've highlighted a few likely contenders for the most immersive experiences below.