Xbox Game Pass has so many incredible games on it, especially open-world ones, including the likes of STALKER 2, Yakuza 0, and Flock. There are plenty players will have never heard of and many that are familiar classics, all of which are equally worth jumping into. These are some of the best and most immersive worlds in all gaming, and they’re all available in one subscription.
Of course, many of these open worlds also fall into the best RPGs on Game Pass category, which is great for those who want a 100-hour adventure. However, not all of them are and there are plenty that will take players only a handful of hours to beat. From cozy indies to enormous immersive RPGs, there are so many wonderful open-world games on Xbox Game Pass.
10 STALKER 2 (GSC Game World)
A Truly Immersive Open-World
STALKER 2 is a mesmerizingly beautiful open-world RPG that manages to completely transport players thanks to its plethora of immersive features. From its immensely impressive animations to the importance it places on choices, fans of RPGs or of living, breathing open worlds, STALKER 2 will feel incredibly appealing. Of course, fans of the original trilogy should definitely check it out, especially as its open world is comparatively massive to even Call of Pripyat’s large open areas.
Of course, it is worth noting that STALKER 2 features a lot of horror elements, from its tense atmosphere to its creepy monsters. While they don’t play a huge role in STALKER 2’s overall exploration, they’re present enough to make it a spooky experience at times. Luckily, it’s all worth it as STALKER 2 at its absolute best is easily one of the best open-world experiences on Xbox Game Pass.
9 Assassin’s Creed Origins (Ubisoft)
One Of The Best In The Series
Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first game in the AC series to move away from the original parkour-focused experience to more of an action RPG one. Origins arguably did this new style of combat and exploration the best, especially thanks to its impressive cast of characters who remain some of the best in Assassin’s Creed’s history. Bayek is a truly one-of-a-kind protagonist who helps elevate Origins‘ otherwise compelling narrative.
Odyssey
and
Valhalla
, the other
Assassin’s Creed
games that utilize this new style of combat and exploration, are also available on Xbox Game Pass. They offer incredible experiences, although they can feel a bit more bloated than
Origins
.
Origins’ recreation of Egypt is a staggering achievement, one that introduces players to its sprawling scale at a steady pace and is packed full of fascinating things to discover. If players can get over the slightly underwhelming future plot points, Assassin’s Creed Origins is truly one of the best games in the series and a remarkable open-world game on Xbox Game Pass.
8 Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady Studios)
An Incredible Recreation Of Gotham City
Batman: Arkham Knight is easily the best adaptation of Gotham City in pretty much every format outside the comic books. It’s bleak and depressing, yet oftentimes surprisingly colorful, evoking much of the design details established in Batman: The Animated Series. For players who want a more broody and intense open world, Arkham Knight absolutely delivers.
Of course, Batman: Arkham Knight is a terrific game for fans of the comics or even those hoping to get into them. While it is recommended to play the other games in the series first, Arkham Knight offers an incredibly satisfying Batman adventure that will stick with fans long after the credits have rolled. It is a phenomenal world to get truly lost in and a great game to play through Xbox Game Pass.
7 Fallout: New Vegas (Obsidian Entertainment)
An Open-World Where Choices Truly Matter
Fallout: New Vegas is often considered the best in the series thanks to the sheer amount of effort Obsidian Entertainment put into the writing and characters. The way players’ choices genuinely affect the world around them is a staggering achievement and makes it such a compelling RPG. Of course, most importantly, Fallout: New Vegas’ open world is a joy to explore.
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It is a perfectly designed world, one that constantly pushes players in the direction of both something interesting and the main story progression without ever feeling linear. It also has the best Fallout factions in the entire series, which players can side with or mess with to their heart’s content. There’s a lot of diversity to it as well, despite being a giant desert, so players can rest assured that they’ll never be bored while exploring in Fallout: New Vegas.
6 Tchia (Awaceb)
Indie Breath Of The Wild
Tchia is, in both spirit and mechanically, an indie version of Breath of the Wild. It sees players take control of a young girl named Tchia who must save her island from a corrupt force that wants to sap it of all its resources. She’s also on a personal quest, with the two main plots eventually intertwining in a beautifully spiritual journey that’s thoroughly compelling.
Unlike Link, Tchia has a few interesting abilities up her sleeve. She can take over any animal or inanimate object she sees, allowing her to soar through the sky as a bird or shoot herself across the island as a boulder. This fun mechanic adds a lot to exploration, which is already engaging thanks to the plethora of activities on offer across the large island. Tchia is a great indie and perfect for those looking for a shorter open-world experience on Xbox Game Pass.
5 Flock (Hollow Ponds/Richard Hogg)
A Cozy Creature Collecting Open-World
Flock is a truly wonderful open-world multiplayer indie game that any Xbox Game Pass subscriber should absolutely try out. In Flock, players fly across a beautiful and peaceful world collecting adorable creatures that then join their flock. There’s character customization, the ability to play with friends, and a vast selection of incredibly well-designed creatures to collect.
It’s not hard to see why Flock reviewed so well, especially thanks to its immensely cozy vibes. For those who really want to get immersed in Flock’s engrossing gameplay loop, there are rare creatures to find. This can lead to a fairly lengthy playthrough for those who want it, but it’s also the perfect game to play in short bursts. Flock is certainly a unique open-world game and one everyone should try at least once.
4 Ghostwire: Tokyo (Tango Gameworks)
The Ultimate Virtual Tourism Experience
Ghostwire: Tokyo is a great open-world game, at least from a virtual tourism perspective. It allows players to explore a fairly faithful recreation of Tokyo, including some of its most iconic locations, like the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Most interestingly is the fact that players get to explore it all with complete freedom as not only is there no one else in the city throughout the entire game, but players can also reach rooftops and enter a number of buildings.
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Of course, Ghostwire: Tokyo is also one of the best FPS games on Game Pass, and for good reason. Its combination of magical attacks and stealth abilities make fighting its hauntingly spooky collection of enemies incredibly satisfying. Ghostwire: Tokyo’s story is also incredibly unique thanks to its blend of surreal visuals and creepy antagonist with an amazing design.
3 Little Kitty, Big City (Double Dagger Studio)
An Adorable Open-World Cat Game
Little Kitty, Big City is one of the smaller open-world games on Xbox Game Pass, but it is nevertheless worth checking out. Coming in at around two hours – around three or four for those who want to collect everything – it is a perfectly adorable way to spend a weekend on Xbox. For fans of cats or those who just love running around colorful open worlds, Little Kitty, Big City is the perfect adventure.
Whether it’s collecting shinies for a crow in order to unlock funny hats or finding a duck’s missing children who are peskily playing arcade games or spinning around in a washing machine drum, there’s a lot to do and see in Little Kitty, Big City’s titular location. Those aforementioned collectibles give players plenty of reasons to come back after beating the main story, but it’s more than satisfying enough to have a quick jaunt around as a cat for a few hours.
2 Far Cry 5 (Ubisoft)
The Best Far Cry Open-World
Far Cry 5 may not be at the top of everyone’s favorite Far Cry games, but it easily has the best open world in the series. From its ditching of the repetitive radio towers to its inclusion of companions to help take down the Seed family, there’s a lot to love about Far Cry 5’s gorgeous world. It’s also completely unpredictable, with enemies roaming everywhere, and the player getting attacked and kidnapped at surprising moments in the story.
The various compounds that the player can attack are all a joy to take over, and the story told across the world’s multiple regions is terrifically fascinating, with its shocking ending leaving a horrifying lasting impression. Of course, players who want to invest in the follow-up Far Cry: New Dawn can get a far more colorful and unique version of Far Cry 5’s already stunning world.
1 Yakuza 0 (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)
The Most Detailed Open-World
Like Little Kitty, Big City, Yakuza 0 is a much smaller open world but easily one of the most detailed in gaming. Its streets are packed with passersby, blinking neon signs, hustlers trying to get people into bars, music blaring from nearby speakers, and more, all of which coalesce to make Yakuza 0’s recreation of 80s Japan feel completely and utterly alive.
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The smaller map size means that players will quickly become very familiar with the sights and sounds of Kamurocho, further helping to make it feel like a real place. Of course, Yakuza 0’s story is absolutely phenomenal, featuring some of the best writing in gaming, the combat is a blast to engage with, and the many mini-games and side quests add a lot of brevity to the dark narrative. Overall, Yakuza 0 is the perfect starting point for players looking to begin their Yakuza adventure on Xbox Game Pass.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube, Nintendo of America/YouTube
- Released
- January 24, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Engine
- Dragon Engine
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- How Long To Beat
- 32 Hours
- Metascore
- 90
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
