We've got a whole bunch of great open-world Xbox games heading our way in 2025, to the point where this list was very difficult to narrow down! Still, we've got to put a limit on it somewhere, so we've decided to highlight 15 of the very best open-world titles set to arrive on Xbox Series X and Series S (and in some cases, Xbox One) over the next 12 months.

This article originally started out as a video, and you can watch the video version up above if you prefer!

Of course, there's a chance that delays may come into play (GTA 6, anyone?), and we're bound to learn of more new Xbox releases for 2025 as the year rolls on, but these are the games that we're particularly excited for as things stand.

We'll get on with the list - but don't forget we've god more guides like this elsewhere on Pure Xbox too!

Right then! Here's our list of the best open-world Xbox games set to arrive in 2025:

GTA 6 (Xbox Series X|S)

Let’s get straight to the point - Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 is undeniably the most anticipated game of 2025, even with rumours of a potential 2026 delay swirling around. So far, we’ve only seen one trailer, but we’ve already met the dual protagonists: Lucia and that unnamed chappy.

We’re heading back to the immersive world of Vice City, with its golden beaches, vibrant nightclubs and swampy bayous. And of course, expect plenty of high-speed thrills, crocs, butts, and hammer-wielding Karens to interact with as you please. You know, the usual rigmarole of criminal tomfoolery this open-world series is famous for.

We're pretty sure we’ll all be obsessing over GTA 6 for the next decade at least, so here’s hoping it doesn’t slip into the next year... let’s cross our fingers we see it in 2025.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Elden Ring: Nightreign (Xbox Series X|S)

Rise, you filthy Tarnished, because it looks like FromSoftware isn’t done with you yet! The critically acclaimed open-world action RPG is getting a standalone multiplayer entry this year in the form of Elden Ring: Nightreign.

Instead of the usual "you died", get ready for "we died… together, as a trio", because this time, the classic Elden Ring goodness will be playable in 3-player co-op. Nightreign is giving us serious battle royale/extraction zone vibes - kind of like Hunt: Showdown. While we're not sure how multiple teams will work, we're betting it’s a race to defeat the nightlord boss at the heart of each game session.

Laugh all you want, but we can already picture a blue fiery ring closing in, hearing “where we dropping bois” echoing in our heads. Although, there’s no sign of an Elden Ring-themed Battle Bus... so who knows?

All we know is that we're excited, and we'll need to find more friends before it launches. Wish us luck!

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Fable (Xbox Series X|S)

When you trade fast cars for fantasy action, as the racing team at Playground Games has done, it’s bound to have some eyeballs on it questioning what the developers can pull off. This fresh start for Fable is looking pretty snazzy, if you ask Big Richard over here (also known as Dave the Giant from the Fable trailers).

Fable was a massive hit back in the '00s, with a trilogy of solid games - some better than others, but all in all, a great fantasy epic. It seems like we’ll be crafting a customisable hero once again, wielding swords, casting magic and dealing with mythical creatures, including Big D from the old fables.

Chances are, it’ll be running on the Forzatech engine, so we can expect some absolutely gorgeous visuals to go along with the adventure. Cautiously optimistic, we are.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

It seems one very lengthy game about revenge isn’t quite enough for our 15th-century protagonist, Henry. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, the sequel to Warhorse Studios’ 2018 adventure, continues the story of our parentless peasant turned noble liege lord.

If it’s anything like the first game, we can expect a rich dose of historical accuracy, a challenging combat system, and the kind of social interactions that’ll test our conversational skills with branching dialogues that shape Henry’s future. This time around, there are no mythical creatures—just a classic villain in the form of a ruthless lord that Henry must bring to justice.

And the best part? It’s not far off - Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 launches on February 4th!

  • Release Date: 4th February 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Avowed (Xbox Series X|S)

Our next open-world adventure comes from Obsidian Entertainment, one of the best in the business. Avowed is another big fantasy epic scheduled for 2025, and in our opinion, if Xbox wants to reignite some fervor within the gaming community, this is the game to do it with.

Unlike our previous entry, Avowed is packed with mythos and magic. You’ll be casting spells, wielding blades and even blasting foes with a magical blunderbuss. Character classes aren’t a focus here - instead, the game plays more like Skyrim, with perk constellations acting as skill trees that allow you to shape the hero you want to become.

The game is set in Eora, a world familiar to those who know Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity, with its medieval setting. Rumour has it that Avowed won’t feature one massive open-world map but instead smaller, more focused areas to explore. Oh, and it’s another early release, launching on February 18th!

  • Release Date: 18th February 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Monster Hunter Wilds (Xbox Series X|S)

February is shaping up to be packed, with Monster Hunter Wilds joining Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and Avowed on the release calendar. Capcom’s next beastly murder spree takes place in the Forbidden Lands, a sprawling region of sandy desert dunes and lush forests, offering plenty of lorge monster boys for you and your friends to track, trap, capture, and/or kill.

Wilds aims to make hunts a bit more unpredictable this time, with features like a dynamic weather system that introduces challenges such as sandstorms. If Capcom can address some of the public’s performance concerns, we can easily see ourselves teaming up with friends to explore Monster Hunter’s biggest map to date for quite a while.

With over 20 new monsters to hunt and plenty of mouthwatering meals to savor, Monster Hunter Wilds is looking to promise a feast for fans. If you’re keen, best mark your calendar for February 28th!

  • Release Date: 28th February 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

Borderlands 4 (Xbox Series X|S)

We’ll admit, details on Borderlands 4 are pretty scarce beyond the trailer revealed at the recent Game Awards. But whether you’re a fan of Gearbox’s open-world looter-shooter or not, it seems the fourth entry is sticking closely to its tried-and-true formula.

One notable change, however, is a shift away from the familiar wastes of Pandora. Gearbox has confirmed that Borderlands 4 will take place on a new planet - which, let’s be honest, is probably a smart move. Pandora fatigue is real, at least for us.

Character classes are back, with four new Vault Hunters to choose from, so you can expect the usual mix: a magic-wielder, a gun-toting soldier type, and the classic blend of bullet sponge and support mechanics. While Borderlands 4 doesn’t have a firm release date for 2025 yet, we do know it’s leaving Xbox One and PS4 consoles behind - something worth keeping in mind.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? No

The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

Obsidian is cooking with gas this year. Not only is Avowed dropping in February, but The Outer Worlds 2 is also slated for a 2025 release. Whether you’re a fan of fantasy or partial to some good sci-fi, Obsidian is making sure gamers have plenty to sink their teeth into.

In this sequel, you’ll venture to a brand-new star system with a fresh crew, though the game retains that signature Outer Worlds corporate humor at its core. The first Outer Worlds took roughly 12–15 hours to complete, so the promise of a sequel that’s twice as big means there’ll be no shortage of planets to explore, stories to dive into and alien baddies to blast.

  • Release Date: TBD 2025
  • Xbox Game Pass? Yes