Best Xbox Open World Games 2022

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Xbox One)

Hideo Kojima's troubled final Snake escapade may have some issues when it comes to its story, its troublesome depiction of Quiet, and in a final third that goes entirely off the rails, but one thing's for certain - this is still an incredible open world to play around in on Xbox One, Series X and Series S.

We got a taste of what was to come with the sublime Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and the level of detail, the complex systems that govern stealth, combat and enemy AI here, result in a game that's surely one of the great open world efforts, regardless of what other shortcomings it might have. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain gives you the tools and the topography to get stuck into roleplaying Snake like never before and, when you're stealthing around an enemy encampment or perched atop a viewpoint devising your next plan of attack, well, there's nothing else quite like it.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X|S)

What could be more open world than getting to tool around across the entire actual world?

Microsoft Flight Simulator feels like the sort of experience that just shouldn't be possible on consoles - hence why this one's current-gen only - but Asobo Studio has absolutely pulled it off here, delivering a truly slick and stunning experience that's quite unlike anything else available on Xbox.

With a ton of meticulously recreated planes and an entire globe's worth of places to go visit, this is a game we'll be playing for years to come, years which will mostly be spent flying as low as we possibly can over the houses of our real-life enemies, blowing raspberries and making rude hand gestures as we go. Now that's good piloting!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Minecraft (Xbox One)

We've probably included Minecraft on more lists than any other game at this point, and that's because Mojang's open world sandbox spectacular is just so dang good.

Whether you're here for the all-encompassing creative aspects or to delve into the surprisingly engaging narrative adventure that charges you with slaying an Ender Dragon, Minecraft's open world is an almost limitless playground. Build anything you can think of, blow stuff up, recreate your favourite real-world locations or just mosey around in search of bad guys, upgrades and adventure, the choice is endlessly yours in a game that's still going strong over ten years after it first arrived on the scene. This one's an open world classic on Xbox One, Series X and Series S.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

No Man's Sky (Xbox One)

Hello Games' sci-fi survival masterpiece, and yes it is a masterpiece, got off to a rocky old start with pre-release promises left unfulfilled in many ways - punters were not happy with what they got versus what they were led to expect. However, since launch, it's been extraordinary to watch this indie dev continue to strive to deliver on everything it had said it would and a ton more besides.

No Man's Sky, as it stands today, is a towering achievement, a glorious open world galaxy full of undiscovered wonder in which to stake a claim, explore, create, fight, hook up with other players and more besides. Like a more newcomer-friendly Elite Dangerous, it's a game that gives you the never-ending space fantasy without alienating those who don't want to get bogged down in stifling intricacies. Oh, and it all looks and runs like and absolute dream.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Xbox One)

Another Rockstar joint, and this one manages to overshadow even the mighty Grand Theft Auto V in our opinion.

Yes stepping into the shoes of Arthur Morgan, one of gaming's truly great protagonists, sees players set off on an epic odyssey through a truly staggering recreation of the West, Midwest and Southern USA circa 1899. We all know Rockstar are kings of the open world genre but what they deliver here is on another level entirely in its attention to detail, in its atmosphere, writing and side activities that raise the bar on what side activities can be. There's an incredible narrative at the heart of this adventure, a truly emotional story full of twists, turns and surprises, and it all takes place in an enormous and vibrant open world that feels 100% alive. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece, a classic, and a game we'll all be talking about for years to come.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Sea Of Thieves (Xbox One)

Rare’s high seas hijinks have certainly come a long way since they first arrived on Xbox back in 2018. What was once a rather threadbare and often aimless open world pirate experience has now been transformed into a rich and vibrant one that's stuffed full of adventure, intrigue and activities for crews of up to four players.

Yes, getting into great big sea battles against other teams of players, fighting all manner of fantastical creatures and searching for treasure may be the main draw here, but even the simple act of just working together to successfully manoeuvre your ship is a joy, such is the craftsmanship with which Rare has put this world together. With the best water we’ve ever seen in a video game - the sea here really is a character in and of itself - Sea of Thieves is a highly atmospheric adventure playground that provides an endless time sink for groups of friends - and solo players - who love to roleplay the pirate lifestyle. This is one of the most unique and distinctive open world games on Xbox One, Series X and Series S!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition (Xbox One)

Yep. Yes. Uh-huh. It's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Bethesda's 2011 classic is a masterful melding of narrative, RPG and open world aspects, that gives players an enormous and endlessly engaging playground in which to fully immerse themselves. Much like the developer's Fallout offerings, what you've got here is a game that allows you to follow along closely with the main thrust of its campaign storyline, engaging in missions and side quests and making steady progress all the while or, on the other hand, just wandering off into the wilderness and getting down to business your own way. Ten years on from its original release and, although the combat may be a little ropey, this is a world that's stood the test of time supremely well. There's still nothing quite like grabbing a torch and heading off into one of its labyrinthian dungeons in search of treasure and adventure. Skyrim's still got it where it counts.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Subnautica (Xbox Series X|S)

Unknown Worlds' 2018 survival adventure is a stunning achievement; a great big underwater Xbox open world epic that's stuffed to the gills (thanks!) with secrets, mysteries and terrors lurking in the deep.

There are hugely satisfying gameplay loops at the core of this one, wonderfully in-depth crafting to sink your teeth into as you scrabble to survive after crash-landing on a watery alien planet. You'll start out small-scale here, crafting food and medical supplies, a weapon or two and an air supply capable of carrying you deeper into the mystery, before expanding into creating underwater habitats and advanced tech to help you fully conquer your inhospitable surroundings. With a sprinkling of narrative elements that work to give your deep sea endeavours momentum and purpose, Subnautica is an essential open world experience that everyone should dive into.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Xbox One)

A game that needs no introduction at this stage. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is right up there with the very best that the open world genre has to offer. CD Projekt Red served us up one of the finest RPGs ever made with this one, and Geralt of Rivia's adventures happen to take place in one of the most exquisitely well-realised game worlds we've ever seen.

We'd already got a whiff of the promise that this franchise held in the excellent The Witcher 2, but with this 3rd entry the slight clunkiness that had held the series back was nowhere to be seen, resulting in a majestic adventure of truly epic scale that's seen two amazing slices of DLC added since its release to further enhance the overall package here. We also have this game to thank for a TV show in which Henry Cavill walks around all sweaty and dirty and gets his top off a lot so...yeah...you sort of have to play it now as thanks for that.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Xbox Series X|S)

Yakuza: Like a Dragon deviates from the original series by introducing kick-ass turn-based combat into proceedings, replacing the franchise's traditional arcade scraps with something a little more complex and, in our opinion, engaging.

More exciting than all that, though, is this game's amazing setting, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio once again proving they're masters of crafting endlessly entertaining open worlds for us to explore. Here is a game that incorporates several real life Japanese locations, each and every one of which is meticulously recreated and then jam-packed full of chaotic side-quests, collectibles and secrets to uncover. The Yakuza games have always nailed the atmosphere and overall vibe of their open world settings and Yakuza: Like A Dragon nails it all harder than ever before!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes