Catherine HuSummary: Looking for the ultimate open-world gaming experience on Xbox? This guide highlights the 20 best open-world games in 2025, featuring expansive worlds, thrilling adventures, and endless freedom to explore.
Open-world games remain some of the most popular experiences on Xbox, giving players freedom to explore vast landscapes and create their own adventures.
In 2025, the genre continues to evolve with bigger worlds, smarter AI, and richer stories that keep players immersed for hours.
From action-packed RPGs to creative sandbox titles, Xbox offers a diverse lineup that appeals to every kind of gamer.
To help you choose your next journey, we’ve rounded up the 20 best open-world games on Xbox in 2025 and how Xmod help enhance our gameplay.
Table of contents
- What are Open-World Games?
- 20 Best Open-World Games on Xbox in 2025
- How Can You Enhance Gaming Experience for Single-Player PC Games with XMOD?
- Conclusion
What are Open-World Games?
Open-world games are a genre of video games that give players the freedom to explore large, non-linear environments at their own pace. Unlike traditional games that guide you along a fixed path, open-world titles let you choose where to go, what to do, and how to approach challenges. These games often feature dynamic worlds filled with side quests, collectibles, hidden secrets, and interactive elements that encourage exploration beyond the main storyline. The result is a more immersive and personalized gaming experience, where no two playthroughs are exactly the same.
20 Best Open-World Games on Xbox in 2025
These titles combine vast exploration, dynamic gameplay, and immersive worlds, making them the standout open-world experiences on Xbox in 2025.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Developer: Rockstar
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most immersive cowboy experiences ever created, bringing the Wild West to life in stunning detail. Developed by Rockstar, the game presents a vast open world packed with side quests, hidden stories, and cinematic storytelling about the Wild West’s decline. Simulation elements like horse care, survival, and unpredictable NPC encounters add depth, while Red Dead Online expands the adventure with multiplayer cowboy experiences.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Developer: Capcom
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $69.99
- Download Link
Dragon’s Dogma 2 isn’t a game for everyone, but players who enjoy reactive worlds and intricate systems will find plenty to love. Its world is alive with NPCs that can be interacted with in surprising ways, whether they fall to your blade, succumb to disease, or are taken down by wandering monsters. The RPG systems shine through deep combat mechanics and varied classes, while its fast-travel system is intentionally limited to encourage exploration and make the journey itself the core experience. However, this design can be divisive—those seeking a more casual or checklist-driven open-world adventure may want to look elsewhere.
Forza Horizon 5
- Developer: Playground Games
- Genre: Racing
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
One of the few non-RPG titles on this list, Forza Horizon 5 offers a massive open-world recreation of Mexico to explore at high speed. Blending elements of arcade fun with racing simulation, it’s packed with hidden secrets, stunt challenges, and point-to-point events scattered across the map. While main races take place in instanced tracks, those tracks are crafted from the open world itself, making the experience feel seamless and connected. It stands out not only as one of the best open-world games but also as one of the finest racing games available, with expansions that add fresh environments—including a thrilling Hot Wheels-inspired zone.
No Man’s Sky
- Developer: Hello Games
- Genre: Survival-Crafting
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Exploring a single open world is impressive, but No Man’s Sky takes it further with an entire universe of procedurally generated planets to discover. You can seamlessly move from running across a planet’s surface to flying into space and landing on another world, all without loading screens. Each planet offers unique resources, plants, and creatures to collect, fueling your journey as a merchant, builder, or fighter in a shared multiplayer galaxy. On top of that, Hello Games consistently delivers free updates, continually expanding the game with new features, systems, and ways to engage with its vast universe.
Sea of Thieves
- Developer: Rare
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: $39.99
- Download Link
If you’ve ever dreamed of living the pirate’s life, Sea of Thieves offers an open ocean full of adventure. Built as a co-op multiplayer experience, it lets you team up with friends to sail the seas, raid islands, and battle ships in search of treasure. You’ll find quests to pursue, rival crews to outwit, and even a PvE mode for those who prefer calmer waters without the threat of other players.
With frequent updates adding fresh content, the game keeps evolving—perfect for anyone who’s ever wanted to sing sea shanties and hunt for hidden riches with friends.
Genshin Impact
- Developer: Hoyoverse
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: Free
- Download Link
One of the standout free-to-play titles on this list, Genshin Impact delivers a vast open world clearly influenced by Breath of the Wild. Players can solve puzzles, battle powerful monsters, and take on an ever-expanding list of quests across multiple regions added since launch. While the game is free, it uses a gacha system for unlocking new characters, requiring rolls that are sometimes limited-time. You can still enjoy the full adventure without collecting every hero, but if randomized character pulls aren’t your style, another open-world option may suit you better.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Developer: MachineGames
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $69.99
- Download Link
While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn’t a fully open-world game, it captures the same spirit through its globe-trotting, multi-level design. Some locations, like the expansive Vatican City area, offer large spaces filled with secrets and collectibles to uncover. Each level is richly detailed, letting players explore iconic places in a way few other games allow. With exploration at its core and an engaging Indiana Jones story to tie it all together, it’s a must-play for fans who love discovery-driven adventures.
Elden Ring
- Developer: From Software
- Genre: Action RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Elden Ring takes the challenging, deliberate combat that FromSoftware is famous for and expands it into a vast open world. What makes it shine is how seamlessly that world complements the gameplay, encouraging players to explore with minimal handholding or map markers. Hidden dungeons, secret bosses, and mysterious areas reward curiosity, embodying the very essence of open-world discovery. And to top it all off, your trusty mount comes with a double-jump—an unexpected twist that makes exploration even more dynamic.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Though Cyberpunk 2077 had a rocky launch in 2020, updates and the excellent Phantom Liberty expansion have transformed it into one of the best open-world RPGs. Night City is a sprawling futuristic metropolis packed with vehicles to drive, side activities to uncover, and choices that shape your path. You can steal cars, hunt down criminals, or dive into shady jobs while upgrading yourself with powerful cybernetic enhancements. The main story, centered on Johnny Silverhand and the fight against a dominating megacorporation, pairs perfectly with the city’s scale, while Phantom Liberty delivers one of the game’s strongest narratives—reshaping your perspective on Night City depending on when you play it.
Death Stranding
- Developer: Kojima Productions
- Genre: Adventure
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $39.99
- Download Link
Death Stranding takes the concept of exploration in a unique direction, setting players in a post-apocalyptic America where nature has overtaken the land. While there are combat sequences and a surreal narrative only Hideo Kojima could create, much of the game revolves around traveling across rugged landscapes while delivering packages.
You can build structures to aid your journey—or rely on bridges and tools left behind by other players—making the trek itself the heart of the experience. If hauling cargo across harsh terrain sounds more tedious than exciting, it may not be for you, but fans of its meditative style can look forward to the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, launching June 24, 2025, on PS5.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- Developer: Warhorse Studios
- Genre: Action RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $69.99
- Download Link
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, from Warhorse Studios, is an open-world RPG set in a historically grounded version of 15th-century Europe. While it delivers the freedom and depth expected of the genre, it stands out for weaving realism into its mechanics—requiring you to bathe, use special items to save, and manage the everyday struggles of medieval life. This added friction makes it especially appealing to players who enjoy a more authentic and demanding experience. Anchored by a compelling story and a grounded protagonist, the game captures what it might truly feel like to live as an ordinary person in the Middle Ages.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
- Developer: Tango Gameworks
- Genre: Horror
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Ghostwire: Tokyo may divide opinions, but it stands out for its meticulously recreated version of a real city. Tokyo is alive with Yokai, yet players can also explore authentic historical landmarks in a stunningly detailed urban environment. While its horror elements might not appeal to everyone, the game’s unique combat and supernatural enemies offer a fresh twist on the open-world formula, complete with side quests and collectibles typical of the genre.
Octopath Traveler 2
- Developer: Acquire and Square Enix
- Genre: Turn-based RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Octopath Traveler 2 is a beautiful HD-2D turn-based RPG that gives players freedom in how they explore its world. You can choose any of eight characters’ stories, tackle them in any order, and roam different regions to uncover secrets and side quests. The day-and-night cycle alters NPCs and accessible areas, while each character has unique overworld abilities for exploration. Combined with strategic combat and engaging stories, it’s a must-play for turn-based RPG fans.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes the modern Assassin’s Creed formula to the next level, blending a massive open world with a compelling story. The game offers over 100 hours of side missions, bounties, naval combat, and additional content through multiple DLCs. RPG mechanics allow for deep customization of weapons and armor, while stealth options remain viable for players who prefer a quieter approach. With so much content and freedom, it’s one of the best entries in the Assassin’s Creed series.
Fallout 4
- Developer: Bethesda
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $19.99
- Download Link
Batman: Arkham City
- Developer: Rocksteady Studios
- Genre: Action-adventure
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $59.99
- Download Link
Batman: Arkham City is a true open-world superhero game, expanding the brawling and stealth mechanics of Arkham Asylum into a sprawling urban environment. Players can glide, grapple, and explore Gotham while tackling Riddler Trophies, side quests, and other collectibles. Alongside its engaging combat, the game delivers one of the best superhero narratives in gaming. It’s perfect for players who enjoy open-world exploration with a checklist-style twist.
Sunset Overdrive
- Developer: Insomniac Games
- Genre: Third-person Shooter
- Multiplayer: Yes
- Price: $19.99
- Download Link
Sunset Overdrive is a vibrant and fast-paced open-world game that was unfortunately overlooked as an Xbox One exclusive. What sets it apart is its fluid movement system—grinding rails, running on walls, and leaping between buildings—combined with satisfying third-person shooting. The game is packed with side activities, collectibles, and enemies, making exploration fun and rewarding. Its colorful, over-the-top world ensures a uniquely entertaining experience.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Developer: Konami
- Genre: Stealth-Action
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $19.99
- Download Link
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the final main entry in the Metal Gear series, offering a vast open world full of stealth-action opportunities. Players can infiltrate outposts, collect soldiers and resources using Fultons, and experience a creative story from Hideo Kojima. While some critique the narrative as unfinished, the combination of intricate stealth mechanics and open-world freedom makes it one of the best stealth-action games available.
Oblivion Remastered
- Developer: Bethesda
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $49.99
- Download Link
Oblivion Remastered was released unexpectedly in 2025 and delivers a beautifully updated version of the classic Elder Scrolls game. While Skyrim often gets the spotlight, Oblivion laid the foundation for modern open-world RPGs. The remaster enhances its graphics, mechanics, and interface for a modern experience. Players can explore the detailed land of Cyrodiil, interact with various factions, and enjoy meaningful choices across a rich world full of unique locations and gear upgrades.
Overall, it’s a standout RPG with an unforgettable open-world adventure.
Avowed
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: No
- Price: $69.99
- Download Link
Avowed is an “open zone” RPG where players explore five large maps, unlocking new zones as the story progresses while freely revisiting previously unlocked areas. Each zone features distinct environments, unique cities, and a wealth of quests, characters, and gear to discover. The game also shines as an RPG, offering branching story choices, a party system, and versatile combat that blends melee, ranged weapons, and magic. With its rich exploration and deep gameplay, Avowed delivers a satisfying open-world-like experience.
How Can You Enhance Gaming Experience for Open-World Games with XMOD?
XMOD is an all-in-one platform designed to enhance your gaming experience by giving you easy access to mods, trainers, and cheats. Mods can range from visual upgrades—like improved textures, lighting, or UI improvements—to gameplay changes, such as new weapons, expanded maps, or additional quests. Trainers let you tweak in-game values, such as health, stamina, money, or skill points, giving you more control over your character’s progression. Cheats can add convenience or fun, including unlocking all items, skipping difficult encounters, or spawning vehicles and companions instantly. Together, these tools allow players to customize and experiment with open-world games in ways that suit their playstyle, from enhancing immersion to removing repetitive grind.
Conclusion
Open-world games in 2025 offer an incredible variety of experiences. Whether you prefer epic stories, strategic combat, or simply exploring vibrant worlds, there’s something for every type of gamer. XMOD enhances these experiences with mods, trainers, and quality-of-life improvements, letting you tailor gameplay to your style. No matter the title, open-world gaming continues to captivate players worldwide.
