Few genres are as densely packed with side quests and explorable areas asopen-worldgames.
The gameplay in many of our favorite open-world titles varies from more action-packed experiences tostory-driven ones. Still, at their core, they are geared toward developing a cohesive, expansive world that keeps us immersed for hundreds of hours.
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Yet, due tothe huge time commitmentassociated with these games, many of us with subscription services like PlayStation Plus end up asking ourselves which of the many open-world games are truly worth playing.
So, if you’re stuck contemplating your exhaustive back catalog,here are the top open-world titles available through PlayStation Plus that we at DualShockers think are worth your time.
12Days Gone
PlayStations Original Zombie Killing Epic
Granted, traditional open worlds can have tense moments, but if you’re interested in one that genuinely fills us with anxiety around every corner, look no further than the zombie-filled world ofDays Gone.
Days Goneis most notable for its intense survival mechanics. Not only are hordes of zombies, known as freakers, roaming the world, but you also have a motorbike that must be refueledstrategically throughout your journey.
These elements keep you on your feet as you explore, as in a second,you could be brutally attacked by dozens of bloodthirsty freakers with no gas to outrun them.
While for many, including me,the story was the weakest part of the experience, it’s hard not to be investedDays Gonewhen you’re constantlyavoiding near collisionswith freakers while motorbiking on a dingy dirt road.
11Fallout 76
Appalachia Has Definetly Gotten Better Over Time
Fallout 76
Fallout 76has had a long and rough journey, but we’re happy to say that after a long history of updates,it’s finally worth checking out, especially if you can test the waters through PlayStation Plus.
While many of us may not be fans of many modern video gamelive-service models, it has at least allowedFallout 76to grow in quality and quantity over time.
The game has done a complete replacement withfully fledged NPCs to interact with, and additional expeditions likeThe Pitthavevastly expanded the in-game content.
With its high-quality environmental design, player progression, and world-building, fans now consider the newer enhanced version ofFallout 76a sufficient offering by Bethesda, anda decent recommendation, especially if you try it out with a friend or two.
Fallout 3, 4, and New Vegas are all available for PlayStation Plus Premium users, but this is the only Fallout title on the Extra payment plan.
A Lovecraftian Indie Masterpiece
It’s always one of our top priorities to give some recognition to the excitingindie gamesthat make their way onto platforms like PlayStation Plus, and it’s difficult to find another open-world indie that deserves recognition quite likeDredge.
Sure, on the surface, Dredge plays as a cozy fishing adventure. Yet, when traveling a bit deeper, you’ll find theeldritch horrors that cause underlying conflictswithin the deep seas.
Like many indies, a group of fans has become utterly enthralled with Dredge; working hard to uncover secrets while relaxing with thesatisfying fishing minigame.
Even if you aren’t a typical indie game fan,Dredge is one of those games we recommend to all gamers who just want to sit down and have a great time.
9The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Long But Worthwhile Journey
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Trust me, we have all been there before: interested in a brand new open-world title but utterly terrified by the hundred-plus hours of playtime. While we at DualShockers don’t have a way to give you ahyperbolic time chamberto playThe Witcher 3,maybe its availability on PlayStation Plus is enough to get you started.
There’s a reason why, almost a decade later,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas remained one of the most significant RPGs ever, as it expertly mixes a magnificent main story with some of the mostmemorable side questsof the genre.
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Geralt of Rivia isone of the best protagonistsof any open-world game or RPG, and the great moral choices and monster-hunting combat create memorable moments every time you play.
With the PS5 next-gen update available, it’s a better time than ever to try The Witcher 3(even if you don’t make it all the way through).
8Watch Dogs 2
Pick Up Your Phone And Get Hacking
Watch Dogs 2
I believeWatch Dogs 2to be one of the best open worlds that Ubisoft has ever made. While theFar CryandAssassin’s Creedtitles are still worthy of your time, when it came down to picking a single offering on PlayStation Plus,Watch Dogs 2was the standout.
Watch Dogs 2is based on modern-day San Francisco, andas someone who lives in California, I can vouch for how well it represents the good and bad parts of our state.
Commentaries on Silicon Valley’s big elites, run-of-the-mill hippies, and, of course, ourmain cast of underground punk revolutionistsall feel both realistic and satirical enough to allow us to turn off our brains and mindlessly shoot the bad guys.
With possibly thebest hacking mechanicsin the whole series,Watch Dogs 2takes typical action car chases, shootouts, and stealth missions from something likeGTA, and elevates them bymaking the player feel like an unstoppable gun nut with a flipper zero in their pocket.
7Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor
The One Game To Rule Them All
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Us Lord of the Rings fans often have the highest of highs and lowest of lows regardingvideo game adaptations. But luckily for us,Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordoris undoubtedly one of the greats.
Dumping players in a period sometime after The Hobbit, yet before the main Lord of the Rings story, your main priority feels absolutely natural:kill as many Orcs as you possibly can. On top of that, it builds an immaculate cast of gameplay elements, such as fun combat and an intriguing story.
With the start of theseries-defining “Nemesis” system, where your wins and losses actively impact the developing narrative,Shadow Of Mordor is not only an incredible open world, but one of the most innovative ones on this list.
6Yakuza: Like A Dragon
A JRPG As Weird As It Is Wonderful
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Many of us can’t help ourselves fromthe lure of JRPGs, and while numerous open-world JRPGs can make it on this list,Yakuza: Like A Dragon’s genre-breaking popularity makes it an ideal title to include for those looking for something new.
Yakuza: Like A Dragonwas the start of many changes in theYakuzafranchise, such as being thefirst to have turn-basedcombat. Additionally, aspects like its relatively self-contained story make it one of theideal starting points for anyone new to theYakuzaseries.
The greatest advice we have for new players is just to get lost in the twists and turns the game throws at you, and with a worldbrimming with side activitiesand quests,it’s seriously hard not to get sidetracked inYakuza.
Yakuza: Like A Dragonis remarkable because, honestly, it’s just anotherYakuzagame. With a plot that takes itself way too seriously butalso doesn’t in the slightest, this JRPG is a top contender for open-world titles on PS Plus.
This title was available on PlayStation Plus in August 2022 for free, and Yakuza Judgment is also in the Extra catalog.
5The Outer Worlds
Sure Starfield Was Good, But This Is Even Better
Among all the new open-world RPGs that attempt to explore thefinal frontier of space, we still considerThe Outer Worldsto be one of the finest.
Developers Obsidian bring the same charm they’ve brought to titles likeFallout: New Vegas, with great storylines that putthe player and their decision-makingat the apex of everything.
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Even though this space adventure doesn’t have a hundred-hour procedurally generated campaign,the directness of its RPG elements, companion characters, and solid combat makeThe Outer Worldsdefinitely worth checking out.
4Shadow Of The Colossus
Team Ico’s PS2 Masterpiece Still Holds Up Today
Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
Shadow Of The Colossusis truly one of thosecult classic titlesthat’s hard to resist appreciating.
Like a siren calling from the ocean, the ambiance in this game captivates you and then completely subverts the player’s expectations, makingShadow Of The Colossus as impactful thematically as it is beautiful to look at.
The combination of the calmness of the open world with theexhilarating boss fightsthat are almost wandering Zelda Dongeons createsa well-contained, albeit not very lengthy,video game experience.
Coined on this list as the game we hope everyone plays through once before they die,Shadow Of The Colossusis an experience on PlayStation Plus that we promise you won’t forget.
Fulfilling Everyone’s Cowboy Simulation Fantasy
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2may be the most detailed open-world title ever released, with a complete day-night cycle whereeach NPC has its own specific daily routine, hundreds of discoverable wildlife, andother small realistic detailsthat only a small percentage of gamers actually notice.
On top of that, this game provides one of the most emotional and well-crafted stories Rockstar Games has put out. Following Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang,we are shown a harrowing tale of the end of the western cowboy.
There’s so much to do between the linear story and an open worldbrimming with secretsand mechanics thatRed Dead Redemption 2 can have any gamer busy for days on end.
