Summary
Open-world gamesare not new. In fact, they’ve only grown in popularity over time. The originalLegend of Zeldafor the NES gave gamers a glimpse of how much fun an open-world game can be, and ever since that landmark game,developers of open-worldgames have endeavored to give gamers larger and larger worlds to explore.
There will be many popular open-world games that gamers will be surprised didn’t make this list, such asGrand Theft Auto 5orFallout 4. Those two games have large world maps, but even they are nothing compared to the games that made this list. Here are thegames with the largest mapsfor players to explore.
Updated Jun 05, 2025 by Vlad Mazanko:Open-world games remain one of the most popular genres, largely thanks to theirexpansive and immersive worlds that players can explorefor hours on end. Over the years, these virtual landscapes have become increasingly vast, as developers strive to deliver even larger worlds to outshine the competition and create a strong selling point.
Many modern open-world games are so massive that playersneed to invest over 100 hoursjust to uncover their entire maps. Space-based open-world games take this to the next level, featuring maps so enormous that full exploration could take more than a lifetime.
As the genre evolves, these maps aren’t just growing larger — they’re also becoming more intricate and detailed, providing dynamic sandbox environments. The list of thebiggest open-world game mapshas been updated to include previously overlooked titles and to highlight the most recent open-world games boasting truly colossal map sizes.
TheBurnoutseries isknown for fast-paced racing actioncoupled with less-than-accurate, arcade-style physics. It’s loved by players for standing apart from the usual racing game; near misses and causing huge crashes are encouraged, rather than something to avoid. Something the series is less well known for is having large maps.
Burnout Paradisegives the player a 30-square-mile map to explore at their leisure. Races are simple to start. One great aspect is that there’s no set course during a race. Players are free to pick their own route to the finish line.
Perhaps the most well-known game on this list,Elden Ringis the latest offering from FromSoftware, the developers of theDark Soulsseries. The map inElden Ringis big, but not as expansive as many open-world games. That being said, themap in this game is big enoughthat players will spend dozens of hours exploring it.
The difficulty curve ofElden Ringinflates the time it takes to fully explore the game world. So, it seems larger than it is in terms of square miles due to the slower pace that players, especially players new to the game, are forced to take.
This game started with a small map. The length of the map could be walked in a relatively brief amount of time. That was in 2007. In 2023,The Lord of the Rings Online’smap was expanded to enormous proportions. In its current version, this game allows players toexperience walking across Middle-earth.
It really is impressive how much the developers have added to this game over the years. The problem is, that there isn’t a clearly defined size of the map. The best estimates put the size of the game world at approximately 40 square miles.
Just recently,Forza Horizon 5was released on PS5, marking a pivotal point for Xbox’s acclaimed open-world arcade racing series. Set in Mexico,Forza Horizon 5features the biggest and most detailed map in the series yet, with the traditional change of seasons for a sense of ever-evolving, living environment.
While not as huge as some other open-world racing titles, the map of Mexico inForza Horizon 5haseverything that racing fans might wish for: from dense rainforests and hot deserts to long highways, sky-high volcanoes, and several bustling cities. Moreover, players craving even more territories should get theRally Adventureexpansion that features several unique biomes for an off-road paradise.
When the firstTheLegend of Zeldagame was released for the NES, it blew people’s minds. It had a large game world that the player could freely explore. This was relatively new at the time. Some games had large game worlds, like those in theMight and MagicandUltimaseries, butThe Legend of Zelda’sworld felt much more interactive.
Fast-forward 37 years to Nintendo’slatest offering in theZeldafranchise,Tears of the Kingdom. This game uses (basically) the same map asBreath of the Wild, but expands on it with floating islands and a vast underground area as large as the surface world.
Gamers who were impressed with the size ofSkyrim’s map might want to giveThe Witcher 3a try. Why? The map inThe Witcher 3is over twice as large asSkyrim’s. Not only that, but there are more varied terrain types as well — more than just mountains, grasslands, and endless tundra.
The game world inThe Witcher 3is also quite a bit more colorful.Skyrimfaced more than a little criticism over the drab colors used for the game world; this game has amuch more vibrant world to explore. It’s likeSkyrim, but with the color palette ofOblivion, and more diversity in terms of biomes.
The latest entry in Ubisoft’s long-running franchise, known for its detailed historical recreations,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsfeatures a ratherexpansive map of Feudal Japan. While not the largest in the series to date, the map inShadowsconsists mostly of landmass, with very few explorable water areas. Players are free to roam and explore the full map from the start, although some regions feature higher-level enemies that underleveled players will struggle to defeat.
The world map ofAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis undoubtedly the most detailed in the franchise to date, with stunning visuals, dense vegetation, and adynamic four-season progressionthroughout the year. However, exploration in the game may feel somewhat restrictive, as players will find it nearly impossible to traverse outside of roads in Japan, with unclimbable terrain and very dense forests.
While Ubisoft initially claimed thatAssassin’s Creed Valhallawould be more focused and less sprawling thanAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, the reality is thatValhalla’smaps are even bigger. The game’s world is vast, and unlikeOdyssey, much of it consists of land rather than open seas. This makesValhalla’splayable areas feel larger and more filled with content.
The game offers distinct regions, from thesnowy mountains of Norwayto the rolling hills of England, and even mythical realms like Asgard. Each area feels unique and engaging at first, but with so much ground to cover and a high number of collectible objectives, players may eventually feel overwhelmed. Taking the game in smaller sessions can help manage the vastness of this epic journey.
Bohemia Interactive took a unique approach to open-world game design, and it paid off remarkably well. Released in 2018 and inspired by a mod forArmA 2, their survival horror titleDayZis set in thezombie-infested, post-Soviet country of Chernarus, featuring a sprawling and detailed map.
As with any survival horror game, the main objective inDayZis to gather resources and stay alive for as long as possible. But what sets it apart is its massive open world, spanning nearly 90 square miles. This vast environment is filled with hidden dangers, unexpected discoveries, andcountless unpredictable situations, making every playthrough a unique and tense experience.
The sixth major installment of theAssassin’s Creedseries took players from the mainland to the wild, untamed Caribbean. Set in an alternate 18th century during the Golden Age of Piracy, inBlack Flag, players explore the West Indies,commanding naval ships in epic battlesas pirates fight for independence.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagearned widespread acclaim for its stunning visuals and groundbreaking naval gameplay. To this day, it remains one of the most beloved entries in the long-running series. A major highlight of the game was its sheer scale, offering an expansive open world of vast seas to explore on a customizable ship alongside your pirate crew.
