The Best Open-World Games On Xbox Game Pass (July 2021)

It could be said that open-world games encapsulate gaming's best attributes and push them to their logical extremes — they offer fully fleshed-out alternate realities for the player to explore as they wish, generally affording them unprecedented levels of agency and freedom in determining their path through it. An open-world game has the potential to, almost literally, become a second life for the player to disappear into.

So it should come as no surprise that some of the gaming industry's most prolific titles manifest as open-world games. And as luck would have it, a generous selection of these titles are at your fingertips if you happen to have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. But which world should you dive into next? What are the best open-world games on Xbox Game Pass? For starters, you'll definitely want to try these.

Approximate Game Length: 30-140 Hours
Genre: Flight Simulator
Developer: Asobo Studio
X|S Enhanced: Yes

Initially released on PC in 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator has made the jump to consoles, arriving on the Xbox Series X/S on July 27, 2021. While perhaps not a conventional open-world, Microsoft Flight Simulator arguably represents the concept in its purest form, allowing pilots to traverse Earth in its entirety. Along with shorter and more curated trips courtesy of the Discovery Flights mode, Microsoft Flight Simulator permits players to just pick a spot and head out, experiencing the world in all of its beauty.

Approximate Game Length: 95-300 Hours
Genre: MMORPG
Developer: Pearl Abyss
X|S Enhanced: No

MMOs tend to be a love or hate it type of deal, and Black Desert is certainly a divisive entry in the genre. While the story and quests leave something to be desired, Black Desert excels in its combat and massive world. The former takes inspiration from hack and slash titles such as Devil May Cry, although Black Desert is not quite as precise as Capcom's franchise. The game's open-world is impressive, both in terms of scale and scenery, and completely embraces its sandbox structure.

Approximate Game Length: 13-28 Hours
Genre: Racing
Developer: Criterion Games
X|S Enhanced: No
Requires EA Play

Burnout is an all-around great franchise, one that produced some of the most entertaining racers of the early 2000s. Burnout Paradise adapts the series' frantic gameplay to an open-world structure, providing players with complete freedom in how they pursue their racing careers. Although small compared to most modern settings, Burnout Paradise's open-world is charming, varied, and immaculately designed. On these streets, speed is the name of the game.

Approximate Game Length: 15-30 Hours
Genre: Action-adventure
Developer: Avalanche Studios
X|S Enhanced: No

The Just Cause franchise has no illusions of grandeur. It simply provides chaos in a destructible world, and when done right, these games can be cathartic. Just Cause 4 landed with a bit of a thud as it felt like a retread of its immediate predecessor and garnered criticism for its outdated visuals. Just Cause 4: Reloaded smooths some of the base game's rough edges, presenting a more enjoyable overall experience. Set in the fictional Solís, Just Cause 4's world serves as a solid playground to spread mayhem across.

Approximate Game Length: 15-70 Hours
Genre: Zombie Survival
Developer: Undead Labs
X|S Enhanced: Yes

Building upon the foundations of its predecessor, State of Decay 2 offers a string of sizable maps packed with starving zombies. Meagher Valley is arguably the best map in the game, but all of the others have their positives, particularly Drucker Country and Cascade Hills.

Focusing nearly exclusively on survival, State of Decay 2 tasks the player with building a community capable of withstanding the trials of existing within a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Approximate Game Length: N/A
Genre: Survival Sandbox
Developer: Mojang
X|S Enhanced: No

No game encourages freedom and exploration the way that Minecraft does. As soon as players spawn into the world, there are no boundaries restricting what they do next. Building a mansion in the forest, mining to the depths of the world, or crafting the most intricate roller coaster are all options on the table. Though there are no quests sprinkled throughout the open world of Minecraft, the ability to do anything so chosen is the game’s main appeal.

Approximate Game Length: N/A
Genre: Multiplayer Space Simulation
Developer: Frontier Developments
X|S Enhanced: No

Though a space flight sim might seem like a strange fit here, calling Elite Dangerous an “open-world” title is more than a bit of an understatement considering the game encompasses a scale replica of the Milky Way as we know it. And really, the role a player takes in piloting their ship through the endless expanse of space is as open as said galaxy is — whether it’s as a trader, a pirate, or humble asteroid miner making their daily haul, Elite Dangerous offers endless opportunity in an equally endless galaxy.

Approximate Game Length: 34-100 Hours
Genre: Open-World RPG
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
X|S Enhanced: No

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has long been a definitive staple of the open-world catalog, and it’s likely to remain that way until the next chapter of the mainline Elder Scrolls saga manifests. Even today, players still wander the snowy tundra, lush forests, and decrepit dungeons of Skyrim in droves, which is no mean feat considering the base game was released in 2011. If for some reason you’ve yet to experience the epic tale of the Dragonborn, now’s as good a time as any. And if you already have, then you can pick from an extensive selection of mods that are available for Xbox consoles and fabricate a new twist on a familiar adventure.

Approximate Game Length: 15-120 Hours
Genre: Racing
Developer: Playground Games
X|S Enhanced: Yes

Playground Games' Forza Horizon franchise has been consistently great, with each entry arguably setting a new standard for the series. While Forza Horizon 5 will take center stage once it launches later this year, its immediate predecessor's brilliance should not be understated.

Set within Great Britain's Edinburgh region, Forza Horizon 4 blends detailed recreations of real-life locations such as Princes Street with fictional but appropriate areas like Lakehurst Forest. The map is big, gorgeous, and changes depending on the season.

Approximate Game Length: 27 Hours
Genre: Action-Adventure
Developer: Rocksteady Studio
X|S Enhanced: No

The open-world formula of the Arkham series is only enhanced with the Batmobile at your disposal. Hurtling through the streets of Gotham in Batman’s iconic vehicle is a rush. Though it is always fun to soar from mission to mission using nothing but Batman’s cape, the experience is only heightened by intense car action. As with other games in the franchise, Batman: Arkham Knight is an exciting and easily digestible open-world experience.

Approximate Game Length: 30 Hours
Genre: Action-Adventure
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios
X|S Enhanced: No

The sixth installment in the wildly popular Yakuza series hits long-time fans in the feels with its emphasis on familial ties. In addition to that, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life also provides players with a vibrant open-world setting in the familiar location of Kamurocho. Plenty of fun activities lie in store around every corner, and entertaining story moments are matched only by the robust combat system that is a staple of the Yakuza franchise.

Approximate Game Length: 70 Hours
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: Bethesda
X|S Enhanced: No

Though Fallout 4 may be New Vegas’ shinier, newer, and (slightly) better-optimized cousin, New Vegas is considered the crown jewel of Fallout’s three-dimensional, first-person outings for a reason. With Obsidian helming the effort, the roleplaying elements that were present in Fallout 3 were polished to a mirror shine that Fallout 4 couldn’t seem to pull off in succession.

The Mojave wasteland may look a bit dated by modern standards, but the Courier’s fateful journey after being shot and left for dead still makes for a timelessly wild adventure.

Approximate Game Length: 35 Hours
Genre: Survival Adventure
Developer: Hinterland Games
X|S Enhanced: No

Survival-oriented titles are a common sight when browsing through any catalog of open-world games, but The Long Dark is certainly a standout mention among them. Stranded in the wilds of Canada after a cataclysmic weather event, players must consistently contend with the frigid cold and measure their bodily needs against the prospect of pressing onward. Though hauntingly desolate, the environments and art direction of The Long Dark make it a practical necessity.

Approximate Game Length: 37 Hours
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: PlatinumGames
X|S Enhanced: No

Though more linear than most open-world games, Nier: Automata possesses an ethereal charm that makes wandering its environs just as mesmerizing. The main story will take you across vast open spaces that feel largely desolate but remain haunting and beautiful regardless. Nier: Automata is not the best example of an open-world title, but it is unique and engaging enough that it should not be missed by any fan of sprawling areas and gripping narratives.

Approximate Game Length: 45 Hours
Genre: Open-World, Action-Adventure
Developer: Rockstar North
X|S Enhanced: No

Los Santos lives and breathes like no other open-world environment in gaming. GTA V perfectly captures the vibe of walking through a bustling city. There is no shortage of activities players can engage in while playing this popular title. If anything, feeling bored while playing GTA V is a nigh impossible task. Rockstar has long held the crown when it comes to making open-world games, and it’s not hard to see why after sinking hours into any GTA title.

NEXT: The Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass

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