The 10 Best Open World Games

ign.com:

Open-world games have come a long way over the years, offering more freedom to explore and in how we approach objectives, but what open-world titles have it all? The best open world, the best challenges, the best story, the best characters?

IGN’s staff duked it out (in a professional manner, of course) to put together a list of the best open world games, looking at how they deliver as a complete package in letting us best get lost in a world, take over enemy outposts, and find a ridiculous way to outrun enemies. So without further ado, here are IGN’s picks for the top 10 open worlds games.

New York City around Christmastime is magic. And Insomniac has done an incredible job of recreating that charming atmosphere in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Every aspect of this follow-up to the 2018 Spidey hit is undoubtedly built on the great fundamentals of that first game. But the approach to the world, mission design, and story is altogether stronger in Miles Morales, even if there is less of it. But the focus on a more select story and missions allow Miles’ journey to be so personally impactful on the player and character.

It’s a fantastic debut solo outing for Miles, with improved and smoother traversal and combat options, a stirring story, and a host of intriguing, important things to do. And that’s all while looking and running so well, both on PS5 and PS4. Insomniac somehow captured the real-world magic of New York and imbued it into Spider-Man: Miles Morales, letting players experience it any time of year. - Jonathon Dornbush

Horizon Forbidden West improves on the Zero Dawn experience in just about every way. Aloy’s new journey features a dense world full of meaningful sidequests, where each character and their stories