Best Open-World Games On PS Plus – TheFantasyTimes

In June 2022, Sony unleashed its new PlayStation Plus on North America. Split into three tiers, the service offers subscribers access to hundreds of games from across PlayStation’s history, including PS1 and PSP projects. Along with showing love for the brand’s history, PS Plus also covers most genres, be it horror, platformers, RPGs, or strategy. Unsurprisingly, PS Plus does not skimp out on open-world games either.

Whether searching for a PlayStation exclusive or a third-party juggernaut, PS Plus Extra and Premium should have most players covered. With so many titles to pick from, knowing where to start can be challenging; therefore, let’s take a look at the best open-world PS Plus games.

Horizon Forbidden West

Approximately a year following its debut, Horizon Forbidden West has been officially added to PS Plus Extra. Besides being a big get for the platform, this announcement might provide some indication of how Sony plans to treat first-party titles when it comes to its subscription service. That said, one example is not a pattern, so expectations should be kept in check.

Guerrilla Games’ sequel sees Aloy heading west, visiting areas that were once part of Utah, Nevada, and California, just to name a few featured states. Horizon Forbidden West retains what worked in Horizon Zero Dawn, which is also on PS Plus Extra, all the while expanding on a few things that could have been improved upon. While the 2017 release has a beautiful and impressive open-world, its sequel fills it with more interesting side content and micro stories. Consequently, HFW‘s map feels slightly more alive. When it comes to combat, the game delivers thrilling encounters that pit Aloy against both humans and robots. The latter is undoubtedly the campaign’s highlight.

Tchia

Debuting directly on PS Plus Extra, which is a rare treat, Tchia is an indie open-world game that might have gone unnoticed if it was not readily available to a pre-existing user base. Cast as the eponymous girl, players traverse a beautiful island that is ruled by a less-than-beloved god. When her father is kidnaped, Tchia heads out to save him, using a unique power that allows her to take over the bodies of animals or objects.

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Considering it was created by a fairly small team, Tchia is an impressive achievement that can stand alongside most bigger budget projects in the genre. That said, the game is fairly short by open-world standards, although that can be viewed as a positive. While not devoid of combat, the title’s primary focus is exploration, which is enhanced through Tchia’s ability.

PS Plus Extra and Premium’s November 2022 line-up revolved around Kingdom Hearts, but the selection also included one of the most beloved open-world RPGs of all time. Debuting in 2011, Skyrim was a massive hit right out of the gate, and its popularity has not waned over the last decade. The Special Edition is the definitive way to experience Bethesda’s masterpiece on consoles, as it improves the visuals and provides support for mods (which have played a huge part in extending the RPG’s lifespan).

Skyrim‘s open-world approaches perfection as it encourages exploration and discovery. The main storyline is fine, but the game’s success lies in its immersive locations, customization options, and character writing. Even as the years continue to pass, Skyrim still comes across as a big deal, and its addition to PS Plus Extra makes the service seem far more complete.

Final Fantasy 15 Royal Edition

Square Enix brought the Final Fantasy series into the Open World genre with the release of Final Fantasy 15. Prior to its release, fans still got a taste of “open world” gameplay with installments like Final Fantasy 7, which allowed them to traverse an overworld via an Airship. But Final Fantasy 15 marks the first time that the series has entered a state of true freedom, allowing players to traverse a large open world filled with enemies, items, towns, and secrets.

The end result is a fascinating and unique Final Fantasy title that follows four protagonists on a journey across an expansive land, built with the same hybrid-style ATB and Action combat that players have come to love.

Fallout 4

Bethesda’s latest single-player Fallout is on offering with PS Plus for players that are looking to patrol through the wastelands. With a map that’s even larger than Skyrim‘s, Fallout 4 gives players tons of areas to explore, with a multitude of sidequests to complete and secrets to uncover. Those looking for an FPS-style RPG with a myriad of areas to conquer should definitely fall in love with the iconic release.

The franchise has been going strong, offering players a multitude of great open-world adventures and Fallout 4 is no exception. Players can expect to put some serious time into this game if they want to “see and do everything possible,” and that’s not even counting the DLC add-ons.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

PS Plus Extra has a plethora of Assassin’s Creed games, including fairly recent releases such as Odyssey. Subscribers can readily spend half a year playing through the franchise’s PS Plus projects, allowing them to explore a wide range of historical worlds. Picking a favorite will likely come down to a person’s preferred setting; someone might gravitate toward Syndicate‘s UK aesthetic or feel more at home in Origins‘ Ancient Egypt. The latter is actually a good entry point since the game acts as something of a soft reboot, along with being one of the franchise’s stronger entries.

However, Black Flag should not be ignored either, especially since the game stands on its own quite well. Set during the height of piracy, Black Flag takes place in the West Indies, a map filled with diverse locations, three central cities, and lots to discover. The campaign quickly puts the player behind the wheel of a ship and gets them out on the water, encouraging them to explore to their heart’s content. Black Flag is, first and foremost, a pirate game rather than an Assassin’s Creed sequel, and this helps differentiate it from everything that came before and after.

Ghost Of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

The PS4’s swan song as Sony’s main console, Ghost of Tsushima transports players back in time to the 13th century as the Mongols invade Japan’s Tsushima Island. After failing to stop the invasion and almost meeting his end, Jin Sakai goes on a quest to recruit fighters that could help turn the tide of battle.

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Ghost of Tsushima‘s open-world is gorgeous, be it on the PS4 or the PS5. Tsushima Island is lavish, varied, and breathtaking. The same can also be said about Iki Island, the location of the expansion that is included in the Director’s Cut. Within this map, players can look forward to engaging in intense samurai-themed battles and decent side quests with memorable NPCs.

Yakuza 0

Sega’s Yakuza headlined PS Plus’s August line-up, adding three games to Extra and Premium’s libraries. While all these titles are fantastic, Yakuza 0 is the cream of the crop, and the entry’s status as a prequel means it works well as an entry point into this universe. Chronicling Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima’s early days in the Yakuza, the story expertly blends fist-pumping action with genuine emotion and even a hint of absurdity.

Yakuza values small but dense maps over sprawling behemoths, a creative decision that has worked wonders for the license. Yakuza 0 takes place in Kamurochō and Sotenbori, two cities filled with side activities to keep people engaged in between the exceptional main missions.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Another Yakuza recommendation might seem like overkill, but Like a Dragon is a considerable departure from everything that came before it. Released in 2020, the game initiated a new era in the franchise’s history, one that brought on a number of significant changes. Rather than Kiryu, Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s protagonist is Ichiban Kasuga, a character with a much louder personality than his predecessor. Inspired by old-school heroes found in games like Dragon Quest, Ichiban is likable, and the same can be said for the rest of the main characters.

Like a Dragon utilizes a turn-based combat system reminiscent of Ichiban’s favorite game, and while not perfect, it is a solid first attempt at this style of gameplay. More importantly for this article’s topic, this RPG takes place in a new setting, Yokohama’s Isezaki Ijincho. As tends to be the case with this franchise, the open-world is small by the genre’s standards, but the map is densely packed with quests, mini-games, and stores.

Saints Row 2

PS Plus has three Saints Row games: Saints Row 2, Saints Row 4, and Gat Out of Hell. Despite falling within the same franchise, all three games are fairly different from each other. Saints Row 4 and its spin-off, Gat Out of Hell, are unapologetically over-the-top to the point that they bare almost no resemblance to reality. They play somewhat similar to Crackdown, and they cast players as superhero-style characters who have abilities that make most of the conventional components of an open-world game like vehicles and weapons obsolete. Saints Row 4 is fun, provided players know what they are getting into.

On the other hand, Saints Row 2 is more down to earth, while nevertheless leaning into parody and comedic territory. Set in Stillwater, the story tasks the protagonist with reforming the Saints, which naturally means they will need to take on other gangs that have gotten a foothold in the city. Even if it is not as absurd as later entries in the franchise, the sandbox game still gives players all the tools they need to spread mayhem on the street. It just happens to be accompanied by a pretty good story and some great characters.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is arguably the Wall-Crawler’s greatest game, although it does have stiff competition from a few older titles. Unfortunately, the 2018 release is not available on PS Plus Extra, having been removed in May 2023; that said, superhero fans yearning to swing through New York City can jump into Miles Morales, a spin-off that maintains the main entry’s high standard of quality.

Even though it ties into Spider-Man in a few ways, Miles Morales can be treated as a standalone experience since it has a fairly self-contained story. As its subtitle suggests, the game swaps Peter Parker for Miles, who is still in his infancy as a hero. Both games do splendid jobs of recreating New York City, and while it is not overly packed with memorable side content, the open-world is nevertheless fun to explore due to Miles Morales‘ satisfying movement. Compared to other games of this ilk, Insomniac’s spin-off is on the short side as it can be readily completed in under 10 hours, which is a decent enough length for a PS Plus game.

The Forgotten City

The Forgotten City has a unique origin story as the game started life as a mod for Skyrim. The latter was (and still is) highly respected within the community, and it served as a great launching pad for 2021’s stand-alone adventure. After some time-travel shenanigans, players find themselves living among the Romans, and they are quickly set upon the task of solving a strange case involving people turning into gold statues. The campaign utilizes a time-loop mechanic, granting players the power to relive the same day as they try to piece together exactly what is happening in this strange metropolis.

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While not massive, The Forgotten City‘s map is detailed, lively, and explorable. The streets are filled with NPCs, some of whom hand out optional quests that are well-written and help expand on the game’s world-building. The Forgotten City is one of those rare open-world PS Plus games that can be effectively completed in a day or a weekend. The genre does not produce many short experiences, but if this release is anything to go by, maybe that should change.

Just Cause 4: Reloaded

Added to PS Plus Extra on January 17, 2023, Just Cause 4 has a mixed reception. In a vacuum, the game offers mindless entertainment as the ultimate super spy spends a few hours blowing up most of an island to free its people from the sinister Black Hand. Although not particularly deep, the gameplay is fun for what it is; however, Just Cause 4 is generally regarded as a step back from the previous entries in the franchise. Consequently, fans of the second and third Just Cause games might find the 2018 sequel disappointing.

Nevertheless, Just Cause 4 is still one of the better open-world PS Plus games, especially if someone just wants to make the world burn. Solis, the island, is quite large and, at times, gorgeous.

Jak 3

By the time 2004 rolled around, Naughty Dog’s Jak & Daxter franchise has morphed into a very different beast. While still utilizing platforming as a core mechanic, Jak 2 and 3 greatly ramped up the action and replaced The Precursor Legacy‘s (fairly) linear levels with larger and more open-ended areas. Jak 3 really emphasizes its free-roaming element, encouraging players to explore its two cities and wasteland as much as possible.

Compared to its predecessors, Jak 3 can come across as unfocused and disjointed; however, it is still one of the better action-adventure games on the PS2. As far as its open-world is considered, Jak 3‘s map is not nearly as expansive or diverse as some of its high-profile contemporaries like Grand Theft Auto 3. That said, the core gameplay is strong enough to keep things interesting for the relatively short campaign.

Days Gone

Due to launching in a less-than-stellar state and suffering from some genre fatigue, Days Gone got a somewhat mixed reception, at least by the standards of PS4 exclusives. The post-apocalyptic zombie game boasts quite a big world, and while the activities within are hit-and-miss, traveling through the roads of Oregon can be gripping.

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This mainly comes down to Days Gone‘s customizable bike, which develops into a beast over the course of the campaign. The game’s zombie hordes also ensure that this world always feels dangerous.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a fascinating open-world game with a time loop central mechanic. Every 20 minutes, the sun basically explodes, causing the player to reawaken on their home planet. Luckily, they happen to be astronauts and have access to a ship, so they can travel to other planets in search of clues to decipher the mystery of what exactly is going on.

Outer Wilds superbly makes its story the central puzzle as the protagonist collects slivers of information en route to stitching together a complete picture of what is going on. Gripping, ambitious, and unique, Outer Wilds is an incredible ride that everyone with a PS Plus Premium and Extra subscription should take.

Death Stranding

A Hideo Kojima project is always going to be something special, and Death Stranding‘s bizarre reveal and early trailers instantly made that apparent. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of the United States, players portray Sam, a person charged with traveling across the country delivering packages and establishing communication points.

Death Stranding is very much about the journey; in fact, Sam has to carefully plan his trips and every step he takes along the way. Barren landscapes dominate the scene, and the gameplay can be quite meditative once players get used to its rhythm.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

In November 2022, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Rainbow Six Siege, and The Division 2 joined the Extra tier. The latter has been out for more than three years, and while things have not always been smooth sailing, The Division 2 has cemented itself as one of the better live-services games on the market.

Set in Washington D.C., Ubisoft’s title envisions a post-apocalyptic alternate reality filled with warring factions and nature-covered landmarks. The series has quite a realistic presentation, although the sequel is slightly more colorful than its predecessor. The Division 2 has plenty of multiplayer-focused content, including PvP and an extensive endgame, but the story can be played solo and experienced as a single-player game.

Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)

Bluepoint Games can be relied upon to deliver high-quality remakes, and the studio’s 2018 rendition of Shadow of the Colossus is a treat for fans of Team Ico’s PS2 classic. Retaining the core elements of the original version, the remake improves the visuals and controls, providing a faithful but modernized experience.

Shadow of the Colossus drops players in a desolate world and gives them a straightforward task: kill 16 roaming colossi to save the life of one girl. The Forbidden Land is haunting but sporadically beautiful, and while the map is not that large, the game does a splendid job of making it feel epic.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

LEGO is not just for children, and that goes for both the building blocks and the games. PS Plus Premium has a couple of LEGO titles, but anyone searching for an open-world experience should check out Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Like a comedic version of the Arkham series, Traveller’s Tales’ game allows DC fans to explore a detailed and charming Gotham filled with references to the Caped Crusader’s legacy. The campaign even includes a trip to Metropolis, although it is not a sandbox like the Dark Knight’s hunting grounds.

DC Batman 2: DC Super Heroes has a relatively short but enjoyable campaign, one that assembles an impressive array of heroes and villains from DC’s extensive history. While the main missions are good, the game’s free-roam might be its greatest feature since it encourages players to explore every corner of the world.

Far Cry 6

Sony has teamed up with Ubisoft to bring a host of projects to PS Plus, and that naturally includes various Far Cry titles. Including spin-offs, Extra has seven games from the franchise, all of which are open-world experiences set in usually exotic locations from around the world. A player’s personal preference is likely to come down to their exposure to the license and their favorite setting; for the former, Far Cry tends to stick to its basic formula closely, which can lead to diminishing returns if multiple entries are played in close succession. That said, fundamentally, the games are very good first-person shooters set in expansive and usually gorgeous worlds. They routinely feature brilliant villains, along with somewhat forgettable protagonists.

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Although not the most highly-regarded project in the series, Far Cry 6 benefits from being the most recent entry. The game features the best gunplay in Ubisoft’s franchise so far, along with an awesome antagonist in the form of Giancarlo Esposito’s Anton Castillo. The FPS is set on a Caribbean island that is under the thumb of the previously mentioned dictator, and players quickly find themselves joining the resistance.

Elex 1 & 2

Piranha Bytes is synonymous with Eurojank, which are ambitious games that tend to be rough around the edges. After completing the Gothic and Risen trilogies, both of which have die-hard fans, the developer went on to Elex, a science-fantasy franchise set in a post-apocalyptic world. The 2017 game and its sequel are similar to Piranha’s earlier releases, including a heavy focus on factions, and, consequently, come across as dated. Be that as it may, they have their charm, and if someone is a big fan of Gothic 2, they are likely to get a kick out of Elex.

Compared to its successor, the first game has a superior storyline and more interesting exploration since the world still feels fresh. It also has better pacing. The sequel is more polarizing, but it does improve a few areas like combat. Even though neither Elex project is a masterpiece, they are still impressive open-world games.

Unturned

Unturned takes a few pages from Minecraft and throws zombies into the mix. After loading into a map, players are mostly left to figure things out for themselves, regardless of whether they are offline or tagging along with some friends.

The survival element takes a familiar form, demanding the monitoring of resources and meters while strategically planning out actions to avoid attracting unwanted attention. There is even a base-building mechanic. Unturned provides an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. It is not the most graphically impressive or unique open-world game on PS Plus, but Unturned has its charm.

Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs produced three entries, all of which have different tones, settings, and rhythms. The full series is on PS Plus Extra, and each entry has something to offer, be it the original’s revenge-fueled plot, the sequel’s lively setting, or Legion‘s ambitious recruitment system. Despite the projects’ various differences, at its core, Watch Dogs is about empowering players through hacking, granting them the tools to cause chaos without attracting attention. However, they can also decide to use a more direct and explosive method if a situation calls for it.

Out of the three games, Watch Dogs 2 has the best open-world. San Francisco is overflowing with color, personality, and life, and it stands in sharp contrast with both its predecessor and successor. As is the Ubisoft way, the map is huge, although it is way more manageable than some of the latter Assassin’s Creed outings.

Crysis Remastered

The original Crysis became something of a meme since the game required a beefy computer to run. All these years later, the first-person shooter is still visually impressive, an element highlighted beautifully by the remaster. Dressed in powerful Nanosuits, Raptor Team lands on Lingshan Islands in search of important archeologists who have gone missing.

Predominantly set in a jungle, Crysis‘ open-world might not be particularly unique, but it serves as a suitable playground for a power fantasy-type experience. While by no means small, the map is nowhere near as big as open-world projects released post-2010, which is a blessing in its own way. Crysis Remastered is a good pick for anyone searching for a satisfying FPS that will not take them too long to complete.

Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

PS Plus Extra’s December 2022 line-up included Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, two games that should hit the spot for fans of The Lord of the Rings. Utilizing a combat system reminiscent of the Batman Arkham series, both titles knock their gameplay out of the park. As Talion, players traverse relatively expansive maps littered with orcs and Uruks, completing quests in the process. The campaigns are somewhat linear, but they do provide some side content.

Shadow of Mordor should be a newcomer’s starting point, and it is arguably the more enjoyable of the two games. As the map is split into areas, the world is not quite as open as, for example, Skyrim, but the individual sections are quite large and can be explored freely. The Nemesis System also reflects the player’s actions, making it seem like the world is constantly evolving.

The Long Dark

The world finds itself in a post-apocalyptic era, leaving the player stranded in a freezing Canadian wasteland. The Long Dark has a story mode in the form of Wintermute, which guides players through a largely straightforward path that teaches them the basics of survival. Although this option is fine, it is merely an appetizer to The Long Dark‘s Survival mode. As its title implies, this section is all about persevering for as long as possible against the overwhelming challenges offered by the weather, cold, and wildlife.

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The Long Dark is at its best when it just lets its users do their own thing. With death lurking around every corner, the game creates a constant sense of tension as players desperately attempt to keep their meters healthy in an environment that feels tailor-made to destroy them. The Long Dark is far from an easy game, although it does come with a variety of difficulty settings so that players can customize their experiences.

Gravity Rush 2

The underappreciated sequel to Gravity Rush, Gravity Rush 2 gives Kat a bigger playground to jump across. In this universe-swapping adventure, players will be taken to multiple locations, although the majority of their time will be spent in Jirga Para Lhao and Hekseville.

Gravity Rush 2‘s open-world is beautiful, large but not overwhelmingly so, and diverse. Like its predecessor, the sequel’s gravity-driven traversal system enhances the game’s world as it provides a unique way to interact with its highs and lows.

Conan Exiles

Funcom’s Conan Exiles has had an impressive shelf life, especially since the game launched to the definition of a mixed reception. Five years later and the survival title is still going strong, and some might argue it is better than ever. Set in the Conan the Barbarian universe, the game casts players as exiled warriors who are discarded in a cutthroat realm that has no patience for the weak or ill-prepared. In many ways, Conan Exiles plays out like a fairly straightforward survival game, particularly during a run’s opening few hours. However, the title casts a surprisingly wide net in terms of mechanics and reach.

Conan Exiles works well as an action RPG, and it even has a main questline that provides some direction for the first few dozen hours. Base-building and crafting are also central parts of the package, with the former being intrinsically linked to PvP. If someone prefers to focus on co-op or PvE, they can pick a server that does not allow PvP (which is more of a side bonus anyway). The Exiled Lands serves as a solid and big open-world, and Funcom has done a good job of expanding the map’s selection of biomes over the years.

Stranded Deep

One of the best open-world games on PS Plus for survival fans, Stranded Deep drops players in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and tells them to make the most of a bad situation. As the terrain is procedurally generated, each run is at least partially unique, even if players generally have to follow the same steps.

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In terms of gameplay, Stranded Deep sticks close to the genre’s blueprint. Players need to monitor their health, build shelter, find food, and survive against wildlife. The environment sets Beam Team’s game apart from the crowd.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

Ubisoft has cornered a slice of the open-world market. The publisher’s franchises, mainly Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, tend to stick fairly closely to a formula, although each entry tweaks a few things. While these are all good games, by this point, someone likely knows whether they are for them or not. As Ubisoft’s games tend to share a few common traits, people who are not fans of the company’s biggest IPs might be tempted to just ignore Immortals Fenyx Rising, an open-world game that was added in March 2023 to PS Plus Extra.

While not completely removed from Ubisoft’s other projects, Immortals Fenyx Rising definitely has its own identity, especially since the title is clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Beyond sharing a visual style, the game utilizes a flashy hack and slash combat system that blends melee with ranged options. The campaign also has quite a few optional puzzles, and while there are a number of side quests, they are not overabundant. Immortals Fenyx Rising is a fun footnote in Ubisoft’s legacy.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Originally released during the PS3 era, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning received a remaster in 2020. More than anything, this version helped put the game back on the market as it was not the easiest product to come by for a few years. Kingdoms of Amalur is a relatively straightforward fantasy RPG, and its story should not hold too many surprises for veterans of the genre. However, the game’s world is refreshingly colorful and vibrant, helping to set it apart from some of its contemporaries.

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While somewhat dated in this day and age, Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning‘s gameplay is nevertheless a great deal of fun. Taking a few hints from hack and slash titles, the combat system is fluid, fast-paced, and explosive.

Prey

Set on a space station, Prey puts players in Morgan Yu’s shoes as he investigates the Talos 1 after it has been invaded by an alien threat. Combining elements of horror, stealth, and Metroidvania gameplay, Prey doesn’t handhold players, allowing them to explore the environment at their own risk.

Talos 1 is not as big of a location as some other open-world games, but it serves as a detailed and immersive sandbox filled with secrets to uncover and challenges to take on.

Infamous: Second Son

All the Infamous games on PS Plus Premium are worth playing. While Cole’s entries are highly rated, Second Son tends to get overlooked due to its (relatively) early release in the PS4’s lifecycle. Despite coming out within a year of the console’s launch, Infamous: Second Son is still one of the best-looking games on the PS4, and its iteration of Seattle is incredible.

As Delsin Rowe unlocks new powers and ways to interact with the world, Second Son grows into something truly special. This is also a pretty short open-world game, presenting a nice alternative to the RDR2s and Horizon Zero Dawns of the world.

Batman: Arkham City

Rocksteady revitalized the superhero genre with its Arkham trilogy. Expanding considerably upon Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City unleashes the Dark Knight on a large prison that is basically a section of Gotham.

While the story is quite linear and can be completed within 15 hours, Arkham City does contain plenty of other activities to distract Batman, be it the Riddler challenges or quests featuring DC villains such as Deadshot. Arkham City is a near-perfect open-world game and shows that the use of a map is far more important than its size.

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