Vlad Mazanko is Ukraine-based gaming enthusiast, writing about the industry since 2013 and covering everything from games and studios to movies and TV shows. He joined the Valnet family back in 2021, with past works featured at TheGamer and DualShockers. Over the years, he has worked on news, guides, lists, and reviews, always aiming to ensure a combination of factual accuracy and an engaging overall read.
The open-world genre has often served as something of a benchmark for how far gaming has come as a medium. Combining massive and immersive seamless virtual worlds, cinematic narratives driven by memorable characters, and exciting exploration full of freedom and adventure in one alluring package, some of the most iconic and acclaimed games of all time belong to the open-world family. From Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption 2 to The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring — it’s impossible to deny these games’ global impact.
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The eighth generation of video game consoles (PS4 & Xbox One) was among the most abundant periods for open-world games, with many of the most popular titles released and modern franchises established. But what about the current generation so far? While the upcoming GTA 6 is already poised to shake up the entire industry in just a few months, let’s explore some of the best open-world games released during the ninth console generation. While the “flawless” part is definitely subjective, the games below are some of the highest-rated over the past few years, representing the top-tier offerings from the modern open-world lexicon.
Just to make it absolutely clear, the focus here is only on games released natively on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and not available on last-gen devices.
Ghost Of Yotei
Perfecting An Already Unique Open-World DNA
Sucker Punch’s unique approach to its samurai-focused action-adventure series resulted in subsequent games that don’t have numbers in their titles. These entries feel almost standalone in their appeal, bringing original stories and characters with each new game and not requiring players to experience its predecessors. While Ghost of Tsushima’s DNA is unmistakable when playing Ghost of Yotei, the new game managed to improve on almost everything from the original, perfecting the series’ signature flow of brutal action, tight narratives, and the true spirit of adventure in a drop-dead gorgeous virtual Japan.
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Ghost of Yotei works perfectly no matter how players approach it. Whether you look for a condensed, cinematic story centered on action and narrative with little to no fluff or, on the contrary, value its less curated free-roam side — it’s the near-perfect blend of the two. Add some of the prettiest visuals in the genre this generation and combat as deep and satisfying as it is flashy and approachable, and you’ve got an alluring mix of a game that’s hard to put down. In the realm of modern open-world titles, Ghost of Yotei is truly flawless, fulfilling its promise to be the ultimate sword-wielding adventure.
Forza Horizon 6
You Don’t Even Need To Love Cars To Love This
It’s amazing how many modern games (and not just open-world titles) are set in Japan these days, but what’s even more amusing is how we still haven’t had enough of it. Unlike the historical side of the country, though, Forza Horizon 6 embraces its contemporary allure, delivering the setting that series fans have been craving for years, and doing it with a bang. Even if FH6 is very light on innovation and offers mostly minor evolutionary changes, its setting and map alone are enough to hook even players who are usually indifferent to driving sims.
Forza Horizon 6: Best Cars for Each Class
If you want to dominate every race type and every class, then you’re going to want to know the Forza Horizon 6 meta car list.
And it’s easy to see why: every minute spent in Forza Horizon 6 is a great time, so why change things too much? Tons of side activities and racing events, hundreds of detailed and customizable cars, flexible difficulty, and ongoing seasonal challenges and game modes. All that aside, just cruising around a beautifully realized Japan, listening to an awesome score no matter the radio station, gathering fun collectibles, and enjoying smooth driving feels almost like therapy after a long day at work. Forza Horizon 6 is an absolute masterclass in its own subgenre, simply unreachable by the competition for almost a decade now.
Build your perfect top ten one reveal at a time.
Build your perfect top ten one reveal at a time.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
This Gen’s Ultimate Open-World Medieval RPG
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 represents one of the biggest leaps in quality across the board from an original game to its sequel, standing head and shoulders above the first entry. In fact, the game has already garnered a reputation as this generation’s ultimate open-world medieval RPG, standing side by side with titans like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim. On top of that, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 represents one of the most immersive games ever made, competing with Red Dead Redemption 2 in this regard, and delivering a world and characters that feel alive even when you do nothing while exploring Bohemia.
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The biggest achievement with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, though, is how thoroughly the developers addressed all the issues from the original, fully capitalizing on its unique promise. The sequel isn’t just a better game in every regard; it’s miles more fun in its story and gameplay flow, achieving just the right balance of meticulous attention to historical detail and an engaging moment-to-moment presence in this world as Henry. Everything you do or say really matters in KCD 2, while the central narrative is so tight this time around that it simply grabs you by the neck and pulls you in for an unforgettable journey.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Not A Revolution, But A Perfect Refinement
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is yet another example of the total domination of open-world sequels in this era of gaming when compared to last-gen, where many of those popular franchises were founded in the first place. When it comes to Death Stranding 2, many fans were surprised by the sequel’s announcement, thinking that the game was unnecessary and wouldn’t be able to add anything truly substantial to Hideo Kojima’s own established “strand” subgenre. Upon its arrival, though, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach proved there’s still tons of potential left in this fascinating series, bringing both the gameplay and visuals to new heights while notably enriching its core formula in every way.
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In a genre as popular and expansive as open-world games, there are always going to be excellent but overlooked titles like these.
When compared to the original, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a much more freedom-focused and flexible game, entrusting players with tons of traversal and building tools and even vehicles right from the get-go, and allowing them to truly carve their own path through its vast new territories of post-apocalyptic Australia, full of distinct biomes. With the basics already established, like any decent sequel, DS2 focuses instead on making its moment-to-moment interactions more fun, tossing in some truly spectacular scenes, creative episodes, and unforgettable boss encounters.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Its Only Flaw Is Being Way Too Generous
Just like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth embodies an astounding step up in everything when compared to the already acclaimed FF7 Remake. From the sheer size of the world and a generational leap in visuals to a much bigger array of activities, a more nuanced story and characters, and drastically improved exploration and combat — Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is almost twice as long, and, as some say, almost twice as fun. In many respects, it’s the kind of game that studios just don’t make anymore, combining a winning old-school approach to story and nostalgia with all the modern achievements to deliver the best of both worlds.
With FF7 Rebirth, the only possible issue for some is that Square Enix literally over-delivers in trying to make the game as big as it is, packing so many side quests, plotlines, and activities into a single title. Of course, it’s hardly a shortcoming for most players, especially given how modern gamers constantly calculate value based on a game’s length. Trust me: you won’t be sold short with this one. With Final Fantasy 7 Revelation already announced and shaping up to be even more ambitious and grander than this spectacular middle chapter, now is probably the best time to dive into this classic reimagining that’ll undoubtedly take its place as one of the best trilogies ever made.
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From hidden gems to major releases, 2026 has already been a hotbed of 10/10 open-world games, and we’re not even halfway through the year.
