10 Best PC Games That You Must Play [2023]

When we hear the word Open World Games, we instantly get an idea about a game, where players are allowed to do anything they want. Some people like me instantly get flashbacks to Old GTA Games, which were kind of the first to genuinely highlight Open World Gameplay. Well, apart from Grand Theft Auto Games. We have other open-world games, that you shouldn’t miss on.

These games available for PC are a must-play. That is to say, they all feature incredible plots, graphics, features, and tremendous open-world gameplay potential. Lastly, do not judge these games based on their rankings. All are in no particular order, and each one of them is unique in its own way.

Here are our picks for the Best PC games to try out!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Release Date: 18 May, 2015.
• Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive.
• Developer: CD Projekt Red.

Starting off our list, with the great Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This game is everything an Open World Games fan could ask for. The graphics are incredible, the level of detailing is next level, and most importantly its story is one of the best you ask for.

So The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set in a unique fantasy world. It features Monsters, Dwarves, Elves, Ghosts, and all sorts of creatures. The map is quite huge and has several regions. A Large portion of the open world is demolished by a war between two empires. The Game setting is really something out of a book, featuring Monsters and Civilians in the same world.

Apart from its great storyline, The Witcher 3 also has some extra-ordinary Open World Gameplay.

The Witcher 3 has great detailing to stuff like Books, Crafting, Upgrading Powers, Sword, and whatnot. Other than that, you can explore beautiful villages, talk with people, do side-missions, play cards, have duels, upgrade armors, meditate, hunt, and last but not least go to brothels.

The Witcher 3 frequently viewed as a standout amongst other open-world games is without a doubt worth playing. The game’s story is so impressive, and the level of detailing is simply stunning. For me, the game’s setting is really cool, as there is a bunch of fantasy stuff joined with real life. Lastly, The Witcher 3 also has additional content, so once you get going. There is just so much to explore.

Pros:

• The backgrounds and environments in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt look incredibly beautiful and have a lot of details.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt does a great job of perfectly immersing you in its continent.
• The combat is designed very well, as it is very satisfying and the hits feel heavy.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt boasts gorgeous graphics that bring the game’s world to life.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features some of the best side quests ever created in gaming history.
• The choices you make throughout the game have a major effect on the overall story.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has multiple endings that add a lot of replay value to the game.

Cons:

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has very long loading times that can kill the pace of your playthrough.
• There are a lot of systems and mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players to understand, such as the alchemy and crafting systems.
• The sense of range during combat can be a bit hard to measure because of the big hitboxes.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• Release Date: 5 December 2019.
• Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive.
• Developer: Rockstar Games.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is currently the fan-favorite Open World Game. The game took 8 years of development and highlights a plot set in the 1899 Wild West period.

The game plot starts with Outlaw Arthur Morgan in the United States. Arthur is a member of the outlaw gang Van Der Linde who is ordered to leave the city. Before they leave, however, the entire gang decides to rob everything that comes their way.

What’s so good about Red Dead Redemption 2 is the level of detailing in its marvelous Open World Gameplay. For example, The Witcher 3 allows you to play guent. However, in Red Dead Redemption 2 you can play Poker, Blackjack, dominoes, Five Finger Fillet, and all those classic American games.

Apart from that, Red Dead Redemption 2 also forces players to hunt, which is a vital part of the game. Hunting gets you food, money, materials, and other resources for further crafting. Moreover, there are dozens of animals, heritage, types of cities, and whatnot in the game.

The combat system is really like the Wild West. Gunfights are the fundamental piece of the game, and those Cowboy fights you have seen in movies are part of the game. Anyway, the game features dozens of weapons, these include rifles, shotguns, bows, repeaters, and most importantly revolvers.

Like other Rockstar Titles, Red Dead Redemption 2 is no different. The game has a lively environment, beautiful landscapes, excellent narrative, huge maps, unbelievable graphics, and most importantly an attractive story. I don’t think you have done justice to yourself if you haven’t played Red Dead Redemption 2.

Pros:

• The graphics look incredibly stunning and do an amazing job of immersing you in a very detailed environment.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 features an open world that feels real and alive, with many things to do.
• The quests and missions are incredibly unique and offer a very thrilling gameplay experience.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 puts a lot of focus and attention on its smaller details, adding to the immersion.
• The music is incredibly fitting and stays memorable even after you finish Red Dead Redemption 2.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 has some incredibly talented voice actors that bring the characters to life.
• There is a wide variety of customization options available for you to have a personalized gameplay experience.

Cons:

• Red Dead Redemption 2’s wanted and honor systems can be a bit unfair and might get very frustrating.
• The animations can sometimes look very unrealistic and strange.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 does not have a good fast-travel system, which can waste a lot of your time.
• The keyboard and mouse controls of Red Dead Redemption 2 are not the best and feel awkward to use.
• Your horse is a bit too clunky to control.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

• • Steam Reviews: Very Positive.
  • Developer: Ubisoft.
  • Release Date: 6 October, 2018

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey isn’t entirely an Assassin’s Creed Game, actually, it has new RPG style-focused gameplay. Nonetheless, it does feature a timeless Open World Gameplay combined with an excellent story.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Plot is really long and weird. Anyhow, I’ll sum it up. Our player was thrown off a cliff by his father in childhood. Somehow, our player was rescued and now he attempts to restructure his leftover family. Along the way, he comes to war, helping people, and ends up doing many side missions.

The setting is really the most interesting part of the Odyssey. The setting is inspired by Ancient Greece, and similarly, you will meet with a lot of historical people like Plato, Herodotus, Socrates, and Pythagoras. Secondly, there is also a list of historical places you can explore. These include the Athenes, the Statue of Zeus, the Agora of Athens, and many more.

Like other open-world games listed above, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey also has a wide range of inventory, farming, and craft options. Moreover, decisions and interactions can completely change the game. I once took an alternative option in a mission, and that person involved in the option died.

Some fans are not particularly happy that this game isn’t true Assassins Creed Anymore. But from what I’ve read in various forums and game stores. Right now, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is being called the best Assassins Creed game ever.

Pros:

• There are a wide variety of very good side missions in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that are very fun to complete.
• The combat is great for casual players who want to sit back and have a relaxed experience.
• All of the side missions in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey have unique cutscenes.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey features a vast open world that you can explore and mess around with.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey allows you to explore several cities, islands, and other locations.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey features a dialogue system that allows you to choose how you want to respond.

Cons:

• The pacing of the campaign is incredibly slow.
• You have a limit on how many abilities you can use in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, unlike Origins.
• There are no instructions or guides in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey that tell you what to do next.
• You cannot take the side of different factions and most of the choices are very linear.

Death Stranding

• Steam Reviews: Very Positive.
• Developer: Kojima Productions.
• Release Date: 14 Jul, 2020.

Death Stranding is maybe the most intriguing game on our rundown. This game features cinematic gameplay and it is designed by none other than the well-known Hideo Kojima.

The game is filled with extraordinarily long cutscenes, emotional stages, and on top of that an incredible story. The game starts with Sam Porter, played by the actor Norman Reedus. Sam is a delivery man in apoplectic America.

In Death Stranding, there is a constant Timefall run, which is basically an acid run. Apart from that, there is an afterlife near-death experience involved, in which players encounter different invisible creatures. In this whole weird and futuristic world. Our character Sam porter somehow gets involved with important tasks to rebuild America. Afterward, the game story dwells with amazing twists, open-world gameplay, and a mind-blowing story.

Death Stranding is the most incredible futuristic game I’ve ever played. When I first played it on PlayStation 4, I always thought about how could someone generate this epic idea. The game’s open-world potential is incredible. As a delivery man, you can explore and do so much stuff.

The graphics are excellent, featuring huge landscapes with some of the best weathers I’ve seen. If you are in for incredible open-world gameplay that features an impactful story. You should go with Death Stranding Eyes closed!

Pros:

• Death Stranding is an incredibly well-optimized game, as it runs smoothly with little to no issues, especially on PC.
• The graphics of Death Stranding look stunning.
• The story of Death Stranding is written very well and will do a great job of engaging you from start to finish.
• Death Stranding features some incredibly captivating characters.
• The overall aesthetic of Death Stranding feels like a mix of western and Japanese cultures.
• Death Stranding has multiplayer features that encourage players to help each other out.

Cons:

• Some of the dialogue in Death Stranding can feel awkwardly placed sometimes and lead to unrealistic interactions.
• The start of Death Stranding is not paced very well and has the potential to turn away many new players.
• Death Stranding does not have the best controls, as they can be inconsistent.
• There might be way too much walking involved in the gameplay of Death Stranding for some players.

Mafia 2: Definitive Edition

• Steam Reviews: Mixed.
• Developer: Hangar 13.
• Release Date: 19 May, 2020.

If you are a big fan of movies like Godfather and Goodfellas, particularly those WW2 Mob movies. Then, I guess Mafia 2 from Hangar 13 won’t disappoint you.

Considered to be one of the all-time great Mob Games. Mafia 2 revolves around Post WW2, when our character Vito Scalleta returns from Sicily, after being rescued by Don Calo Vizzini. Upon Returning, Vito finds out that his family is poor and is constantly being threatened by a loan shark. Afterward, he notices the importance of money and therefore ends up joining the Clemente Crime Family, who does all the bad work in Empire Bay.

The graphics, visuals, setting, and overall gameplay is so timeless. Similarly, the mob gameplay is really nice, and when playing you really get the feeling of being a true mobster. Mafia 2 features fantastic open-world gameplay. The maps aren’t that big, nor it has a variety of cars.

However, the game does feature fantastic weaponry and most importantly it has a very lively open-world environment. When playing, you will be instantly attached to its superb gameplay. Players can explore Empire Bay, Loot Shops, Drive Vehicles, Have a shootout with cops, buy new weapons and also tune cars.

Note, that we are talking about the Mafia 2: Definitive Edition, which is the remaster of the original Mafia 2.
2K Games improved the graphics and many more things, which really puts Mafia 2 back on the track in 2020.

Pros:

• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition features a great open world that feels alive due to the realistic NPCs and surroundings.
• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition does a great job of setting the atmosphere and portraying the feel of the 1950s.
• The story is great, as it is written very well and shows the criminal aspects in a very realistic way.
• The definitive edition of Mafia 2 includes all of the original additional DLC content.
• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition has made great improvements to the graphics, especially when it comes to the character models and surroundings.

Cons:

• The map in Mafia 2: Definitive Edition does not feel too big and leads to the world feeling cramped or restrictive.
• There is little to no variety when it comes to the cars in Mafia 2: Definitive Edition.
• A lot of the bugs from the original Mafia 2 remain in the definitive edition, which is very disappointing.
• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition requires way too much space on your system, almost 6x as much as the original.

Far Cry 5

• Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive.
• Developer: Ubisoft
• Release Date: 27 March, 2018.

Far Cry Games have always had a special place in my heart. These games are really extraordinary, and what’s so unique about them is that they feature the best villains ever. We look at the likes of Vaas in Far Cry 3 and Pagin in Far Cry 4. These villains completely turn around the experience, that you would normally experience in an average open-world game.

Far Cry 5 features first-person gameplay and is set in Montana, United States. You will play as Junior Deputy, and do everything to stop the villain Joseph Seed. The villain is a preacher who has false thoughts that he is chosen and forces people to salvation, thus ending the world. As a deputy, your job will be to stop his operation.

The open-world gameplay of Far Cry 5 is really the best we have seen. You can explore the huge country of Montana, drive cars/bikes/boats/helicopters, and whatnot. Other than that, you can also do fishing, hire NPCs that are your bodyguards, upgrade weapons, craft, hunt, and train your pets. There are dozens of features, that are circled around its incredible open-world gameplay.

The Customization shop, allows you to buy hundreds of vehicles. These vehicles can be further modified. The same way goes for guns and many other items. Moreover, there are just so many options for customizations and the overall potential for exploring is incredible.

To conclude, Far Cry 5’s open-world gameplay is really addicting. Every day, you will be involved in some sort of grinding, so you purchase more vehicles, guns, perks, items, and many more.

Pros:

• Far Cry 5 features a remarkable lineup of enthralling and captivating characters.
• The sprawling and intricately crafted open-world environment of Far Cry 5 is a breathtaking spectacle.
• Far Cry 5’s “Far Cry Arcade” mode offers an extensive array of player-generated content.
• The partner system in Far Cry 5 is incredible and opens up the potential for some very memorable moments.
• Far Cry 5 has some great physics that looks very realistic and makes the game much more immersive.

Cons:

• The writing of the story in Far Cry 5 might not live up to your expectations and feel a bit dull.
• The storyline of Far Cry 5 fails to achieve excellence.
• The repetitive abductions in Far Cry 5 can swiftly grow wearisome and repetitive.

Watch Dogs 2

• Steam Reviews: Very Positive.
• Developer: Ubisoft
• Release Date: 29 November 2016.

Another Ubisoft game on our list is Watch Dogs 2. The Watch Dogs trilogy is always talked about when discussing open-world games. Watch Dogs 2 our topic today, features a very exotic open-world gameplay, that is set in San Francisco.

Watch Dogs 2 features a really great story that is all circled around futuristic tech and hacking. Players play as Marcus Holloway, in a corrupt world, where everything is controlled by a company called Blume.

This company controls everyone’s life through a ctOS technology, that drives data from traffic, cameras, smartphones, internet, and any electronic device you can think of.

Our player Marcus somehow discovers the way Blume exploits people and therefore goes on a mission to uncover the reality. On this journey, he meets with a group of other talented hackers and together they form an anonymous hacking group called deadsec.

The open-world gameplay of Watch Dogs 2 is excellent. You can hack anything you want. That goes on to say, you can control traffic lights, civilians’ smartphones, vehicles, motives, and whatnot. Just to clarify, Watch Dogs 2 has hacking and tech stuff beyond your thinking.

Apart from the excellent gameplay. The movement is parkour-like, and the overall combat has a lot of stealth involved. Further, players can drive cars, explore San Francisco, upgrade tech, clothes, and many more things. The open-world gameplay is very similar to GTA V. However, in Watch Dogs 2 case, there is the potential for hacking, which makes it absolutely great.

Pros:

• Watch Dogs 2 builds upon the gameplay of the original Watch Dogs, offering a more fluid and enjoyable experience.
• There is a wide variety of unique missions in Watch Dogs 2.
• The hacking system has been greatly improved in Watch Dogs 2.
• Watch Dogs 2 features a great story that will keep you engaged throughout the entire game.
• There are a lot of references and various Easter eggs spread throughout Watch Dogs 2.
• Watch Dogs 2 has a soundtrack that is composed very well and does a great job of adding to the atmosphere.

Cons:

• There are various bugs and glitches present in Watch Dogs 2 that can interfere with your gameplay experience
• The AI in Watch Dogs 2 is incredibly inconsistent in different parts of the campaign mode.
• Watch Dogs 2 has some pacing issues that can kill your momentum and turn away a lot of players.

Just Cause 3

• Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive.
• Developer: Avalanche Studious/Square Enix.
• Release Date: 1 December 2015.

Some people might hate seeing Just Cause 3, and would prefer Just Cause 4. But, to be honest, anyone who has played both games would know that Just Cause 3 is miles ahead of Just Cause 4.

Just Cause 3 like other Just Cause Games starts with Rico Rodrigues, who returns to the Mediterranean republic of Medici. Rico’s job is to rescue them from the brutal power of the dictator General Di Ravello. In this journey, players encounter some incredible missions that feature one of the best stunts you will see.

Moreover, the game like other Just Cause’s features incredible combat and ruthless chaos. You can literally destroy anything you want in the game, almost all objects can be destroyed to pieces. Players can drive cars, vehicles, boats, Airplanes, and many more things.

Moreover, they can also use Rico’s incredible grappling hook, parachuting, and most importantly Wing Suit at all times. Likewise, there are dozens of things you can do in this huge map. Not gonna lie, I enjoy attaching people to cars, and then further attaching cars to airplanes. The overall map is quite huge, featuring all sorts of landscapes.

The game’s open-world meta also allows you to request airdrops, that feature vehicles, guns, items, and much more. Just Cause 3 also features a nice ability tab, that always motivates you to spend more time in the game and unlock new abilities.

The game’s campaign is a bit boring, as you will encounter repetitive missions over and over again. However, the open-world gameplay is phenomenal and endless.

Pros:

• Just Cause 3 allows you to explore the world in various ways and each way offers a unique experience.
• It is incredibly satisfying and fun to use Just Cause 3’s signature grapple hook and parachute.
• The open world of Just Cause 3 is full of unique environments, including mountains, forests, and cities.
• Just Cause 3 has very satisfying movement and smooth controls.

Cons:

• The missions in Just Cause 3 are not designed well.
• Just Cause 3 has been criticized for its poor optimization.
• The enemy AI is not programmed very well in Just Cause 3 and can do some unrealistic actions sometimes.
• While the open world of Just Cause 3 is beautiful, it is still lacking the depth that most good open worlds have.

Fallout 4

• Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive.
• Developer: Bethesda.
• Release Date: 10 November 2015.

Another game that features a wide range of customization, crafting, and upgrade options is Fallout 4. This game has everything that an open-world games fan could ask for. Players play as Sole Survivor, who is one of the few people that survived the Nuclear Attack, and now lives in post-apocalyptic Boston.

What’s so special about Fallout 4 is obviously its massive open-world gameplay. Players in Fallout 4 can build bases, add power lines, water, garden, neighbor, generator, and many more things you can think of. Further, players can also de-construct any place they want, and then use their resources for their own base building. Not only that but they can also literally break down any material and use it in some way to craft their items.

Apart from base-building options, the game has mind-blowing Weapon Customization and crafting. The game allows you to modify over 50 guns, and change the way they look or also improve their stats.

To explain why I said mind-blowing is because there are more than 700 modifications available. You can craft or modify them by adding lasers, barrels, mags, and so many more things. Now if you think that base building, crafting, and weapon customization are more than enough.

Well, then you are wrong because Fallout 4 also has a character progression system through which you can improve intelligence, agility, perception, strength, and many more things.

Similarly, there is the protagonist’s level, which keeps increasing with points. Lastly, these special abilities to further enhance your skills can be unlocked through perks that are all part of the game.

Apart from these usual features, the game also has excellent graphics and the city of Boston also looks good. For me personally, though, Fallout 4 has without a doubt really good open-world gameplay. However, what I really admire about is its emotional story right from the beginning to the end.

Pros:

• The crafting system allows you to create your own weapons, settlements, and armor.
• Fallout 4 puts a high level of detail and attention into the post-apocalyptic setting.
• The combat system in Fallout 4 is very fun and allows for some very dynamic action sequences.
• Fallout 4 has a variety of options that allow you to approach the gameplay with various weapons and the VATS system.
• Some of the locations in Fallout 4 are designed very well and look amazing.
• Fallout 4 allows you to create your own character.

Cons:

• The story of Fallout 4 can get a bit boring at the start and you might lose your interest in it entirely.
• Sometimes the dialogue can become incredibly simplistic and lead to the character interactions feeling predictable.
• There are some bugs and glitches that can interfere with your progression in the side quests.

GTA V

If you are a fan of free-roaming and open-world games in general, then Grand Theft Auto V is the perfect game for you. As it features one of the biggest open worlds ever made in video game history. In addition to that, you get a fully fleshed-out campaign mode, incredible character creation, a wide variety of vehicles, weapons, and many more features.

Grand Theft Auto V’s story follows its 3 main protagonists, formally known as Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips. All 3 of them have widely different circumstances and personalities, but their lives are still connected through the crimes and heists they commit. The story is heartfelt and features incredibly thrilling moments with some very tough decisions that you have to make. 

You start Grand Theft Auto V in the single-player campaign mode, as you try to carry out a heist and escape the cops at the same time. This first heist acts as a tutorial and introduces you to the very basic mechanics of the game. Once this “tutorial” is completed, you are allowed to access the best part of the game; the online features.

To say that Grand Theft Auto Online is massive would be an understatement, as you can take part in a limitless number of activities in GTA Online. These can include; creating your own custom character, owning entire buildings or businesses, making an exotic car collection, and many more things.

Additionally, you can specialize in certain things like races, death matches, and even parkour. This infinite amount of content is possible because the community can create custom events that are integrated into the game, with full support from the developers.

GTA Online also gives you the freedom to go crazy with your environment. You can do almost anything; from hijacking cars to infiltrating a military base so that you can steal their weapons, or even kill other online players. And these players are not lacking at all, as the game maintains one of the biggest online player bases to this day, making the world feel even more alive.

Though, since Grand Theft Auto V is almost a decade old, it can create some setbacks, like a painfully long loading screen. Despite this, the graphics still manage to look breathtakingly beautiful, with some beautifully detailed and realistic environments that add to the immersive experience of GTA V.

Pros:

• The campaign storyline in Grand Theft Auto V is immensely engrossing and entertaining.
• The game confronts you with tough decisions that have a significant impact on the game’s outcome.
• GTA V offers a plethora of modes with boundless content to explore.
• GTA Online is an expansive world filled with countless activities to engage in.
• The game features an extensive range of options for character customization.

Cons:

• Grand Theft Auto V is notorious for its lengthy loading screens.
• Earning money to purchase desired items requires a significant amount of grinding.

Takeaways

I really wanted to do a brief overview of all these games, so anyone reading out there can at least know which game is most suitable for him. Just to clarify, I’ll say once again, all of these games are worth playing, and comparing them to each other is injustice.

If you are a big fan of open-word games, simply start playing these games. Moreover, it’s really a great time to start playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Watch Dogs 2, and Far Cry 5, because these games are now going to be replaced by new ones. I don’t really recommend skipping out on these and jumping on the latest ones.