Best Open-World Games On PlayStation Plus Extra And Premium

With an array of games to select from, simply deciding on a game to engage with on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium can be daunting. The answer is to discover one game that you can commit dozens of hours to, isolate yourself in a dimly-lit room, and spend hours on that singular title while pretending the rest don’t exist. Open-world titles are an excellent choice for this method, and there are numerous options to choose from in the PS Plus library.

We’ve compiled several of the finest examples below, and if that’s not sufficient, you can consult GameSpot’s compilations on the best PS3 games to stream on PS Plus Premium, the top classic PlayStation games on the service, and the best overall games on PS Plus Extra and Premium.

All of the titles on this compilation are accessible for both PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. We’ve organized our selections in alphabetical order.

Assassin’s Creed III may have been a disappointing sequel to one of the finest game trilogies ever, but Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag was a stellar instance of course correction that reinstated the franchise on its path. Gracing newer hardware with momentum on its side, this nautical Assassin’s Creed title highlighted freedom and discovery with its vast world, enjoyable diversions, and numerous rival pirates to confront across the treacherous seas.

Read our Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag review.

Ubisoft might catch criticism for crafting sandboxes that are too expansive, yet you cannot argue with the outcomes when you’re placed into multiple sandboxes that are thrilling to explore. From Asgard to whimsical medieval England, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla unfolds in a realm that is stunning to witness and brimming with vitality. There’s always something to pursue; you can devote hours chasing the Viking way of life to your heart’s satisfaction.

Read our Assassin’s Creed Valhalla review.

Indeed, we’re bending the rules here since this technically comprises three games, but each is worth experiencing. The original Assassin’s Creed featured a compelling yet limited world to navigate, an issue its sequels would address by becoming larger and bolder over the years. Assassin’s Creed II offered a beautiful exploration of ancient Italy, Brotherhood built upon the sequel with new devices, and Revelations concluded the Ezio trilogy in Constantinople. Ezio’s journey is where Assassin’s Creed firmly established itself as one of Ubisoft’s heavyweight franchises, and despite the fact that the Italian assassin has been succeeded by other heroes since his tale concluded, this trilogy remains an epic adventure that’s deserving of exploration.

Read our Assassin’s Creed II review.

While we are still anticipating Sony to unveil a major remake of one of From Software’s finest games ever, there’s no detriment in immersing yourself in this PS4 classic to experience the dark and atmospheric realm of Yharnam firsthand. Charged with tension and Gothic threats, Yharnam is more than prepared to take you and its secrets to the grave, yet high stakes bring high rewards in this intense masterpiece.

Read our Bloodborne review.

In terms of sheer magnitude, you must commend Ubisoft for attempting to distill the entirety of the US into an extensive journey of land, sea, and aerial travel. The Crew 2 is a robust racing title, featuring underrated elements that facilitate seamless transitions between various modes of transport and a vibrant world filled with circuits to race through. It’s colossal, presenting ample variety, and the brilliance of its design permits some truly grand races across a continent.

Read our The Crew 2 review.

Cyberpunk 2077 debuted in a challenging state, but by the time it became available on PS Plus Extra and Premium in July, it had significantly improved. The most captivating aspect of Cyberpunk 2077 could be the open world itself: Night City is artfully crafted, and cruising down its dense avenues is a delight (until a rival gang opens fire on you). The PS Plus version does not encompass the acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion, but you can enjoy the complete base game.

Read our Cyberpunk 2077 review.

Dead Island 2 endured a lengthy journey to launch: it was initially announced in 2014, and was first under the guidance of a different developer, but the edition that Dambuster Studios ultimately unveiled in 2023 proved to be enjoyable. Set in a quarantined Los Angeles 15 years after the events of the original, Dead Island 2 heavily focuses on hand-to-hand combat, enabling you to explore

its vast open realm with an assortment of mallets, blades, mining tools, and more in hand, obliterating the undead and absorbing the scenery.

Peruse our Dead Island 2 review.

Who would have imagined that a catastrophic event could lead to a perilous realm that’s so calming? While rampant terrorist factions, deadly spirits bound to this reality, and precipitation that ages you faster than teenagers admitting they’ve never heard of your favorite band do introduce some risk to Death Stranding’s environment, everything else is thrilling. It’s a soothing game with intriguing themes stemming from Hideo Kojima’s imagination, feeling wonderfully distinctive with its quirky concepts.

Peruse our Death Stranding review.

The Division features one of the most captivating settings to explore, a section of New York City that has been deserted except for factions of criminals who occupy Manhattan and have formed new empires within the renowned city. Although some of its gameplay might seem outdated compared to its sequel, there’s still an abundance to observe and accomplish in The Division if you’re a fan of wasteland wandering, as each area in this sandbox is a piece of haunting artistry.

Most gamers transitioned to The Division 2 years ago, yet the original title is still deserving of your attention if you’re new to the franchise.

Peruse our The Division review.

Nearly 15 years later, Skyrim continues to be one of the quintessential open-world experiences, providing you a vast fantasy landscape to investigate, whether that involves following the main quest line, disregarding it to uncover the entire map, or concentrating all your efforts on constructing a lovely home and finding a partner to wed. With Elder Scrolls VI still a distant speck in the future, now is as opportune a time as any to return to Skyrim and the Dragonborn.

Admittedly, the universe of Fallout 4 might be a radioactive wasteland inhabited by mutated monstrosities and survivors who aren’t averse to occasional cannibalism, but on the brighter side, you can traverse Boston and New England with a loyal canine friend. Besides having the best boy accompanying you, Fallout 4 also possesses a disturbingly harsh world to endure, fairly gratifying gunplay, and intriguing characters to encounter on your post-apocalyptic adventure.

Peruse our Fallout 4 review.

Far Cry 3 is evidence that the third occurrence is the charm. A significantly broadened open-world brimming with tropical peril, Far Cry 3 became the blueprint for every subsequent installment of the series. It features an impeccable blend of exploration, conflict, and development; the induced psychedelic journeys became a series hallmark; and it narrates a remarkable tale. The classic edition enhances the game for contemporary consoles, incorporates a plethora of DLC content, and even sends you on a hunting expedition against some of the most lethal creatures wandering the verdant terrain.

Peruse our Far Cry 3 review.

How do you enhance Far Cry 3? By discarding all the contemporary elements and substituting them with a neon-drenched homage to cheesy action cinema. Part sci-fi journey and part Hollywood spectacle, Blood Dragon is a briefer spin-off that takes all the essence of Far Cry 3 and hands it a laser gun so that it can defend itself against the creatures inhabiting the realm. It’s a compact Far Cry experience that recognizes its absurdity and revels in it.

Peruse our Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon review.

One of the most visually exquisite open-world games in recent memory, Ghost of Tsushima’s Japanese islands are vibrant and artistic expressions of creativity in which you can immerse yourself for hours. All the Mongol invaders might dim the digital tourism slightly, but that’s nothing that a well-honed weapon and adept swordsmanship can’t remedy in this delightful journey through blood-stained battlefields and authentic villages.

Peruse our Ghost of Tsushima review.

2018’s God of War possesses just enough sandbox attributes to qualify, but don’t anticipate investing too much time stopping to appreciate the Nordic scenery. An action game at its core, God of War excels at making Kratos appear more lethal than ever with its finely-tuned gameplay. Although you may not be focused on your surroundings during intense combat, at the very least you’ll be delivering vicious blows to adversaries in stunning locations that conceal a few secrets of their own.

Peruse our God of War review.

The original 3D GTA was an absolute phenomenon when it first launched in 2001, and it still holds up admirably today to be worth experiencing. Liberty City continues to be a vibrant playground, even if it’s somewhat subdued by today’s benchmarks, and the freedom the game allows you to create chaos remains uncommon among other open-world titles. This “Definitive

“Edition” was predominantly deemed mishandled at its inception, yet after a substantial update in late 2024, it has notably improved.

Gravity Rush 2 isn’t merely an exceptional continuation of a cherished PS Vita classic; it’s a densely packed exhibition of enhancing gameplay and harnessing untapped possibilities. Its mechanics are joyful in the liberation they offer to players; it features striking boss encounters; and it intertwines all these components with a captivating narrative. With environments that enhance and propel the action, this serves as a quintessential example of how to design a sequel.

Read our Gravity Rush 2 review.

Technically more of a metroidvania than a conventional open-world title, Hollow Knight still manages to encompass an astonishing amount of exploratory content that embodies the essence of the sandbox genre. Its excellence in crafting a delicately woven narrative filled with intense combat, challenging platforming, and exquisite graphics ensures that any objections regarding its inclusion on this roster are instantly invalidated. The Voidheart Edition showcases the game at its pinnacle, and if you’re seeking exceptional level design paired with shrewd enemies along with numerous secrets, Hollow Knight will win your affection.

Read our Hollow Knight review.

Emerging from the Killzone trenches and carving a new direction, Guerilla’s initial installment in the Horizon series is a visual delight. Aloy’s narrative and quest through a realm where humans have been dethroned as apex predators by hordes of feral robots presents a compelling premise, yet it’s the genuine effort and focus on the surroundings that makes the first Horizon such an enchanting experience. The sequel Forbidden West significantly expands upon its concepts and settings, but regarding first impressions, Horizon: Zero Dawn excels with its launch.

Read our Horizon Zero Dawn review.

Before it transformed feudal Japan into a lavish array of colors and bloodshed, developer Sucker Punch was unleashing chaos in Seattle with superpowers that made the alternative-rock capital a thrilling place to explore. The game remains strong, and as the main character Delsin Rowe acquires more abilities, you’ll find yourself able to unleash even more turmoil while tagging graffiti spots or freeing city districts from DUP control.

Read our Infamous: Second Son review.

The Long Dark’s interpretation of open-world survival can be harsh. It places you in the icy terrain of the Canadian wilderness and, in survival mode, relies on you to discover means to sustain yourself. If the ferocious wildlife doesn’t finish you off, starvation or frostbite might. Additionally, if you engage in permadeath mode, a single miscalculation could spell your doom. The narrative mode of the game is slightly more forgiving if you’d prefer to enjoy the environment without the concern of freezing to death during the night.

Read our The Long Dark review.

New York, New York, a name so remarkable they named it twice and allowed a web-slinger to practice his vigilante work there. In case you overlooked it the past couple of years, Insomniac’s adventure is the quintessential Spider-Man experience. It continues to look fantastic; it has a narrative that delivers emotional punches; and its mechanics will make you feel as though you truly possess the proportionate speed, strength, and agility of a spider-human. Moreover, all those Spidey-tools are quite impressive too.

Read our Marvel’s Spider-Man review.

Although there haven’t been drastic changes in the New York setting of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the game feels revitalized and lively due to how Insomniac refreshes the Spidey formula. A more compact Spider-Man experience filled with dynamic gameplay and breathtaking visuals, Miles’ inaugural adventure does not disappoint.

Read our Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales review.

Paradise Killer places you in the role of Lady Love Dies, the “investigation enthusiast”, who returns from exile to uncover the murders of the entire council just before the inception of Perfect 25. If that sounds nonsensical, don’t fret: Paradise Killer is an experience you must fully engage with to genuinely comprehend. It provides a stunning open world and challenges you to explore, seeking clues to resolve the “crime to end all crimes” and restore paradise to life. It’s an undeniably peculiar, yet immensely enjoyable open-world experience.

Read our Paradise Killer review.

A lengthy role-playing title that reminisces about a bygone era of fantasy, Pillars of Eternity serves as an ode to the past. Baldur’s Gate and Planescape: Torment are clear inspirations, yet Pillars of Eternity advances those frameworks with innovative ideas, more concise standalone narratives, and a genuine sense of advancement to create a contemporary interpretation of its influences.

With a creative direction that can solely be characterized as elaborate, Pillars of Eternity embodies both style and substance within a vast RPG offering.

Check out our Pillars of Eternity review.

The original Shadow of the Colossus was a refreshing experience when it launched in 2005, and many years later, its remake demonstrated its deserving status. A poignant narrative with ambitious architecture, the PS4 remake is a grand interpretation of the PS2 classic, delivering a captivating tale in a stunning environment. The landscape carries a melancholic aura that saturates every pixel, yet the battles against the Colossi, breathtaking audio-visual artistry, and the finest steed in gaming render it a timeless masterpiece.

Discover our Shadow of the Colossus review.

The choice to place Sonic in an expansive environment was unexpected when it was initially revealed, but what’s even more astonishing is that it functions remarkably well. Sonic Frontiers transports Sonic through a wormhole to the Starfall Islands, a collection of interconnected biomes resembling our actual world, albeit littered with rails, bounce pads, and rings. Sega describes Sonic Frontier’s world as a collection of “open zones” rather than a purely fully open-world experience, yet in practice, it feels like a remarkably unrestricted adventure, allowing Sonic to explore like never before.

Explore our Sonic Frontiers review.

Aiden Pearce may be the most lackluster Ubisoft protagonist ever, but at least the first Watch Dogs installment compensates for that dullness with a Chicago sandbox teeming with hacktivist endeavors. A blend of vigilantism, engaging online modes, and underrated hacking mechanics, the initial Watch Dogs still stands up impressively, and the open-world architecture inspires you to utilize the most potent device the world has ever seen: a smartphone with boundless battery life and an unbreakable LTE connection.

Read our Watch Dogs review.