Explore the top 14 best free open-world games to play right now! Discover vast landscapes, exciting storytelling, and adventures—all at no cost!
Free open-world games have a massive and loyal community thanks to their live services. Despite the high investment, developers continue to enter the genre, driven by the potential for gacha and in-app purchases. While some games fail due to low player numbers, others succeed, generating millions.
Let’s explore the top free open-world games available right now, highlighting the best and most successful titles you can dive into.
Table of Contents
List of Best Free Open-World Games
14. Lord of the Rings Online
- Platform: Windows, MacOS
- Release Date: April 24, 2007
- Genre: MMORPG
Lord of the Rings Online faithfully recreates J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, offering players an immersive experience in iconic locations like the Shire, Mines of Moria, and Lothlórien. Players can level up characters, select from various classes, races, and professions, and embark on epic adventures with friends, other players, or customizable AI soldiers. Despite its 2013 release and aging graphics, the game remains a beloved classic among fans.
13. RuneScape
- Platform: Browser, Windows, MacOS, Android
- Release Date: January 4, 2001
- Genre: MMORPG
RuneScape remains a timeless classic, evolving for 19 years to captivate both new and veteran players. With an expansive world to explore, you can journey through diverse locations like the medieval castles of Burthrope, the bustling harbors of Catherby, and the dangerous Wilderness. Engage in farming, trade with other players, and dive into this addictive, level-grinding experience.
Generally, you can play RuneScape for free. But many players claim it’s not worth playing without a membership as most of the thrilling content is tucked behind a paywall.
12. Unturned
- Platform: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Xbox Series
- Release Date: July 7, 2014
- Genre: MMO, Shooter, Adventure
Unturned is a free-to-play open-world game set in a zombie apocalypse. It combines elements of DayZ and Minecraft, offering a unique survival experience. Players can explore, loot, and choose their preferred playstyle – whether that’s going in guns blazing to attract zombies or sneaking around for a more stealthy approach. You’ll encounter other players, with the option to either engage in combat or form alliances; the choice is yours.
11. Dead Frontier 2
- Platform: Windows
- Release Date: September 5, 2018
- Genre: MMO, Shooter, Action
Dead Frontier 2 is the sequel to the beloved 2008 browser game, now featuring a third-person perspective and improved graphics. Set in a zombie outbreak, this horror survival game challenges you to scavenge for supplies, enhance your skills, and survive as one of the few remaining survivors. You can also collaborate, trade, and assist other players in this tense, unforgiving world.
10. Warframe
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series
- Release Date: March 26, 2013
- Genre: MMO, Action
Warframe is a free-to-play, fast-paced action RPG where you play as TENNO. Your skin, called a Warframe, is a bio-metal suit of untold power used to unleash unique abilities. Form a squad with your friends and charge into battle to earn valuable rewards upon completion of missions. Despite being released in 2013, its developer, Digital Extremes, continues to entice its player base with redeemable codes of goodies.
9. Tree of Savior
- Platform: Windows
- Release Date: March 28, 2016
- Genre: MMORPG
Tree of Savior is often seen as the spiritual successor to what Ragnarok Online 2 could have been. With its charming graphics, vast class and rank combinations, and hidden and advanced classes unlocked through special requirements, the game offers a deep and nostalgic experience.
It features an immersive soundtrack, thrilling dungeons, and over 200 unique boss monsters, making it a captivating choice for fans of the genre.
8. Tower of Fantasy
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS
- Release Date: December 16, 2021
- Genre: MMORPG, Action
Tower of Fantasy is a free, open-world MMORPG set in a futuristic setting where the old world has dwindling resources and a lack of energy. This forces humanity to leave Earth and relocate to Aida, a habitable alien planet. Aida is filled with mysteries and a looming threat that could spell disaster, creating a rich and engaging backdrop for exploration and adventure.
7. Sky: Children of the Light
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Release Date: July 18, 2019
- Genre: MMO, Casual, Adventure
Sky: Children of the Light, originally a mobile game and now available on PC, is a free-to-play open-world game that blends casual, cozy gameplay with adventure. Players can explore various enchanting locations, hang out with friends, meet new people, solve puzzles, and face trials to combat the Darkness.
Inspired by Journey, the game initially limits communication to chirps and gestures, allowing full interaction only after both players mutually agree to become friends.
6. Palia
- Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: August 10, 2023
- Genre: MMO, Casual, Adventure
Palia is a casual, indie, open-world adventure that’s packed with crafting, cooking, fishing, farming, and many more, all for free. If you’re a big fan of Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Rune Factory, you’ll definitely adore Palia. Explore a new and vibrant world full of colorful characters to interact with.
5. Tarisland
- Platform: Windows, Android
- Release Date: June 21, 2024
- Genre: MMORPG
Tarisland is a perfect game for players who adore a classical free MMORPG. Clearing dungeons, boss hunting, leveling characters, EXP grinding, endless missions, trades, mounts, choosing class specializations, and more. There’s so much to do in this addictive and visually pleasing game. Tarisland has yet to be officially released on Steam, but it’s already out and playable with its official launcher.
4. The First Descendant
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
- Release Date: July 2, 2024
- Genre: MMO, Shooter
The First Descendant was released on June 30, 2024, as a third-person looter shooter with stunning graphics. Play as unique characters and party up with friends for high-action gunplay, taking on missions, facing huge boss monsters, looting, and diving into interesting storytelling.
3. Once Human
- Platform: Windows, Android
- Release Date: July 9, 2024
- Genre: MMO, Shooter, Adventure
Once Human is a free third-person shooter that emphasizes survival elements. Players can choose to team up with friends or go solo, facing monsters in the overworld and tackling boss dungeons and silos for valuable loot crates. Unlike other open-world shooters, Once Human features the ability to build your own base to farm, craft, cook, mine, and set up water pumps to collect important components.
2. Genshin Impact
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Android, iOS
- Release Date: September 28, 2020
- Genre: Action, RPG, Adventure
Genshin Impact is a free, open-world adventure RPG. The story is set forth on a journey across a fantasy world, Teyvat, where you land after being separated from your twin sibling. Your main goal is to find and be reunited with your sibling while untangling the problems and obstacles you’ll encounter in your journey. Unfold the stories of each character you encounter and visit various regions of Tyevat for a long adventure.
1. Wuthering Waves
- Platform: Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, iOS
- Release Date: March 22, 2024
- Genre: Action, RPG, Adventure
Wuthering Waves is a successful free-to-play, open-world game released this year. Featuring vibrant graphics, intriguing characters, and a robust combat system, it offers hours of engaging gameplay. You can play solo or with friends, battling bosses and collecting loot. While the game is available on mobile, playing on PC is highly recommended to fully experience its exploration and combat features.
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