The 10 Biggest Open World Video Game Maps

Open world games are a genre of video games that give players the freedom to explore and interact with a large and diverse virtual world. Unlike linear games that have a fixed path and a predetermined outcome, open world games allow players to choose their own goals, methods, and pace. These games often feature stunning graphics, dynamic weather, day-night cycles, and realistic physics that enhance the immersion and realism of the game world.

Also read: The Top 10 Best LEGO Games Ever Created

But which open world games are the biggest in terms of map size? How do they compare to each other and to the real world? Map size is one of the factors that can affect the quality and quantity of content, gameplay, and exploration in an open world game. A bigger map can offer more variety, detail, and secrets, but it can also pose challenges such as navigation, loading times, and repetition. A smaller map can offer more focus, coherence, and density, but it can also limit the scope, diversity, and freedom of the game.

In this article, we will rank the top 10 biggest open world games based on their map area, using square miles as the unit of measurement. We will also briefly describe what makes each game unique and fun to play.

Note: Some games have multiple maps or regions that are not connected, so we will only consider the largest contiguous map for each game. Also, some games have procedurally generated or infinite maps, so we will exclude them from this list.

10. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – 94 square miles

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the latest installment in the long-running historical action-adventure franchise developed by Ubisoft. It follows the story of Eivor, a Viking raider who leads his clan from Norway to England in the 9th century during the Viking Age. The game features a massive open world that spans four countries: Norway, England, Ireland, and France. The largest map is England, which covers about 94 square miles of land and water.

The game allows players to sail, ride horses, climb mountains, raid monasteries, build settlements, hunt animals, fish, play minigames, and engage in brutal combat with various enemies and bosses. The game also features a rich story that involves historical figures and events, such as King Alfred the Great, the Great Heathen Army, and the Battle of Edington. The game also has a choice-based dialogue system that affects the relationships and outcomes of the game.

9. Ghost Recon Wildlands – 170 square miles

Ghost Recon Wildlands is a tactical shooter game developed by Ubisoft that takes place in a fictionalized version of Bolivia in 2023. The game puts players in the role of a member of an elite special operations unit called the Ghosts, who are sent to dismantle a powerful drug cartel called the Santa Blanca. The game features a huge open world that covers about 170 square miles of diverse terrain, including mountains, forests, deserts, salt flats, lakes, rivers, villages, cities, and military bases.

The game allows players to use various vehicles, weapons, gadgets, and skills to complete missions and objectives in solo or co-op mode. The game also features a dynamic weather system and a day-night cycle that affect the visibility, stealth, and tactics of the game. The game also has a nonlinear story that adapts to the player’s actions and decisions.

8. Just Cause 3 – 400 square miles

Just Cause 3 is an action-adventure game developed by Avalanche Studios that takes place in a fictional Mediterranean island nation called Medici. The game follows the exploits of Rico Rodriguez, a rebel leader who returns to his homeland to overthrow a tyrannical dictator named General Di Ravello. The game features a massive open world that covers about 400 square miles of land and sea.

The game allows players to use a grappling hook, a wingsuit, a parachute, and various vehicles and weapons to traverse the environment and cause chaos and destruction. The game also features a physics-based engine that enables dynamic explosions, destructible structures, and environmental interactions. The game also has a story mode that involves liberating regions from Di Ravello’s forces, as well as various challenges and collectibles.

7. The Crew 2 – 1,900 square miles

The Crew is a racing game developed by Ivory Tower and Ubisoft Reflections that takes place in a scaled-down version of the United States. The game follows the story of Alex Taylor, a street racer who joins an underground racing group called the 510s to infiltrate and take down a criminal organization called the Cobras. The game features a huge open world that covers about 1,900 square miles of land and water.

The game allows players to drive various cars, bikes, boats, and planes across different regions and landmarks of the country. The game also features a dynamic weather system and a day-night cycle that affect the driving conditions and visuals. The game also has a story mode that involves completing missions and races, as well as a multiplayer mode that allows players to join crews and compete with other players.

6. Fuel – 5,560 square miles

Fuel is a racing game developed by Asobo Studio that takes place in an alternate history where global warming has caused extreme weather events and environmental disasters. The game follows the adventures of a group of daredevil racers who compete for fuel and glory in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game features a gigantic open world that covers about 5,560 square miles of land and water.

The game allows players to drive various vehicles across different terrains and biomes, such as forests, deserts, mountains, canyons, lakes, and cities. The game also features a dynamic weather system that creates storms, tornadoes, lightning, and other hazards. The game also has a career mode that involves winning races and challenges, as well as a free roam mode that allows players to explore the world at their own pace.

5. Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall – 62,394 square miles

Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall is a role-playing game developed by Bethesda Softworks that takes place in the fictional continent of Tamriel. The game follows the story of an agent of the Emperor who is sent to the province of Daggerfall to investigate a series of events involving a ghost, a king, and a powerful artifact. The game features a massive open world that covers about 62,394 square miles of land and water.

The game allows players to create and customize their own character, choose from various classes and skills, explore dungeons and towns, join factions and guilds, and complete quests and objectives. The game also features a procedurally generated map that creates thousands of locations and NPCs. The game also has a complex reputation system that affects the interactions and reactions of the game world.

4. Minecraft – 3.6 billion square miles

Minecraft is a sandbox game developed by Mojang Studios that allows players to create and explore a blocky 3D world. The game has two main modes: survival and creative. In survival mode, players have to gather resources, craft items, build shelters, and fight enemies. In creative mode, players have unlimited resources and can build anything they can imagine. The game features a huge open world that covers about 3.6 billion square miles of land and water.

The game allows players to use various blocks, tools, and items to manipulate the environment and create structures and mechanisms. The game also features a procedurally generated map that creates different biomes, caves, villages, temples, and other structures. The game also has a multiplayer mode that allows players to collaborate or compete with other players online.

3. No Man’s Sky – 18 quintillion planets

No Man’s Sky is a sci-fi game developed by Hello Games that allows players to explore and survive in a vast procedurally generated universe. The game follows the story of a traveler who is trying to reach the center of the galaxy while encountering various alien races, factions, and mysteries. The game features a huge open world that covers about 18 quintillion planets, each with their own unique terrain, climate, flora, fauna, resources, and dangers.

The game allows players to use a spaceship, a jetpack, a multi-tool, and other gadgets to travel between planets and star systems, scan and catalog creatures and plants, mine and trade resources, fight enemies and pirates, and upgrade their equipment and skills. The game also has a multiplayer mode that allows players to cooperate or compete with other players online.

2. Star Citizen – Infinite

Star Citizen is an ambitious sci-fi game developed by Cloud Imperium Games that aims to create a persistent online universe where players can live out their space fantasies. The game is still in development and has no official release date yet. The game features a huge open world that covers an infinite amount of space.

The game allows players to use various ships, vehicles, weapons, and tools to explore different planets, moons, asteroids, stations, and other locations. The game also features a realistic physics engine that simulates gravity, atmosphere, damage, and other effects. The game also has various modes such as single-player campaigns, multiplayer missions, space combat, trading, mining, exploration, and more.

1. Universe Sandbox – Infinite

Universe Sandbox is a physics-based simulation game developed by Giant Army that allows players to create and destroy their own universes. The game is not really a game in the traditional sense, but more of an educational tool and a sandbox for experimentation. The game features a huge open world that covers an infinite amount of space.

The game allows players to use various tools and settings to manipulate the properties of planets, stars,

galaxies, black holes, and other celestial bodies. The game also features a realistic physics engine that simulates gravity, orbits, collisions, climate, and other phenomena. The game also has various scenarios and simulations that showcase the beauty and complexity of the universe.

Conclusion

These are the top 10 biggest open world games based on their map size. Of course, size is not everything when it comes to open world games. Other factors such as gameplay, story, graphics, and immersion are also important to consider when choosing which open world games to play. However, if you are looking for games that offer a lot of exploration and variety in their worlds then you might want to check out some of these games on this list. They will surely keep you entertained and amazed for hours and hours.

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