What is the best open world game on PS4? There are plenty of great sandbox games on the PlayStation 4. The genre might not be universally loved these days, but a great open-world game can really pull you into an experience like few other genres. can. Usually boasting huge free-roaming environments to explore, open-world titles have burst onto the mainstream scene over the past generation, and since then they've grown, grown, and evolved through to more powerful hardware.
In truth, it is a difficult list to compile. “Open world” is a very broad term – now more than ever – but we like to boil it down to its basic meaning: “open world” applies to any game where you are free to go out and do your own thing. You're not always bound by story or scenic progression, and there are optional tricks to get you down.
As such, this list focuses on the open world aspect of each included game: how cohesive the open world is, how enjoyable it is to explore, and how it enhances the overall experience. Without further ado, here are the best open world games currently available on PS4.
25. Need for Speed Heat (PS4)
There aren't many open-world racing games on PS4, but Need for Speed Heat does the job well enough. Palm City, inspired by Miami, is a large map that includes both built-up areas and a network of long winding mountain roads. It's at its most atmospheric at night, when rain-covered streets reflect all sorts of underground neon. As you progress, you'll slowly discover safe houses and gas stations, as well as billboards to smash, graffiti to find, and a huge list of races and events to play.
24. Burnout Paradise Remastered
This remaster of the open-world arcade game proves there's still life in Burnout. It's still incredibly fun to race through city streets and mountain roads at unholy speeds, and Paradise City is a perfect vehicle playground. With hidden areas, ramps at every turn, and hundreds of events to tackle, it's also jam-packed with things to do. Throw in Big Surf Island and online multiplayer, and there's almost endless fun in this generously sized open world. Whether you've played it before or are new to the series, Burnout Paradise Remastered is relentlessly entertaining.
23. Dragon Age: Inqusition
Dragon Age: Inquisition lets you travel through various free-roaming environments as you seek to right the wrongs of a troubled fantasy environment. Some tedious quests can sometimes slow down the overall experience, but they don't take away from the game's beautiful landscapes and richly detailed locations. There are some truly wonderful sites to see throughout the Inquisition, and each area has its own unique feel and charm. Many secrets also ensure that exploration is well rewarded.
22. inFAMOUS: Second Son
Seattle may be best known as the birthplace of grunge, but there's no such grime in Second Son's inFAMOUS: Glittering Emerald City portrayal — other than what's supposed to be there. As one of the PS4's smaller sandboxes, the foggy urban environment has fewer opportunities to impress compared to the massive alternatives also available on the console. But it manages to serve as a stellar playbox for protagonist Delsin Rowe's powers, which see him sprinting down the Space Needle and sliding easily through China Town.
21. NieR: Automata
You can't play NieR Automata without feeling like there's subtext in every facet of its design, and that extends to its open world as well. Whether it's the monochromatic space station that serves as the base 2B and 9S hub or the abandoned theme park that some machines have assumed to be their home, the role-playing version's sandbox plays a huge role in shaping of your emotions. It may not be the most elaborate setting on the PS4, but its visual variety and impact on the narrative sets it apart.
