Xbox’s open world game library is one of the strongest in console gaming — spanning everything from massive RPG worlds to grounded survival sandboxes to narrative-driven adventure games. With Xbox Game Pass providing day-one access to Microsoft first-party titles, many of the best open world games on Xbox are available without individual purchase. This guide covers the top open world games for Xbox One and Series X, the best survival games on Xbox Game Pass, story-driven games, sandbox experiences, and Xbox alternatives to PlayStation exclusives like Uncharted.
For the best action games by genre — horror, roguelike, hack-and-slash, and action RPG — see our guide to the best action games by genre 2026 — horror, roguelike, hack-and-slash, and action RPG.
Top Open World Games for Xbox — Best Picks 2026
| Game | Game Pass? | Why It’s Top-Tier |
| Elden Ring | No | Best open world action RPG ever made; massive exploration |
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Yes (Game Pass) | Endless open world RPG; still the gold standard |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Yes — day one | Best open world racing game; Mexico map; outstanding |
| Starfield | Yes — day one | Space exploration RPG; over 1,000 planets |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | No | Most immersive open world ever made; stunning |
| GTA V | No | Best open world crime game; massive online community |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | No | Dense neon-lit open world RPG; redeemed by patches |
| The Witcher 3 | Yes (Game Pass) | Best quest writing in any open world game |
| Assassin’s Creed Shadows | No | Feudal Japan open world; new dual protagonist system |
| Hogwarts Legacy | No | Open world Harry Potter RPG; best-selling 2023 |
Best Open World Games for Xbox One — Still Great in 2026
Xbox One players can still access a strong open world library — most major open world games from the Xbox One era are backward compatible on Series X and still offer hundreds of hours of content:
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — The best open world game ever made is playable on Xbox One; still stunning
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Available on Xbox One; rich open world with incredible quests
- GTA V — Runs on Xbox One; free GTA Online updates continue
- Assassin’s Creed Origins/Odyssey/Valhalla — Ubisoft’s RPG-style AC trilogy; all on Xbox One
- Fallout 4 — Post-apocalyptic open world; massive modding community on Xbox
- Far Cry 5 / Far Cry 6 — Open world shooter; both Xbox One compatible
- Just Cause 4 — Physics-based chaos open world; explosive sandbox
Best Survival Games on Xbox Game Pass 2026
Xbox Game Pass has an excellent survival game selection — many of the best survival games are available with a subscription:
| Game | Multiplayer? | Why It’s Great |
| Subnautica | Solo | Best survival game ever; underwater alien planet |
| Subnautica: Below Zero | Solo | Sequel; snowy alien planet; narrative focus |
| The Long Dark | Solo | Realistic wilderness survival; no zombies; atmospheric |
| Grounded | Co-op 4P | Shrunk in backyard; crafting; co-op excellent |
| Valheim | Co-op 10P | Viking survival; procedural world; incredible co-op |
| Green Hell | Solo/Co-op | Amazon jungle; ultra-realistic; brutally hard |
| The Survivalists | Co-op 4P | Crafting survival; monkey companions; charming |
| Icarus | Solo/Co-op | Mission-based planetary survival |
These Game Pass survival games range from ultra-realistic solo experiences to co-op sandbox adventures. Subnautica is the unanimous recommendation for players new to survival games — its underwater alien world is unlike any other survival experience, and its emotional story arc elevates it above the genre’s typical base-building loops.
Survival Games for Xbox — Beyond Game Pass
- ARK: Survival Ascended — Dinosaur survival; massive; Xbox Series X enhanced
- Rust — Multiplayer survival; brutal PvP; dedicated servers on Xbox
- DayZ — Hardcore zombie survival; realistic; unforgiving
- No Man’s Sky — Space survival and exploration; transformed from disastrous launch to excellent game
- The Forest / Sons of the Forest — Horror survival; build, craft, and survive against cannibals
- 7 Days to Die — Zombie survival with tower defense building; extensive Xbox community
Multiplayer Survival Games on Xbox One and Series X
The best multiplayer survival experiences on Xbox:
- Grounded (Game Pass): Four-player co-op in a backyard; best co-op survival on Xbox
- Valheim (Game Pass): Ten-player Viking survival with procedurally generated world
- ARK: Survival Ascended: Up to 100 players on official servers; massive multiplayer survival
- Rust: Brutal multiplayer survival with full PvP and base raiding
- No Man’s Sky: Online co-op exploration and base building; 32 players in expedition events
- 7 Days to Die: Co-op up to four players; horde night tower defense
Xbox Game Pass — Open World Survival and Adventure Games
Xbox Game Pass includes first-party and third-party open world games that represent exceptional value:
| Game Category | Top Game Pass Picks |
| Open World RPG | Skyrim, The Witcher 3, Starfield, Fallout 4 |
| Open World Racing | Forza Horizon 5 (day one), Forza Horizon 4 |
| Survival | Subnautica, Valheim, Grounded, The Long Dark |
| Story Adventure | A Plague Tale: Requiem, As Dusk Falls, Pentiment |
| Sandbox/Creative | Minecraft, Grounded, State of Decay 2 |
| Action Open World | Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield |
Best Story Games on Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass has a strong story game selection — narrative-driven games that rival PlayStation’s storytelling reputation:
- A Plague Tale: Requiem (Game Pass) — Emotional story; rats, medieval France, siblings; stunning PS5-tier visuals on Series X
- As Dusk Falls (Game Pass) — Choice-based interactive story; co-op story sharing
- Pentiment (Game Pass) — Narrative RPG set in medieval Bavaria; unique art style
- Psychonauts 2 (Game Pass) — Platformer with deep story; critically acclaimed
- Halo Infinite campaign (Game Pass) — Best Halo campaign in years; open world structure
- Sea of Thieves (Game Pass) — Ongoing narrative content and tall tales
- The Forgotten City (Game Pass) — Award-winning time loop mystery story game
Story Mode Games on Xbox — Beyond Game Pass
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — Greatest story in any open world game
- Cyberpunk 2077 — Dense narrative with multiple ending paths
- Control — Third-person action with layered supernatural mystery story
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Best quest writing and side stories in RPG history
Xbox Games Like Uncharted — Third-Person Action Adventure
Uncharted is a PlayStation exclusive series, but Xbox has several excellent alternatives for players who want cinematic third-person action adventure:
| Game | Game Pass? | Uncharted Similarity |
| Tomb Raider trilogy (2013-2018) | Yes (Game Pass) | Closest Uncharted equivalent; exploration, combat, story |
| Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | Yes — day one | First-person but same adventure tone; critically acclaimed |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem | Yes (Game Pass) | Linear cinematic action; incredible story |
| Control | No | Third-person supernatural action; strong narrative |
| Halo: The Master Chief Collection | Yes (Game Pass) | Third-person levels; epic campaign scope |
| The Forgotten City | Yes (Game Pass) | Adventure-focused; different genre but same discovery feeling |
The Tomb Raider trilogy (Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2013) is the best Uncharted substitute on Xbox — all three games are on Game Pass, feature the same mix of traversal, puzzle, combat, and narrative that defines Uncharted, and Rise of the Tomb Raider was originally an Xbox exclusive. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024, day one on Game Pass) scratches the same adventure-archaeology itch with excellent critical reception.
Best Campaign Games for Xbox One — Story and Mission Games
For players who want strong single-player campaign games on Xbox One:
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Game Pass) — Six Halo campaigns remastered; 100+ hours of content
- Gears 5 (Game Pass) — Best Gears campaign; cover-based third-person shooter
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Game Pass) — 2D action platformer with emotional story
- Psychonauts 2 (Game Pass) — Best platformer campaign on Xbox
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — Longest, most detailed campaign in gaming
- Halo Infinite campaign (Game Pass) — Open world Halo campaign
Decision-Based Games on Xbox — Choice and Consequence
Xbox and Game Pass have several excellent decision-based games where your choices meaningfully affect the story:
- As Dusk Falls (Game Pass): Interactive drama; choices determine which characters live and die; supports co-op voting on choices
- The Forgotten City (Game Pass): Time-loop detective game where every conversation choice has consequences
- Tell Me Why (Game Pass, free): Narrative adventure with meaningful choices about identity and family
- Pentiment (Game Pass): Branching investigation in medieval monastery; permanent choices
- The Walking Dead series: Choice-based survival horror; Telltale series; emotional consequence
Sandbox Games on Xbox — Creative and Survival Sandboxes
- Minecraft (Game Pass) — The defining sandbox game; creative and survival modes; cross-play
- No Man’s Sky — Space sandbox with base building, exploration, and creature taming
- Grounded (Game Pass) — Backyard survival sandbox; Honey I Shrunk the Kids concept
- Valheim (Game Pass) — Viking survival sandbox; build massive halls, fight bosses
- Planet Crafter — Terraforming survival sandbox; craft an entire planet’s atmosphere
- Astroneer — Co-op space sandbox; colorful; accessible survival crafting
For the best action games by genre including horror, roguelikes, and action RPGs, see our guide to the best action games by genre 2026 — horror, roguelike, hack-and-slash guide.
For Xbox Game Pass current library and subscription details, see the Xbox Game Pass — full games library. For Xbox open world game reviews and rankings, see IGN — best open world games on Xbox.
For the best Xbox and PlayStation exclusive game comparisons and console advice, see our guide to Xbox vs PlayStation — which is better, more popular, and which to buy.
Xbox Series X Survival Games — Next-Gen Upgrades
Xbox Series X players get enhanced survival game performance compared to Xbox One — faster load times, higher frame rates, and improved draw distances in open world survival games. The most notable Series X survival upgrades: ARK: Survival Ascended was rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 specifically targeting Series X and PC, delivering dramatic visual improvements over the original ARK. No Man’s Sky on Series X runs at 4K/60fps with significantly improved world streaming compared to Xbox One’s 1080p/30fps. The Long Dark on Series X features enhanced ambient occlusion and shadow quality that improves the atmospheric wilderness survival experience. Valheim on Series X loads worlds significantly faster than Xbox One, improving the co-op experience when joining servers. For players upgrading from Xbox One to Series X specifically for survival games, the performance improvements in these games are meaningful and consistent.
Xbox Game Pass Puzzle and Adventure Games — Beyond Action
Xbox Game Pass includes excellent puzzle and adventure games for players who want something beyond action and survival: Xbox Game Pass Puzzle Games include The Talos Principle 2 (philosophical first-person puzzle game), Cocoon (layered puzzle adventure, critically acclaimed 2023), A Short Hike (relaxing exploration), and Tunic (isometric puzzle adventure with Dark Souls influence). For story-driven adventure games on Game Pass: What Remains of Edith Finch (emotional walking simulator), Disco Elysium (dialogue-heavy RPG), Unpacking (zen tidying puzzle game), and Pentiment (medieval mystery). These games complement the action and open world Game Pass selections and provide variety for players who share a console with family members who prefer non-combat experiences.
Open World Games for Xbox One — Backward Compatibility Guide
Xbox Series X backward compatibility makes all Xbox One open world games playable on the current generation — often with improved performance through FPS Boost or Auto HDR enhancements. Open world games that benefit most from Series X backward compatibility: Red Dead Redemption 2 runs at higher stable frame rates on Series X vs Xbox One X. The Witcher 3 received a full next-gen patch delivering 60fps and ray tracing on Series X. Skyrim Anniversary Edition runs at 60fps on Series X (vs 30fps on Xbox One). Assassin’s Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla all run at 60fps on Series X through FPS Boost. GTA V runs at 60fps on Series X through its optimized next-gen patch. For players upgrading from Xbox One to Series X, the backward compatible open world game library immediately benefits from Series X hardware — no repurchase required. The Xbox backward compatibility team has also enhanced several Xbox 360 open world games playable on Series X, including the original Red Dead Redemption (which received a free next-gen upgrade in 2021).
Bottom Line
| Best Xbox open world game | Elden Ring (not on Game Pass) or Forza Horizon 5 (Game Pass) |
| Best survival game on Game Pass | Subnautica — best survival game ever made |
| Best co-op survival (Game Pass) | Grounded (4P) or Valheim (10P) |
| Best story game on Game Pass | A Plague Tale: Requiem or The Forgotten City |
| Xbox game like Uncharted | Tomb Raider trilogy (all on Game Pass) |
| Best decision-based game (GP) | As Dusk Falls or Pentiment |
| Best sandbox on Xbox | Minecraft (Game Pass) or No Man’s Sky |
| Best Xbox campaign game | Halo: MCC or Gears 5 (both Game Pass) |
| Best open world Xbox One | Red Dead Redemption 2 or The Witcher 3 (GP) |
| Best new open world 2026 | Assassin’s Creed Shadows or future Bethesda title |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best open world games for Xbox?
The best open world games for Xbox in 2026 are Elden Ring (best open world action RPG ever made), Forza Horizon 5 (best racing open world, on Game Pass day one), Red Dead Redemption 2 (most immersive open world ever made), Starfield (massive space RPG, on Game Pass), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (best quest writing, on Game Pass), and Cyberpunk 2077 (dense neon open world). For players on Game Pass specifically, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, The Witcher 3, and Skyrim are all available and outstanding.
What are the best survival games on Xbox Game Pass?
The best survival games on Xbox Game Pass are Subnautica (best survival game ever — underwater alien planet), Valheim (Viking survival with up to 10 players), Grounded (backyard survival with four-player co-op), The Long Dark (realistic wilderness survival, no zombies), and Green Hell (ultra-realistic Amazon jungle survival). Subnautica is the top recommendation for new survival players — its alien ocean world is unique, its story is excellent, and it avoids the grind-heavy design of many survival games.
Are there Xbox games like Uncharted?
Yes — the Tomb Raider trilogy (Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2013) is the best Xbox alternative to Uncharted — all three games are on Game Pass, feature the same exploration/combat/story mix, and Rise was originally an Xbox exclusive. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024, day one on Game Pass) is another strong option. A Plague Tale: Requiem (Game Pass) offers cinematic quality similar to Uncharted’s storytelling. While Xbox lacks a direct Uncharted equivalent, Game Pass contains several comparable games.
What are the best story games on Xbox Game Pass?
The best story games on Xbox Game Pass are A Plague Tale: Requiem (emotional medieval-plague narrative), The Forgotten City (award-winning time loop mystery), As Dusk Falls (interactive choice-based drama), Pentiment (branching medieval investigation), Psychonauts 2 (platformer with deep story), Tell Me Why (narrative identity drama, permanently free), and the Halo campaign collection. Xbox Game Pass story game selection rivals PlayStation Plus for narrative-driven experiences.
What are the best multiplayer survival games on Xbox?
The best multiplayer survival games on Xbox are Grounded (four-player co-op in a backyard, on Game Pass), Valheim (ten-player Viking survival, on Game Pass), ARK: Survival Ascended (massive multiplayer dinosaur survival with up to 100 players on servers), Rust (intense PvP survival with base raiding), No Man’s Sky (co-op space exploration and base building), and 7 Days to Die (four-player co-op zombie survival with tower defense). Grounded and Valheim are the top Game Pass picks for co-op survival.
