10. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (PS4)

Insomniac knocked it out of the park with its first Spidey game, but the follow-up is arguably even better. As the name implies, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales focuses on the younger, less experienced hero as he gets to grips with his new abilities, some of which are wildly different from Peter's. While the open world is largely the same, playing as Miles refreshes the game in a few small ways. His electrical powers amp up combat, a penchant for aerobatics makes swinging even more fun, and the story explores his home life and family to great effect. It's a smaller game than Spider-Man 1, but it packs just as much punch — if not more.

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9. NieR: Automata (PS4)

NieR: Automata's complete and utter disregard for your time pays off in so many ways. Yoko Taro's android-based adaptation of Hamlet may seem like anime schlock for the first 20 hours or so, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with one of the richest narratives in games today. This character action title revels in subverting your expectations, and it crescendos with a mind-blowing climax that will leave your jaw on the floor.

8. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4)

A game so popular that it’s existed through three console generations, GTA 5’s unstoppable commercial success makes Los Santos the most iconic open world game ever made. Its ambitious multi-pronged campaign – starring downbeat middle-aged gangster Michael, witty wannabe Franklin, and bonafide psychopath Trevor – is littered with memorable moments, including a bank heist and a jewellery store robbery. But it’s online where the title has earned its longevity, offering a multiplayer suite unlike anything else available.

7. Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)

A role-playing game with action more fulfilling than most corridor shooters, Guerrilla Games’ heritage with first-person shooters means that Horizon Zero Dawn’s sizeable quest list is one you’ll actually enjoy clearing. The real surprise here, though, is the richness of the post-apocalyptic world that protagonist Aloy inhabits; this is a science-fiction story set against a tribal backdrop, and it marries these incongruent themes masterfully. An incredible effort from the Dutch developer.

6. Horizon Forbidden West (PS4)

With Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games had to deliver something pretty special to top the beloved first game. Fortunately, by improving on its weakest areas and tightening the design, the sequel more than lives up to Aloy's debut adventure. A huge, varied open world is home to not only brilliant new machines to fight, but also some of the series' most interesting and fleshed out human tribes. Between beautiful settlements, old world ruins, and natural environments, the world is a pleasure to explore with Aloy's new traversal methods. The main story manages to pack in some big surprises while the supporting characters and missions are vastly improved, and there's more than ever to do outside of some of the best combat in any open world title. It's, somehow, a better game than Zero Dawn in almost every way.

5. Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4)

Insomniac had quite a job on its hands with this one, but the end result is an immense success. This PS4 adventure nails almost every aspect of the red and blue superhero — the web swinging feels amazing, the combat is kinetic and fluid, and the cast of characters is strong across the board. The studio's original tale isn't afraid to mix things up, and it's all the better for it, taking what we know about Spidey and twisting it into something familiar yet fresh. Impossible to put down and fun from start to finish, Marvel's Spider-Man is a real triumph.

4. Yakuza 0 (PS4)

Yakuza 0 is largely regarded as one of the best games in SEGA's crime drama franchise. It takes place in 1980s Japan during the country's economic boom, and the vibes help set it apart from its brethren. The story steals the show, though — a brilliantly twisty tale that involves both series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, before the latter became known as the Mad Dog. Packed with fantastic minigames, crazy side quests, and amazing boss fights, Yakuza 0 is an absolute gem.

3. Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4)

A modern masterpiece and Rockstar's best ever game, Red Dead Redemption 2 raises the bar for open world design. As if that wasn't enough, it also has one of the best told stories in gaming, stuffed with memorable characters, moments, and missions. Unbelievably polished and absurdly detailed, it rivals Naughty Dog's finest in its obsession with excellence. Mature, bold, and gripping from start to finish, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that every PS4 owner should play.

2. Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)

Sucker Punch has crafted one of the best open world games on PS4 with Ghost of Tsushima. A supremely atmospheric adventure that tells the story of a fallen samurai named Jin Sakai, it's bolstered by immensely satisfying, slick combat and a dramatic story. In many ways, this is the first party studio's Horizon Zero Dawn moment — it's a project that goes beyond what Sucker Punch has previously attempted, and sets a new bar for the team in terms of quality and vision. Ghost of Tsushima sees off the PS4 in serious style.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the game that every RPG will be measured against going forward - and we don't think that it'll be beaten for quite some time to come. Using its vast open world as shockingly well realised set dressing rather than a map that houses a tedious amount of objective markers, CD Projekt Red's masterpiece is all killer and no filler. Side quests are just as fleshed out as the main story, and your choices can have severe consequences throughout. Add in two expansions that are better than most full games, and you have the complete RPG package.

And that's our list of the best open world games on PS4. What do you think? Are your favourite PS4 open worlds shown in this list, or are there some glaring omissions? However you feel, remember — this is entirely driven by user ratings, so make your voice heard by leaving ratings on all your favourites. If you think we're missing a game from our PlayStation Game Database, feel free to let us know.

With all that said, let us know what your personal favourite open world PS4 games are in the comments section below.

Best PS4 Games