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You see that mountain on the horizon? You can go there! That old gaming chestnut has been around for a very long time now, but for old-school gamers who remember the compartmentalised kingdoms of yore, there’s a special magic still to be derived from being able to trek your way to a distant summit in modern open worlds. Video games, eh? Marvellous.
Despite the consoles’ diminutive size, Nintendo Switch and its successor have accrued a selection of vast kingdoms and open worlds to explore and enjoy, and below we’ve collected our picks of the very best open-world games on Switch 1 and 2.
So, let’s take a look at a selection — in alphabetical order — of the best open worlds on Switch 1 and 2.
Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection Switch
Switch owners have several options when it comes to Assassin’s Creed games, but there’s a clear correct answer if someone asks you which they should play on Switch 1: Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection contains both Black Flag (number four in the mainline franchise), plus the series spin-off/interquel Assassin’s Creed: Rogue.
A feast for the eyes and ears, sailing around the high seas as Edward Kenway feels not dissimilar to the voyages of a young cel-shaded sailor we enjoyed first back on GameCube, and the beauty of the Caribbean waves and pirate settlements is displayed in fine portable form in this excellent port of one of the series’ high points. And Rogue’s not bad, either.
On Switch 2, you’ve also got the option of the excellent Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
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Burnout Paradise Remastered Switch
We’re dipping into our 7/10s for this (a single exception on this list revamped list), but the open-world approach of Burnout Paradise had a profound influence on the driving genre, and Nintendo platforms haven’t been blessed with an abundance of open-world racers.
Criterion’s excellent Need for Speed: Most Wanted came to Wii U, but didn’t make the splash it should have thanks to that console’s disappointing sales. Having this precursor on Switch — and any entry in the beloved Burnout franchise — is a treat sullied only by the substantial price tag it carried at launch.
However, it runs at a lovely 60fps and despite various elements showing their age a little, it’s still a super slick ride that performs well on Switch. We’d recommend keeping an eye out for a sale with this one.
Don’t Starve: Nintendo Switch Edition Switch eShop
The procedurally generated open worlds of Don’t Starve give it the feeling of an unforgiving Minecraft, with pleasure coming from confronting and conquering the hardships and challenges of surviving in the wilderness.
It might not be for everyone, and it can get a little repetitive, but the Switch version is a great way to experience the game, and once Don’t Starve sinks its teeth in, you’ll find it very difficult to shake.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Switch
What it lacks in epic narrative and lore it makes up for with tight, satisfying combat and the scope of its open world. Dragon’s Dogma might not be perfect, but Capcom’s action RPG still manages to shine on Switch.
This port of the Dark Arisen update won’t convert you if you didn’t get on with the 2012 original, but it still gets a strong recommendation from us.
Dying Light Platinum Edition Switch
Dying Light on Switch is quite a remarkable achievement. Its ambitious open world full of zombies is unlike anything else in the Switch’s library and, between the core campaign and years of constant DLC updates, there are potentially hundreds of hours of enjoyment to be had here.
Granted, all of this comes at the cost of performance that can be middling compared to other platforms, but this is neatly balanced out by the convenience of playing in handheld mode, and developer Techland has done a mighty fine job getting this open world running well on portable hardware. Switch owners who rarely play in portable mode may want to pause and consider buying it elsewhere, but we’d strongly encourage handheld gamers to consider this excellent Switch port.
At least if you’ve got a US Nintendo Account – this unfortunately never saw the light of day in Europe.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Switch 2
Bringing Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and The Lands Between to Switch 2 in such fine form is a tremendous achievement – it’s simply one of the finest games to play on the system.
Offering up an enormous and densely packed open world, tons of tough boss encounters to overcome, a huge DLC endgame expansion, and presenting it all with great performance, there are few (if any) games in the console’s library that can match it in spectacle, difficulty, and raw quality.
If you’ve ever been a Soulslike fan or are simply looking for a deep and challenging game that takes full advantage of the Switch 2’s power, you owe it to yourself to pick this up whenever you can. Elden Ring deserves the praise it’s received as one of the games that defined a generation, and it feels right at home on Nintendo’s handheld.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Switch 2
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a tremendous addition to the Switch 2 catalogue, delivering an ambitious and content-rich RPG experience that sets a new bar for what players can expect from the best entries in the JRPG genre. The heartfelt story, innovative action combat, and huge amount of open-world content combine in an experience that’s hard to put down for the several dozen hours it lasts.
Though there are some noticeable performance and visual concessions, these ultimately don’t detract enough from the game’s quality to derail the experience. If you’ve got a Switch 2, exploring The Planet should be a priority.
Minecraft Switch
You know Minecraft, right? The open-world sandbox game where you mine and, indeed, craft materials to survive and shape the world to your liking. Not much else to say really. The Switch version is very solid, and portable to boot. All in all, rather good.
There’s a Switch 2 port incoming, so you may want to hold off if you’ve somehow managed to not play this since 2009.
NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition Switch
NieR:Automata is a modern classic. Most importantly for Switch owners, this is a top-notch port that has clearly been produced with respect and focus, often surpassing our expectations in both visuals and performance.
Finding a comfortable seat and a pair of headphones makes the Switch version a wonderful way to experience the game, and it is an unforgettable journey. Nothing is as it seems, either in the story or gameplay, and it’s one of the finest gaming achievements of the last decade.
Something to note: For quite some time this didn’t play nicely via Switch 2 backwards compatibility, but an update solved this issue.
No Man’s Sky – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Switch 2
Given the usual caveats, No Man’s Sky on Switch was a fantastic port of a game we genuinely didn’t believe could make the transition to Nintendo’s console without some serious technical issues. Hello Games made the necessary cutbacks and downgrades to get this intergalactic survival sandbox playing at a super solid frame rate and the colourful, chunky graphical style ensured that it all looked pretty fantastic to boot.
With all of the game’s previous updates and content included, barring multiplayer, it was an easy recommendation for survival fans. But on Switch 2 via the free upgrade pack, it’s even better, with multiplayer now included along with the expected resolution and performance bumps.
With less than 1% of its planets explored 10 years after release, there’s a whole galaxy awaiting you here.
Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Switch 2
Red Dead Redemption on Switch was a straightforward port of 2010’s masterpiece with no added bells or whistles for a rather high price tag, but still worthwhile if you had never experienced it.
Rockstar’s Western epic holds up surprisingly well – and even better on Switch 2, with optional mouse controls and 60fps. Its story is as powerful as ever, its knockabout action still feels great, and it looks and plays perfectly well.
Multiplayer is still missing, but this remains a proper all-timer ported successfully. Play it on the most powerful Switch you can.
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected Switch
In the continued absence of any 3D Grand Theft Auto post-San Andreas on Nintendo consoles, Saints Row IV: Re-Elected stepped into the frame and delivers a knowingly silly, thoroughly entertaining take on the urban open-world game.
It runs far better than its predecessor on Switch, and while its sense of humour won’t gel with everyone, it’s definitely worth investigation if you like open-world games that don’t take themselves too seriously.
Alternatively, there is the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy if you’re desperate for GTA on a Nintendo platform. However, they launched in an abysmal state and remain disappointing even after significant updates. Simply put, those games deserved the best and while they warrant a mention, we still can’t recommend them.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas Switch
Thanks to the inclusion of exclusive Star Fox content, Ubisoft’s multiplatform Starlink: Battle for Atlas is best experienced on Switch and is the closest thing to an open-world Star Fox game out there.
Comparisons to No Man’s Sky are valid, and while the game didn’t set the charts alight when it released — arguably thanks to its reliance on bulky toys-to-like accessories at a time when most of us were up to our eyeballs in plastic peripherals already — it’s one of the most enjoyable dogfighting/space exploration games money can buy.
You can find it for a pittance these days, and we strongly advise you pick it up next time you see it discounted.
Subnautica + Subnautica Below Zero Double Pack Switch
When Unknown Worlds announced they were bringing Subnautica to Switch we were hugely excited, but it was excitement tempered with a degree of scepticism as to how on earth they’d manage to cram the entire experience onto Switch in a properly playable manner.
As it turns out, we needn’t have worried, as this is a super solid port of Subnautica and its sequel that — besides a few loading stutters here and there and some scenery pop-in that’s present in every other version of the game — successfully delivers one of the very best open-world experiences on any platform to Nintendo’s hybrid console. And they’ve both now got Switch 2 Editions with the usual visual and performance boosts, plus Mouse Mode support.
If you’re purchasing one or the other separately, we’d still plump for the original game, as Below Zero’s fleshed-out narrative and on-foot sections dilute the overall experience ever so slightly, but, regardless of which you choose, you’re in for a mighty good time here with two of the best survival games available anywhere.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Switch 2
Performance-wise, Oblivion Remastered may not sing as you’d hope on Nintendo’s hardware, although the added control options are very welcome and everything in Cyrodiil looks and sounds the part, even when the frame rate dips below the target 30fps.
However, this is without a doubt one of the best RPGs of all time and the remaster gives the same old game a brand-new look. With the main quest and all additional content, it’s huge value for money and well worth experiencing for the first time or revisiting if you’ve walked through this flaming gate before.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Switch
Sticking with the Scrolls, we come to the game that set the standard for the modern open-world experience with its scope and ambition. The appearance of Skyrim on Switch was a welcome surprise when it popped up in the reveal clip for the console back in October 2016.
If you’re after seamless, polished perfection, you’ll find Zelda further down this list; if you’re after an epic adventure filled with guts, glory, and not a small amount of jank, this remains one of the very best examples out there. Re-release fatigue is a factor here, and the Switch 2 Anniversary version launched in a depressing state, but updates eventually improved things. If you’re buying new, that’s probably the one to go for now.
And if you can’t get enough of your Bethesda RPGs, there’s a fair port of Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition on Switch 2, as well. A promised DLSS update arrived post-launch which also addressed some trademark Bethesda bugs, so — with those caveats — you may enjoy a trip to the Commonwealth.
