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Published Jun 27, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT
Explore off the beaten track
10 massive open-world games that reward you for ignoring the main story
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
As a form of escapism, video games are great, aren't they? Especially those that you can lose track of time in, immersing yourself in the vast open worlds and array of side quests. Yes, I know I'm supposed to be saving the world right now, but I'm busy playing cards and riding my horse, thank you very much!
The best of these games are the ones that actually reward you for going off the beaten track, because there's so much to find in every direction. If you're looking for your next colossal adventure, where you can pick a direction and find plenty to do, lost in the world around you, these are the ten best games to do just that in 2026.
1 Grand Theft Auto 5
Image: Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive
Exploring off the beaten track in Los Santos will lead you to countless memorable encounters, from cults and UFOs to the military base, Epsilon Program, hidden locations, and more. The world feels so alive, just roaming as a pedestrian is a delight.
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Image: FromSoftware
Elden Ring is the epitome of a game that rewards you for ignoring the main story, because around every single corner, you'll find a dungeon, optional boss, or NPC who can provide you with powerful items.
3 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Image: Nintendo
While this entry could apply to Breath of the Wild too, we've opted for Tears of the Kingdomsimply because it's considerably bigger. With both the depths and the sky islands to explore, alongside the Hyrulian overworld, Link's latest outing tells you what needs to be done, then lets you gallivant off in whatever direction you like.
4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Image: CD Projekt Red
The Witcher 3 is my favorite game of all time, and while part of that is because of how engrossing the story is, it's also because the world of Velen and Skellige (and Toussaint, if you venture into the Blood & Wine expansion) holds plenty of mysteries. In theory, Geralt should be in a hurry to find Yennefer, then rescue Ciri, but instead, he's off playing cards and slaying monsters.
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5 Forza Horizon 6
Image: Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios
While the main story — completing the festival events — is fantastic (you get to race a giant gundam!), you can find loads of special cars by exploring elsewhere. Barn finds are vintage cars that have been abandoned and need restoring, while treasure cars are good-to-go as is. Not to mention the 400 collectibles split across XP boards and mascots, the houses you can buy and customize, and all the completely optional races and challenges.
6 Dragon's Dogma 2
Image: Capcom
This is essentially the perfect game for Skyrim fans looking for something vaguely familiar, because while combat and the pawn system are unique, the way the game handles its world and side quests is reminiscent of Bethesda's epic. You'll encounter all manner of characters, enemies, and secrets when investigating off the beaten track, plenty of them involving optional endeavors and requests. It's a stunning world, and experiencing it at your own pace is part of the fun.
7 Fallout 4
Image: Bethesda Game Studios
The Fallout series is renowned for letting players reach their destination any way they like, and while there will always be an end goal in mind, wandering aimlessly is how you discover many of the game's quirks. Vaults are often the most interesting discoveries, along with other settlements, creature lairs, and bandit hideouts, all of which usually have powerful weapons and armor within.
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8 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Image: Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver
Eavesdrop on some NPCs in a village and you may hear about an opportunity elsewhere. Leave the main road and you'll find a forest or ruin hiding treasure. Not every location will house something interesting, but that makes it all the more rewarding when something does. Because Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 aims to simulate a living world, in a similar manner to Dragon's Dogma 2, the joy is in the journey, not the destination.
9 Valheim
Image: Iron Gate/Coffee Stain Publishing
Valheim doesn't have a main story, per se, but it does encourage you to focus on summoning and killing the bosses in each of its regions. Ultimately, this should be your main goal, and becoming powerful enough to achieve this will take plenty of exploration.
10 Sable
Image: Shedworks/Raw Fury
Finally, we have Sable. Calling this a "massive" open-world is definitely a stretch, and it doesn't really have a "main story" per se. Even so, this severely underrated indie deserves more attention. This is solely an open-world puzzle game, where you'll venture forth into a desert-like world to discover secrets.
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