Summer is in full swing, and between the Steam Summer Sale and the free time to play long games, choosing which game to pick up during the long summer days can be difficult. This is the perfect time to pick up any open-world games you’ve had lying around, or find that game you never thought would become your next favorite.
These open-world games are perfect for summer, long enough to play anywhere, or great for large groups. They cover a wide variety of genres, and there’s something for everyone here!
10
Witch 3
Take Your Time To Experience Greatness
The Witcher 3 is a classic for good reason and if you’ve got it in your backlog, consider this your cue to play it. The Witcher 3 was the first open-world RPG to avoid the pitfalls of many open-world games at the time. The Elder Scrolls used to be the leader in the space, but it also had the problem of players neglecting the main quest, which is not always what you want in an RPG.
The Witcher 3 is set in a very cold and dark world, and playing it in winter when it’s dark and cold outside is an exercise in misery. Spending hours in the swamps of Valen in miserable weather is much easier to bear when faced with more tolerable weather.
Nostalgia and a Really Good Story
Despite its flaws, Oblivion Remastered is one of my favorite games. Some of that may be nostalgia, but I can step back and admit that it’s a great game with well-crafted quest lines and memorable moments. I spent hours on my summer vacation getting lost in Cyrodiil, and I love that I can do it again, even today.
Oblivion is an essential game to take over your life during the summer vacation. It is possible to sink hundreds of hours into it, and I recommend doing so. Skyrim might seem like the obvious choice, but I recommend Oblivion over Skyrim as a summer game just because of the quest line. Unlike Skyrim, Oblivion’s main questline has a happy ending, a satisfying payoff, and the Shivering Isles expansion pack that creates a terrifying sendoff for our character.
8
My time at Sandrock
Climate Change? In My Cool Game?
Summer has been winding down in many parts of the world, and that brings concerns about climate change and how to stop it. My Time at Sandrock tackles this theme as it is set in a small village living in the desert trying to stop the desertification of their town and the loss of hot water and precious water.
Sandrock’s story is ultimately about hope. Most cozy games about shrinking cities are about raising them up, and Sandrock does that in some important ways. If you’re looking to ease into RPGs and open world games, My Time in Sandrock is one of the best choices as it’s a really good game, with great humor, and it might just help you see your way through the rising temperatures.
7
The wind of Tsushima
Enjoy the Japanese summer
Ghost of Tsushima may seem like a strange game to play in the summer, but Japan is a country with a culture that is very much rooted in the seasons. Its summers, including Kyushu where it is set, are brutal, and playing it during the hottest season gives an idea of the conditions Jin encountered during the Mongolian invasion.
Pinpointing the season in which Ghost of Tsushima takes place is difficult as there are trees with autumn leaves and those with flowers, but each part of the map that opens goes through the seasons. Ghost of Tsushima opens with lush, green landscapes, and clearly begins sometime in the summer.
6
Starsand Island
Tourist Hotspot setting
For good summer island vibes, Starand Island is a great choice. A cool open world game set on a peaceful island with a beautiful art style and island vacation vibes. Starsand Island is not only like a summer vacation, but it can be played on the Standdeck, making it perfect for traveling.
Starsand Island is set for a 1.0 August 2026 release on consoles including the Nintendo Switch 2, arriving in time for late summer. It doesn’t have heavy combat or a complicated story, making it worth an afternoon stroll.
5
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Great Outdoors Without Going There
Camping is an important part of the summer season everywhere, and very few games replicate the outdoor experience of Red Dead Redemption 2. This game is considered one of the deepest and most detailed open world games, perfectly simulating the feeling of camping in the wilderness without ever stepping foot.
Aside from the original exterior, Red Dead Redemption 2 is also just a great open world game with a heartwarming story. It is long though, so playing it in summer is good to finish everything in enough time.
4
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A True Open World
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a classic, and there are many reasons why you should play it this summer. It’s an amazing open world game and Switch native, so you can play it anywhere. This makes it perfect for traveling as you travel to your summer destination, but it’s also great for quiet time at home.
Breath of the wild atmosphere and wonderful world gives it a summer feeling, and even the rain in the game feels calm. Its exploration is designed to keep you busy for hours while its open world truly embodies the word, with freedom of exploration and a non-linear quest line. Tears of the Kingdom is also a good contender, but Breath of the Wild is my personal pick this summer.
3
Mario Kart World
A Party Game for Everyone
Mario Kart World may seem like an odd choice, but it’s technically an open world game and works as a solo and team game. Thanks to its multiplayer mode that can accommodate up to 24 racers, it is perfect for party and barbecue fun in groups, while it is fun and engaging for single players. It has tons of modes and courses that avoid any repetitive gameplay.
Its multiplayer mode also makes it great on the go, as you can play it with friends or family during long journeys or during leisure time. It’s family fun, and you can’t go wrong with it.
2
Coral Island
Tropical island
Coral Island is considered one of the most comfortable games in the genre. It’s a farming sim set on a tropical island, making it the perfect open world game to get into this summer.
Coral Island sets itself apart from other farming sims in that the ocean and its environment play a major role. You can dive underwater and meet and make friends with people. If you’ve felt that farming sims are all blurring into one game due to their sameness, Coral Island could be the perfect break while still giving you that cozy game vibe that makes the genre so appealing.
1
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Remastered
Cruise the Caribbean
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is my second favorite Assassin’s Creed game, behind only Assassin’s Creed II, and I’m really excited to play Resynced. Despite being a great action game remake, Black Flag takes place in the Caribbean during the height of the golden age of the sea. Tropical islands, crystal clear seas, and busy port calls are the places that define Black Flag, and the setting’s tropical climate is perfect for summertime play.
Black Flag Resynced was just released, in the middle of the summer and offers plenty of time to explore everything it has to offer. I’m excited to revisit one of my favorite games on the mainland, as the sailing and exploration was one of the most memorable parts of the original Black Flag.
