Open-world games have been around since the '80s, but the modern era has finally shown what the genre is capable of. Games like Elden Ring and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild create expansive worlds and give players the freedom to explore at their own pace, uncovering secrets all along the way.
The greatest open-world games aren't always easy, and many beloved games have deadly enemies or punishing mechanics players will have to work hard to master. These games might be unforgiving, but they still deliver stunning worlds and have fantastic gameplay that makes each title's challenges worth overcoming.
10 Ghost of Tsushima Is Deeper Than It Seems to Be
Ghost of Tsushima remains one of the greatest open-world games of the past decade, thanks in large part to its exceptional world-building. The game offers a seemingly endless list of fortresses to conquer and shrines to explore, along with many other tasks. It's no easy feat for completionists aiming to 100% the game, but it's the world that keeps drawing players back.
Combat brings its own challenges, especially when it comes to mastering the different stances. As the story unfolds, new enemies demand fresh techniques, creating a steep learning curve. Truly mastering the ways of the samurai and becoming the titular Ghost takes time, and even when players start to feel unstoppable, the game will introduce a new threat that really tests their skills.
9 Subnautica Makes Players Face Their Greatest Fears
Subnautica has grown into a beloved franchise, but the original deserves special recognition for just how intense the experience is. It’s rare to find someone unbothered by the vastness of the ocean, especially when its depths hide so many unknowns, and the game’s survival mechanics expertly tap into those fears.
The title stands as one of the best survival games out there, and it's constantly pushing players to their limits. Exploration is essential, but facing the dangers of the deep is equally nerve-wracking. For players seeking the ultimate challenge, there's Hardcore Mode, with a permanent death feature that proves just how extreme Subnautica can be.
8 Red Dead Redemption 2 Asks Players to Survive The Wild West
Any game with survival elements is bound to be challenging, but Red Dead Redemption 2’s dedication to realism makes its Western world especially demanding. Players spend countless hours exploring its vast landscapes and just as many facing their own downfall. Rockstar’s version of the Wild West is as dangerous as they come, and it’s not only the gunfights that pose a threat.
Red Dead Redemption 2 constantly keeps players on the run, often from the consequences of their own choices. One mistake can turn the entire world against them, especially outside of missions. It forces players to rely on their weapons as the full drama of the Western genre unfolds and shows why so few heroes survive in classic Western tales.
7 Horizon Zero Dawn Has a Brutal Ultra-Hard Difficulty
Horizon Zero Dawn isn't too hard on its normal difficulty, but things get really hard if players opt to tackle it in Ultra Hard mode. On this difficulty setting, every battle with a robotic enemy is a true test of skill, and players will struggle to survive in the post-apocalyptic wilderness.
Both the original game and its sequel are rated as some of the best open-world games of all time, and while playing Horizon Zero Dawn on the hardest difficulty isn't for everyone, the way this title mixes fantasy and sci-fi elements makes its challenges stand out from other difficult open-world games.
6 Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Made Everything Bigger
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is proof that Insomniac isn't afraid to kick up the difficulty with each new installment. While the original game challenged players with intense battles against the Sinister Six and Mr. Negative, its sequel proved to be much harder, especially when it comes to the Symbiotes.
On the game's highest difficulty settings, the swarm of Venom spin-offs can feel almost impossible to defeat. Venom might be the main threat, but his legions aren't any less overwhelming. If Carnage appears in future installments, chaos is sure to reign across this open-world Marvel universe once again.
5 CyberPunk 2077 Is Hard for All the Right Reasons
At launch, Cyberpunk 2077 was hard to play due to its many glitches. Since then, it's evolved into one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made, but that doesn't mean it's gotten easier. Now, it's filled with complex enemies and a futuristic city seemingly designed to push the protagonist to the limit.
Cyberpunk 2077's combat is brutally intense. With so many warring factions and constant danger, there’s never a moment of rest in Night City. If players really want a challenge, they can try playing on Very Hard and watch the chaos unfold. With so many customization options, there are near-endless ways to approach the game's challenges.
4 Middle-earth: Shadow of War's Nemesis System Is Punishing
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is one of the most perfect open-world games ever made. While the previous entry in the series, Shadow of Mordor, was fantastic, this is the game that truly showed the potential of the series. Its ambitious siege mechanics made every battle feel epic, with missions that pit players against enemies like dragons and giants.
Even though the game deserved to be hailed as an instant classic, it's anything but easy. Shadow of War uses Monolith's innovative Nemesis System, which allows enemies to rise in power by killing other enemies or the player. It's highly immersive, but it also means the game keeps getting harder, especially when the player fails.
3 Monster Hunter Wilds Took the Series in a New Direction
The Monster Hunter series has experimented with open-world elements before, but many argue that the recent Monster Hunter Wilds is the best yet. Its blend of intense beast battles and survival mechanics creates a uniquely challenging balance, and even longtime fans may feel like they’re starting from scratch.
Even though the open world is stunning to explore, players can never let their guard down. Quests drive the game forward, but just reading some of them is enough to make anyone’s heart sink. Many challenges seem nearly impossible to overcome, which is one of many reasons Monster Hunter Wilds has become one of the fastest-selling Capcom games of all time.
2 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Is One of the Hardest Modern Nintendo Games
The Legend of Zelda has long been a fun, family-friendly adventure series for casual players to enjoy. While it’s always featured complex mechanics, it was more about the story and fantasy setting than testing player skill. That changed with the debut of Breath of the Wild, which made it clear that Nintendo wasn’t holding back this time.
Breath of the Wild took the Zelda franchise in a bold new direction and introduced countless innovations that raised the difficulty to a whole new level. With the appearance of Monk Maz Koshia, it delivered one of the toughest boss battles in the series’ history, and the rest of the game is just as tough.
1 Elden Ring's Scale Makes It the Hardest Open-World Game Ever
The question for Elden Ring fans isn’t just whether they finished the game. It's also about the many hours they spent trying to make progress. This George R.R. Martin-written and FromSoftware-developed title is enormous and refuses to follow the familiar narrative structure of most AAA games. Instead, it presents a grounded, open-ended fantasy world that encourages exploration without constraints.
Elden Ring attracts dedicated players drawn to its deep progression systems and complex design. The added DLC only raised the challenge, and with no traditional difficulty settings, everyone faces the same unforgiving world. Some even attempt the near-impossible feat of completing the game without leveling up. That level of determination deserves real credit.
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