Best open world games like Starfield you should play

Character around mountains in StarfieldBethesda

As one of 2023’s most celebrated open-world games, Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG Starfield takes players on an unforgettable space odyssey. If you’re keen on similar experiences, here’s a list of open-world games like Starfield that are worth exploring.

Starfield’s compelling science fiction universe, blending Bethesda’s renowned open-world RPG expertise with breathtaking space exploration, offers a glimpse into humanity’s adventures beyond Earth.

Landing on more than a thousand planets in addition to an unknown number of moons and space stations, is possible in the game’s open world. The game’s universe takes the shape of a region within the Milky Way galaxy that contains both fictional and non-fictional planetary systems.

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However, we have collected a selection of similar open-world adventures you may enjoy before embarking on your voyage across the galaxy in Starfield.

Best open world games like Starfield

Here are the best games like Starfield that you should be checking out:

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Mass Effect 3 squad and reapersBioware
The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best galactic adventures of all time

When it comes to high stakes open-world Space video games, Mass Effect is often the go-to game for many and one that you should dive into if you haven’t already.

The original trilogy, which can be purchased as a Remastered bundle, puts players into the shoes of Commander Shepard, a loyal soldier of the Alliance, the representative body of Earth and all human colonies in Citadel space, where you and your crew must travel from planet to planet, explore different systems and protect the fate of the whole galaxy.

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As an RPG, players must make choices throughout all the games, some of which have lasting impacts and can significantly influence how specific conflicts play out. Given its vast scope and scale, it’s easy to clock hundreds of hours in Mass Effect and still have more to do.

Furthermore, the Mass Effect trilogy allows players to develop romantic relationships with supporting characters, some of whom aren’t even human, personalize your Commander Shepard to fit your playstyle and shoot lots of evil aliens in the process.

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No Man’s Sky

No Man's Sky coverHello Games
No Man’s Sky is one of the top action-adventure survival games out there that embraces the open-world genre.

No Man’s Sky is an awe-inspiring exploration game created by Hello Games that drops players in a procedurally generated cosmos with infinite possibilities. From the first minute you step foot on a mysterious world, you are immersed in a stunningly gorgeous and varied galaxy, each planet boasting its own distinct flora, fauna, and scenery.

As a space explorer, you can go wherever your heart desires, whenever you want. Your ship can easily take you from a planet’s surface to the depths of space.

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The game has won several accolades, including Best Ongoing Game at the 2020 Game Awards.

The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds coverObsidian Entertainment
The Outer Worlds is a single-player RPG where you explore a space colony and decide the course of your character.

The Outer Worlds is a compelling role-playing game by Obsidian Entertainment that takes players to a satirical future where corporations rule everything. The plot of this story is set in the Halcyon colony, where you awake from cryo-sleep to find yourself at the center of a conspiracy that threatens the world’s delicate balance of power.

Your decisions and actions will have far-reaching consequences, influencing the course of events and the survival of entire communities.

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The Outer Worlds provides a complex and thought-provoking experience with its combination of character customization, engaging plot, and dynamic combat, all of which encourage players to question authority, overcome moral difficulties, and reveal the seedy underbelly of corporate control.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 coverCD Projekt Red
Cyberpunk 2077 is a futuristic action RPG that lets players explore the open world of Night City.

Cyberpunk 2077, an ambitious open-world role-playing game created by CD Projekt Red, transports players to a dystopian future in which technology and society are inextricably linked. You play as V, a mercenary who longs for power and immortality in the game’s setting of the enormous Night City, a metropolis rife with intrigue and peril.

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You make your way through a morally complicated storyline where every decision has consequences in this dark and beautiful universe. The game’s stunning visuals, intriguing storyline, and evocative soundtrack provide an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition in a technologically sophisticated but morally corrupted world.

And if that doesn’t convince you to play the game, tune in for Keanu Reeves and the recently released Phantom Liberty DLC, which brought in Idris Elba to Night City.

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Subnautica

Subnautica CoverUnknown Worlds Entertainment
Subnautica is a one-of-a-kind underwater open-world adventure.

Bored of exploring deep space and walking around in zero gravity? Dive and explore the deep seas with Subnautica, an immersive first-person exploration game that captivates players with its rich story, stunning visuals, and subtle blend of awe and horror brought about by the game’s atmospheric soundtrack.

In the eerie environment of Subnautica, you’ll have to learn to survive and explore in order to progress through the game.

A wide variety of marine life, from relatively tame species to fierce predators, awaits you as you explore the depths, and it’s all depicted in breathtaking detail.

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Starbound

Starbound coverChucklefish
Starbound is a 2D procedurally generated universe where players can experience a unique open world.

Starbound is an engrossing sandbox adventure game created by Chucklefish that sends players on a cosmic voyage with endless potential.

It is a two-dimensional, procedurally generated universe that provides players with a wide and varied galaxy to explore, complete with colorful planets, bustling space stations, and mysterious alien life forms.

The game enables you to create your own unique story in a cosmos brimming with wonders by constructing enormous communities, embarking on adventurous expeditions, or becoming a master of interplanetary trade.

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Starbound is an excellent choice for adventurers due to its charming pixel art style, deep lore, and active modding community.

Valheim

Valheim coverIron Gate Studios
Valheim is an early-access open-world survival experience with a sandbox mode.

Iron Gate Studio’s captivating Valheim is a first-person, open-world survival game that has a fantastical environment inspired by Viking mythology. The gods have cast you adrift in the afterlife, and it is up to you to prove your worth by adventuring through and conquering a huge procedurally generated world full of varied biomes, fantastical animals, and challenging bosses.

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The game went into early access for PC users on February 2, 2021, and later for Xbox players in 2023, and has been in that phase ever since. Gathering resources, building enormous strongholds, sailing hazardous seas, and uncovering the secrets of this ancient realm is a fascinating and demanding experience in Valheim, thanks to the game’s expert blending of survival, crafting, and exploration features.

Everspace

Everspace coverROCKFISH Games
Everspace is a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with exploration in space and on planets.

Rockfish Games’ riveting space shooter Everspace takes players on a breathless and stunning adventure through the depths of space. The game takes place in a large and gorgeously depicted cosmos, blending furious dogfights, exploration, and roguelike aspects to create a thrilling and engaging adventure.

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Fight epic space battles, equip your ship with improved weaponry and gadgets, and learn the truth about your origins. Everspace provides an exciting and ever-changing adventure with breathtaking visuals, dynamic gameplay, and a compelling plot.

Stellaris

Stellaris coverParadox Interactive
Stellaris is a sci-fi RTS where players take control of an interstellar civilization.

Stellaris is a game where you take control of a new spacefaring civilization and lead it through the trials of exploration, diplomacy, and conflict in a randomly created galaxy.

The game places a strong emphasis on personalization and player agency, allowing you to define the character of your empire, select from a wide variety of species attributes, and craft a unique playstyle that fits your strategic goals.

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Explore the mysteries of the universe through scientific inquiry, fight epic space battles with technologically advanced fleets, and engage in diplomatic and commercial endeavors. Stellaris’s deep physics, unpredictable events, and diverse alien lifeforms keep players engaged throughout multiple campaigns.