Short answer: the best open world games to play in 2026 are Red Dead Redemption 2, Watch Dogs 2, Cyberpunk 2077, GTA 5, Far Cry 5, Mad Max, Days Gone and Just Cause. Every one of them is a brilliant solo sandbox, most of them are cheap now, and together they are the perfect way to fill the wait until GTA 6 lands on 19 November 2026. Here is the honest ranked run-down.
The channel is not just tactical shooters. The other half of what I love is the big, dumb, brilliant open world: the day-off games where you get a whole map and permission to cause trouble in it. With GTA 6 still months away, everyone is piling back into these right now, so here are the ones actually worth your time in 2026, ranked, all played solo.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Still the best open world ever made, and it is not particularly close. The world is so dense and so alive that it ruins other games for you. It is slow, deliberate and completely absorbing, and years on it still looks and feels a generation ahead. If you have somehow never played it, this is the one to fix first. Full thoughts in is Red Dead Redemption 2 worth it in 2026.
2. Watch Dogs 2
The best-value pick on this list by a mile. A bright, playful San Francisco where hacking turns the whole city into your toybox, wrapped in a tone that actually wants you to have fun. It is dirt cheap, it is having a genuine resurgence, and the only weak spot is the gunplay, which stops mattering the moment you play it as a stealth-and-hacking sandbox. My full case is in is Watch Dogs 2 worth it in 2026.
3. Cyberpunk 2077
The great comeback story. A rough launch, then years of work turned it into one of the most atmospheric open worlds going. Night City is stunning, the writing is genuinely good, and as a solo RPG sandbox it is now an easy recommendation. See is Cyberpunk 2077 worth it in 2026.
4. GTA 5
Over a decade old and still one of the most polished open worlds ever built. If you want the actual GTA feel while you wait for 6, the single-player is right here and it holds up completely. It is the direct warm-up for November.
5. Far Cry 5
The best solo Far Cry for my money: a gorgeous Montana map, a proper sense of place, and the classic outpost-clearing loop that never gets old. Perfect for stealth runs or total chaos. Verdict in is Far Cry 5 worth it in 2026, and if you want the tactical crossover, Ghost Recon Wildlands vs Far Cry 5.
6. Mad Max
The most underrated game on this list. The best car combat in the genre, a wasteland that genuinely earns the word atmospheric, and it sells for pennies. Nobody talks about it and everybody should. Full verdict in is Mad Max worth it in 2026.
7. Days Gone
A slow-burn survival open world that got a rough deal at launch and has aged into a quiet favourite. The horde tech is still genuinely impressive, and the biker-in-the-apocalypse world is more affecting than it had any right to be. See is Days Gone worth it in 2026.
8. Just Cause
Pure, uncut open-world chaos. No pretence, no slow burn, just a grappling hook, a parachute and a sandbox built entirely for causing explosions. When the tactical brain is fully fried, this is the reset button. Verdict in is Just Cause 4 worth it in 2026.
The wait-for-GTA-6 plan
If you only have time for a couple before November, my picks: Red Dead Redemption 2 if you want the deepest world of all time, and Watch Dogs 2 if you want cheap, playful, modern-city fun right now. Between them they cover both ends of the open-world spectrum, and both will keep you busy until the big one drops.
Count down to it and see the full “what to play before” curation at the GTA 6 HQ. If you want the relaxed solo-only angle, I ranked those separately in the best open world games to play solo, and for the closest GTA substitutes specifically, what to play before GTA 6 has you covered. The whole open-world lane lives under Open-World and Free Roam.
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FAQ
What is the best open world game to play in 2026?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is still the best open world ever made and the one to beat in 2026, but the honest answer depends on your mood. Want the deepest world, play Red Dead. Want playful modern-city chaos, play Watch Dogs 2. Want pure explosive freedom, play Just Cause. They are all on the channel, played solo, and all worth your time.
What open world games should I play before GTA 6?
GTA 6 lands on 19 November 2026, so you have time for a few big ones. Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 5 for the Rockstar feel, Watch Dogs 2 for a modern-city sandbox, and Far Cry or Just Cause for pure open-world chaos. All of them scratch the GTA itch in different ways.
What are the best cheap open world games in 2026?
Watch Dogs 2, Mad Max and Days Gone are the standout budget picks. They all discount heavily and regularly sell for a few pounds, and every one of them is a genuinely great solo open world for the money. Mad Max in particular is one of the most underrated buys in the genre.
What is the best open world game to play solo?
Almost all of these are best played solo, which is exactly how I play them. Red Dead Redemption 2, Watch Dogs 2, Mad Max, Far Cry 5 and Days Gone are all single-player-first sandboxes with no pressure and no PvP. If you want a relaxed day off from the tactical grind, any of them will do it.
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