Best Open World Games on Steam

Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated open world games. For those who prefer not to search, check out lists of the most played, top deals and best free to play Open World games on Steam.

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Far Cry® 2 You are a gun for hire, trapped in a war-torn African state, stricken with malaria and forced to make deals with corrupt warlords on both sides of the conflict in order to make this country your home. You must identify and exploit your enemies' weaknesses, neutralizing their superior numbers and firepower with surprise, subversion,...

Price -70% 2.99€
Rating 7.5
Release 22 Oct 2008
Bully: Scholarship Edition Bully tells the story of mischievous 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he goes through the hilarity and awkwardness of adolescence. Beat the jocks at dodge ball, play pranks on the preppies, save the nerds, kiss the girl and navigate the social hierarchy in the worst school around.

Price -65% 3.49€
Rating 8.3
Release 21 Oct 2008
X3: Terran Conflict It is the year 2938. The long wished-for encounter of the X Universe and the Earth holds both joy and sorrow for the people. Despite flourishing trade, the clash of the diverse races, cultures and life forms creates new tensions, mistrust and open conflict that need to be overcome!

Price -90% 1.59€
Rating 8.2
Release 16 Oct 2008
LEGO® Batman™: The Videogame When all the villains in Arkham Asylum team up and break loose, only the dynamic duo is bold enough to take them on to save Gotham City. The fun of LEGO, the drama of Batman and the uniqueness of the combination makes for a comical and exciting adventure in LEGO Batman: The Videogame.

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.7
Release 29 Sep 2008
Crysis Warhead® Pulse-racing new installment from 2007's PC Game of the Year*: Play as Sergeant Sykes and experience a whole new side of the battle. A standard combat mission behind enemy lines becomes critical when you discover your enemies have captured something of vital importance to the ensuing war.

Price 19.99€
Rating 8.3
Release 17 Sep 2008
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut Become The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, a legendary monster slayer caught in a web of intrigue woven by forces vying for control of the world. Make difficult decisions and live with the consequences in a game that will immerse you in an extraordinary tale like no other.

Price 7.99€
Rating 8.8
Release 16 Sep 2008
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky – standalone prequel for the acclaimed S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, which tells you story about the Clear Sky group, that want to research the Zone and understand it better.

Price -79% 4.24€
Rating 8.4
Release 15 Sep 2008
Sacred Gold A shadow of evil has fallen on the kingdom of Ancaria. It is a time for champions - a time to journey into the perilous world of SACRED. Battle blood-thirsty orcs & lumbering ogres... Destroy undead wizards & rotting mummies... Slay hellish demons & legendary dragons.

Price -96% 0.43€
Rating 8.3
Release 09 Jul 2008
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 Il-2 1946 includes all of the original IL-2 series content: IL-2 Sturmovik™: Forgotten Battles, Ace Expansion Pack, Pacific Fighters™ and alternate histry campaigns of year 1946. What was years ago began as a one-aircraft study sim is now an astonishing anthology, with a whopping 229 flyable aircraft and over 300 aircraft total!

Price -96% 0.49€
Rating 8.5
Release 13 Jun 2008
Silent Hunter® III The king of submarine simulations returns with an all-new 3D engine, new crew command features, and more realistic WWII naval action than ever before. The movie-like graphics and simple, tension-filled gameplay make this the perfect game for the realism fanatic and the casual gamer.

Price 4.99€
Rating 8.4
Release 13 Jun 2008
Assassin's Creed™: Director's Cut Edition Assassin's Creed™ is the next-gen game developed by Ubisoft Montreal that redefines the action genre. While other games claim to be next-gen with impressive graphics and physics, Assassin's Creed merges technology, game design, theme and emotions into a world where you instigate chaos and become a vulnerable, yet powerful, agent of...

Price 9.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 09 Apr 2008
Far Cry® A tropical paradise seethes with hidden evil in Far Cry®, a cunningly detailed action shooter that pushes the boundaries of combat to shocking new levels. Freelance mariner Jack Carver is cursing the day he ever came to this island.

Price -70% 2.99€
Rating 8.0
Release 01 Apr 2008
Death to Spies Smersh is Russian for "Death to Spies" and was the name of a set of counterintelligence agencies formed in the Soviet Army during World War II. Their mission was to secure the rear of the active Red Army by arresting traitors, deserters, spies and criminal cells.

Price -84% 0.81€
Rating 7.3
Release 12 Mar 2008
Frontlines™: Fuel of War™ Frontlines™: Fuel of War™ is an open-world First Person Shooter set on the frontlines of tomorrow. In a world ravaged by a global energy crisis, environmental decay, and economic depression, players assume the role of an elite soldier in the Western Coalition Army on an epic crusade against the Red Star Alliance to control the last of...

Price 9.99€
Rating 6.6
Release 29 Feb 2008
Overlord™: Raising Hell How evil can you get? Discover how corruptible you are in Overlord, the twisted fantasy action adventure where you can be evil (or really evil). In the game's seriously warped fantasy world, players will become the Overlord and get first-hand experience of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Price 8.99€
Rating 8.9
Release 28 Feb 2008
Darkstar One Darkstar One offers a fantastic amount of freedom of choice. The story-based missions gradually lead you deeper into the galaxy to new races, new technologies and ever stronger opponents. Explore a vast array of solar systems in search of hidden artifacts of ancient races, essential objects for upgrading your ship--the Darkstar One.

Price -89% 1.03€
Rating 7.8
Release 13 Feb 2008
18 Wheels of Steel: American Long Haul Your American Dream Starts Behind the Wheel of Your Own Big Rig! North America's open roads await! You ain't working for the Man any more! You're the owner of your own trucking business and you call the shots. Build your empire one rig at a time to dominate the roadways and outbid the competition. Can you handle the pressure?

Price 9.99€
Rating 6.9
Release 29 Jan 2008
Call of Juarez Call of Juarez is an epic adventure western themed FPS game. The player alternately assumes the roles of two distinct, antagonistic characters: a sneaking fugitive Billy and his hunter the reverend Ray.

Price -95% 0.55€
Rating 7.8
Release 08 Nov 2007
Overlord™ Prepare to be tempted, mesmerized and thrilled, become the Overlord, how corrupt you become depends on how you handle any given situation. Your actions impact the game world. With incredible power at your disposal and a team of evil minded minions to do your evil bidding, how will you resist the temptation to be incredibly despotic?

Price 4.99€
Rating 9.0
Release 26 Oct 2007
Arx Fatalis This critically acclaimed first-person RPG from Arkane Studios takes the player on an amazing journey into the fantasy world of Arx. Arx is wrought with turmoil, brought to the brink of destruction by a violent war.

Price -89% 0.56€
Rating 8.4
Release 03 Apr 2007
Thief: Deadly Shadows You are Garrett, the master thief. Rarely seen and never caught, Garrett is the best that ever was. Able to sneak past any guard, pick any lock, and break into the most ingeniously secured residences. Garrett steals from the wealthy and gives to himself, making his living in the dark and foreboding City.

Price -89% 0.98€
Rating 7.8
Release 29 Mar 2007
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl tells a story about survival in the Zone – a very dangerous place, where you fear not only the radiation, anomalies and deadly creatures, but other S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, who have their own goals and wishes.

Price -74% 5.24€
Rating 9.3
Release 20 Mar 2007
Just Cause Your world...Your rules!

Price -85% 1.10€
Rating 6.5
Release 15 Mar 2007
GUN™ When life robs Colton White of all that matters, the only thing left he can trust is his GUN. From award-winning developer, Neversoft, and accomplished screenwriter, Randall Jahnson (The Mask of Zorro, The Doors), GUN follows Colton on his quest for discovery as he seeks to exact vengeful justice on those who have wronged him.

Price 14.99€
Rating 8.8
Release 13 Oct 2006