Collider has published a ranked list of the eight most immersive open-world video games, celebrating titles that give players freedom to explore, solve problems and progress at their own pace rather than following a fixed path. The article argues that in open-world gaming "the journey matters more than the destination", and highlights how strong world-building and player agency define the genre's best entries.

Among the games discussed are Cyberpunk 2077, praised for CD Projekt Red's turnaround of the title from a heavily criticised 2020 launch into a widely admired game through sustained post-release updates, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, noted for expanding on its predecessor Breath of the Wild by adding new layers of the map above and below the original world. The piece also references the Grand Theft Auto franchise as one of the most enduring open-world series, ahead of the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI, expected around November.