Best Exploration Games

NXTO's catalog has 1,301 exploration games. These 30 rank highest once player ratings, Metacritic scores and Steam reviews are combined. The top three: Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, God of War (2018) and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

How it's ranked: a blend of RAWG player ratings, Metacritic and Steam reviews, adjusted so games with very few ratings can't outrank well-proven ones. Times are average player-reported playtime, so treat them as rough guides.

1. 1
   

   Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

   2021Action, Adventure ★ 4.6/5~4 h avg. playtime
2. 2
   

   God of War (2018)

   2018Action, Souls-likePC, PS4 ★ 4.6/5~15 h avg. playtime
3. 3
   

   Divinity: Original Sin 2

   2017Strategy, RPGPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~59.2 h to beat
4. 4
   

   Marvel's Spider-Man

   2018ActionPC, PS5, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~17 h to beat
5. 5
   

   It Takes Two

   2021Platformer, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~12.8 h to beat
6. 6
   

   Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

   2025RPGPC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~29.3 h to beat
7. 7
   

   Ori and the Will of the Wisps

   2020Platformer, AdventurePC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~12 h to beat
8. 8
   

   Celeste

   2018Platformer, IndiePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~8.3 h to beat
9. 9
   

   Hollow Knight

   2017Platformer, IndiePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~27 h to beat
10. 10
    

    Dark Souls III

    2016Action, RPGPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~31.2 h to beat
11. 11
    

    What Remains of Edith Finch

    2017Indie, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~2.1 h to beat
12. 12
    

    Fallout: New Vegas

    2010Shooter, ActionPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~26.7 h to beat
13. 13
    

    Journey

    2012Family, IndiePC, PS4 ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~2 h to beat
14. 14
    

    The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

    2002Action, RPGPC ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~43.4 h to beat
15. 15
    

    Monument Valley

    2014Casual, AdventurePC ★ 4.5/5~1 h avg. playtime
16. 16
    

    Ori and the Blind Forest

    2015Platformer, AdventurePC, Xbox One ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~8.2 h to beat
17. 17
    

    Gorogoa

    2017Casual, IndiePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5~2 h avg. playtime
18. 18
    

    The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

    2022Casual, IndiePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~2.1 h to beat
19. 19
    

    The Stanley Parable

    2013Indie, AdventurePC ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~1.5 h to beat
20. 20
    

    Cocoon

    2023Indie, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5~5 h avg. playtime
21. 21
    

    Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

    2017Shooter, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~9.2 h to beat
22. 22
    

    Minishoot' Adventures

    2024Casual, AdventurePC ★ 4.4/5~10 h avg. playtime
23. 23
    

    Outer Wilds

    2019Indie, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~17.1 h to beat
24. 24
    

    FINAL FANTASY VI

    1994RPGPC ★ 4.4/5~4 h avg. playtime
25. 25
    

    Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

    2021Shooter, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~17.6 h to beat
26. 26
    

    Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

    2003Action, RPGPC, Xbox One, Switch ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~28.7 h to beat
27. 27
    

    Satisfactory

    2024Indie, StrategyPC ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~111.9 h to beat
28. 28
    

    Final Fantasy IX

    2000Adventure, RPGPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5~5 h avg. playtime
29. 29
    

    Bloodborne

    2015Action, RPG ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~32.2 h to beat
30. 30
    

    Chants of Sennaar

    2023Indie, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~9.1 h to beat

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