7 lists · 74 games
Every adventure shelf on Game-Scout: open-world, story, stealth, western and pirate games for PS5 and PS4, sorted by the kind of journey rather than by genre tag.
19 games
The widest list on the shelf, led by Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto V and Ghost of Tsushima. Its picks reappear on the story, western and stealth lists, so it shows which of those to open next.
Big maps worth crossing, from Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V to Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding 2. Each pick is tagged for what its world does best, whether that is traversal, spectacle or a first open world for a newcomer.
Top picks: Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto V (PlayStation®5), Ghost of Tsushima
15 games
Fifteen games played for the writing, led by The Last of Us Part I, Red Dead Redemption 2 and God of War Ragnarök. It runs from cinematic adventures to choice-driven dramas like Detroit: Become Human and short stories like What Remains of Edith Finch.
Top picks: The Last of Us™ Part I, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War Ragnarök
12 games
Twelve pirate games, with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag on top, Sea of Thieves for crews and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as the offbeat pick. The list also explains why Skull and Bones is left off.
Top picks: Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag, Sea of Thieves, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
12 games
Twelve games ranked by how close they get to Sea of Thieves, from Black Flag and Skull and Bones on the naval side to Raft, Dredge and Subnautica for co-op survival and solo voyages. Open it when the question is what to play after Sea of Thieves, not which pirate game is best.
Top picks: Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Raft
8 games
Eight western and cowboy games, led by both Red Dead Redemption games. The rest of the list is where it earns its place: tactics in Desperados III, turn-based gunfights in Hard West and the non-violent El Hijo for newcomers.
Top picks: Red Dead Redemption 2, Red Dead Redemption, Desperados III
13 games
Thirteen stealth games, from the open-world infiltration of Metal Gear Solid V and the sandboxes of Hitman 3 to Dishonored and the squad tactics of Shadow Tactics. Sorted by the kind of sneaking each one is built around.
Top picks: METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN, HITMAN 3, Dishonored® Definitive Edition
18 games
Eighteen open-world RPGs, led by The Witcher 3, Elden Ring and Skyrim. It lives on the RPG shelf and is linked here because it is the next stop when an open world alone is not enough and you want a character to build in it.
Top picks: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, ELDEN RING, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Rockstar's two open worlds compared: pace, tone and which one to play first.
The two westerns at the top of the western list, head to head.
Two PlayStation open worlds compared, for when the open-world list leaves you choosing between them.
The top pirate pick against the larger Greek open world: map, combat and sailing.
