Best open-world action video games

Start with Red Dead Redemption 2 — the safest pick for anyone new to the genre: a huge, gorgeous frontier world, a story that actually lands, and the highest rating here by a wide margin. It's slower and more deliberate than a pure action game, which is the point.

Who the others suit:

• Cyberpunk 2077 — you want a dense city, fast combat and build-crafting; the most "action" of the bunch.
• Crimson Desert — you want something new and sprawling, with strong early ratings.
• GTA V — you want pure mayhem and driving, and don't mind an older game.
• Death Stranding 2 — you want atmosphere and weirdness over constant fighting.
• Doom: The Dark Ages — you want relentless combat in big arenas rather than a true open world.
• ARK: Survival Ascended — you want survival and base-building with dinosaurs.
• Little Kitty, Big City — a gentle, family-friendly palate cleanser.

Check the platform on each card before buying — several are PS5-only or Xbox-only.