The 6 Best Selling Open World Games of All-Time

Open world games dominate the industry because they offer something few other genres can match: freedom. Whether it’s scaling mountains, exploring bustling cities, or chasing quests scattered across massive landscapes, these games let players step into living worlds. But building a successful open world isn’t enough to guarantee blockbuster sales. To reach the top, these games also need cultural resonance, longevity, and mechanics that invite players back year after year.

The following six titles are not just open world games. They are the best selling open world games of all time, each with tens of millions of copies sold. They represent different approaches to the genre, but all achieved commercial juggernaut status. Here’s how they did it.

1. Grand Theft Auto V

When Grand Theft Auto V launched in 2013, it was already one of the most highly anticipated releases in gaming history. Rockstar promised a living city modeled after Los Angeles, complete with satire, heists, and freedom on an unprecedented scale. It delivered all of that and more.

The game’s single-player campaign alone would have cemented its place as a classic. Players could switch between three protagonists – Michael, Franklin, and Trevor – each with their own backstories, missions, and personalities. This storytelling approach was unique at the time and gave the game layers of replayability. The city of Los Santos was sprawling, alive with side missions, random encounters, and endless chaos to unleash.

But GTA V’s true staying power comes from GTA Online. Initially launched as a companion mode, it grew into one of the most successful live-service ecosystems in gaming. Regular updates, heists, custom modes, and role-playing servers kept players engaged more than a decade after launch. GTA V has now sold over 200 million copies, making it not only the best-selling open world game but also one of the best-selling video games in history.

• Sales: 200 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: A groundbreaking campaign paired with an ever-expanding online world
• Legacy: Redefined what a “living game” can be, blending open world freedom with live-service success

2. Minecraft (Open World / Sandbox Hybrid)

It’s almost impossible to talk about best-selling games without mentioning Minecraft. With over 300 million copies sold, it holds the title of the best-selling video game of all time. While often labeled as a sandbox, its open-ended worlds firmly place it in open world discussions.

Every Minecraft world is procedurally generated, creating infinite landscapes of forests, deserts, caves, and oceans. The game lets players define their own experience: surviving against monsters, building monumental structures, or simply wandering to see what’s out there. Unlike many open world games that rely on quests or storylines, Minecraft thrives on imagination.

Its sales dominance comes from accessibility. Minecraft is available on nearly every platform, from PCs and consoles to mobile devices. It also supports cross-play and mods, creating a community-driven ecosystem that ensures no two players’ experiences are the same. Its educational applications, custom servers, and creative freedom have turned it into more than just a game – it’s a global cultural phenomenon.

• Sales: 300 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: Limitless creativity, availability everywhere, and endless replay value
• Legacy: Proved that simple mechanics and imagination could create a game with infinite staying power

3. Red Dead Redemption 2

Released in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar’s most ambitious work. It serves as a prequel to the first Red Dead Redemption, telling the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang. The game’s success wasn’t just about cowboys and gunfights. It was about building a believable, immersive world that felt alive in ways few games ever had.

The American frontier in RDR2 brims with detail. Wildlife behaves realistically, weather changes dynamically, and NPCs remember your actions. From poker games in saloons to gunfights in the wilderness, every moment contributes to the illusion of living in the late 1800s. The narrative, meanwhile, follows Arthur’s struggle between loyalty and morality, delivering one of the most emotional character arcs in gaming.

RDR2 sold over 77 million copies, a staggering figure considering its slower pace compared to GTA V. Its commercial success shows that players will flock to richly detailed, narrative-driven open worlds just as much as chaotic sandboxes.

• Sales: 77 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: Cinematic storytelling combined with deep, immersive world design
• Legacy: Raised the bar for realism and emotional depth in open world narratives

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

When The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt launched in 2015, CD Projekt Red was not yet a household name. That changed almost overnight. The game became a global hit, selling over 60 million copies and solidifying itself as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.

Geralt of Rivia’s journey through war-torn lands wasn’t just about slaying monsters. It was about navigating moral dilemmas, choosing between imperfect outcomes, and engaging with characters who felt real. What set The Witcher 3 apart was how much care went into side quests. Missions that could have been filler in another game often became memorable stories in their own right, complete with emotional weight and branching consequences.

Expansions like Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine only added to its reputation, delivering content that rivaled entire standalone games. Coupled with the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher, the franchise gained mainstream attention that boosted sales years after release.

• Sales: 60 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: Rich storytelling, memorable characters, and high-value expansions
• Legacy: Proved that open world RPGs could combine massive scale with narrative depth

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim launched in 2011 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Known for its dragons, guilds, and seemingly endless quests, it sold around 60 million copies across its many versions and platforms. But Skyrim’s success didn’t stop at launch. Its enduring popularity is tied to two factors: re-releases and mods.

Bethesda has re-released Skyrim multiple times, from its original launch on Xbox 360 and PS3 to special editions on PC, modern consoles, and even VR. Each release brought the game to new audiences. On top of that, the modding community kept Skyrim alive with everything from new quests and visual upgrades to completely new storylines. For many players, Skyrim isn’t just a game but a platform for creativity.

Its combination of fantasy freedom, replayability, and ongoing support made it one of the most beloved open worlds of all time. Few games have managed to stay relevant for over a decade quite like Skyrim.

• Sales: 60 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: Cross-platform re-releases and a thriving modding scene
• Legacy: A masterclass in longevity, keeping a single-player RPG alive for generations

6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

When Nintendo reimagined its iconic Zelda franchise in 2017, the result was Breath of the Wild, a revolutionary open world experience. Selling over 35 million copies, it became one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch and one of the most influential open world games ever made.

Breath of the Wild’s world is defined by freedom. Players can climb any mountain, glide across valleys, and approach challenges however they like. The physics-based systems encourage experimentation, rewarding creativity over linear solutions. Unlike past Zelda titles, Breath of the Wild drops players into Hyrule with little guidance, letting them discover the world on their own terms.

Its influence was immediate. Developers across the industry cited it as inspiration, and its design philosophy reshaped how many approached open world mechanics. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, only furthered the franchise’s dominance.

• Sales: 35 million+
• Why It Sells So Well: Reinvented Zelda with freedom-first gameplay and critical acclaim
• Legacy: Redefined the modern open world genre and inspired countless imitators

Final Thoughts

The best selling open world games achieved their success in different ways. GTA V thrived through its blend of blockbuster single-player storytelling and the endless replayability of GTA Online. Minecraft became the best-selling game in history by giving players infinite creativity and ensuring it was available on nearly every device imaginable. Red Dead Redemption 2 showed that a slower, story-driven open world could also sell tens of millions with the right level of polish and emotional weight.

The Witcher 3 proved that RPGs could combine scale with meaningful storytelling, while Skyrim demonstrated how re-releases and mods could keep a game alive for more than a decade. Finally, Breath of the Wild reinvented one of gaming’s most beloved franchises while influencing the entire industry.

Together, these six games represent the gold standard of commercial success in open world design. They are not just massive sellers; they are cultural milestones that will continue shaping the industry for years to come.