Open worlds demand fun and interesting ways to get from A to B. It’s ultimately 75% of what players do in these types of games. So, it’s always a breath of fresh air when games go out of their way to make this aspect of the game a lot more thrilling.

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The vast expanses of open-world games often necessitate a mount for getting around. These games take that idea and get creative with their mounts.

One of those ways, which adds a ten-ton of oomph, is letting you pilot vehicles that are well and truly massive. Whether it’s in the air, on the ground, or in the water, there are some great open-world games that let you get behind the wheel of some amazing feats of engineering.

9

Subnautica

Pilot Your Own Seabase

Survival

Horror

Open-World

Science Fiction

Released

January 23, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Subnautica is an unforgettable ride, at least for those who don’t suffer from thalassophobia (fear of deep water). In this survival game, players are stranded on an unforgiving alien ocean planet with one goal: get the hell out of there.

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To help them achieve this, the game will eventually give players access to the godsend that is the Cyclops submarine. At 54 meters long, this sub is more than just transportation—it’s a mobile seabase. With a vehicle bay, onboard farming, and the ability to dive into the abyss, it’s a lifeline for those daring enough to explore the deep.

8

SnowRunner

Kings of the Road

Released

April 28, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

SnowRunner is an open-world off-road simulation game that puts players behind the wheels of some of the mightiest machines ever to hit the road. The challenge? Conquering some of North America and Russia’s roughest terrain, no matter the cost.

To stand a chance against these unforgiving landscapes, players are given some ginormous rigs to play with, including the BAZ-69092 and the KOLOB 74760. And for those who have no idea what those numbers and letters mean, just know this: Russian artillery tractors and missile transporters are massive.

7

Farming Simulator 25

Make a Metric Ton of Hay While the Sun Shines

Farming

Simulation

Immersive Sim

Released

November 12, 2024

Developer(s)

Giants Software

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

With over 8 billion mouths to feed, farming in the 21st century is all about volume. And what better way to increase that than with gargantuan vehicles that could plow an entire field in minutes?

For those curious about what it’s like to pilot one of these agricultural giants (or simply dreaming of a quieter rural life), Farming Simulator delivers. For example, the game’s biggest vehicle is the K I Stiger 715 quad track tractor, which can weigh up to 72,000 pounds and packs a staggering 778 horsepower.

6

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

A Pirate’s Life For Me

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Released

October 29, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Set in the West Indies during the Golden Age of Piracy, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag stands tall as one of the series’ finest entries. But what made it truly special? The breathtaking Caribbean setting? That certainly helped. The swashbuckling rogue Edward Kenway? We’re getting warmer…

It was, in fact, the new feature of commanding massive 17th-century pirate ships, capable of leveling foes with a well-aimed broadside. Sailing the high seas, your crew belting out shanties as waves crash around you, remains one of gaming’s most unforgettable experiences.

5

Elite Dangerous

Big Universe With Big Ships

Systems

Released

December 16, 2014

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

In Elite Dangerous, players are set loose in a 1:1 scale, open-world recreation of the Milky Way galaxy. And to make their way through that celestial playground, the game allows them to pilot ships of all shapes and sizes.

Naturally, many will gravitate toward the biggest ships available, whether for mining, exploration, trade, or combat. But with all that junk in the trunk, these colossal vessels don’t exactly handle like a dream. Or, to quote Futurama: “Ah, she’s built like a steakhouse but handles like a bistro!”

4

Space Engineers

Voxel-Based Star Destroyers

Released

February 28, 2019

Developer(s)

Keen Software House

Space Engineers is an ambitious indie game that lets players explore the infinite cosmos by constructing and managing voxel-based spacecraft and stations. However, to achieve that liberating sense of freedom, players will need to put on their thinking caps and recall any lessons they’ve had on physics and space engineering.

Mastering the game’s mechanics opens the door to building and piloting massive supercarriers and battlecruisers, the kind that would make the Warhammer 40K universe blush. In theory, the size of these titans is only limited by a player’s PC capabilities. That said, once you pass the 800-meter mark, physics starts taking some… creative liberties.

3

Starfield

Customize Your Own Gigantic Space Fearer

Systems

Released

September 6, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

If Skyrim in space sounds like a jolly good time, then allow us to introduce Starfield. Bethesda’s sprawling sci-fi RPG lets players explore over 1,000 planets, some procedurally generated, others handcrafted (results may vary).

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While players can design nimble starfighters that are perfect for weaving through even the tightest Death Star trench, the game also lets players build colossal freighters that could blot out the sun. With an 80m x 80m build area in the shipbuilder, the sky (or rather, the stars) is the limit.

2

Grand Theft Auto Online

Trucks, Jets, and Subs

Released

October 1, 2013

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

While Grand Theft Auto V offers its fair share of massive vehicles, the real heavyweights are found in GTA Online. Here, players can take the helm of military jets, towering trucks, and even a nuclear-powered submarine.

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Yes, that’s right—the game lets players own and pilot the Kosatka submarine. This bad boy stretches over 400 feet long (or about one and a half football fields, for those that have no idea how big that is). If it looks familiar, that’s because it’s inspired by the Soviet Union’s formidable Delta-class subs.

1

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Airborne Titan Simulator

Systems

Released

November 19, 2024

ESRB

e

For armchair pilots dreaming of soaring above the clouds, Microsoft Flight Simulator is the be-all and end-all. Since its debut in 1982, the series has set the gold standard for flight simulation, delivering an experience that’s as vast as the skies themselves.

No other game offers a 1:1 recreation of the entire planet, complete with over 70 aircraft to explore it. And as any plane enthusiast can tell you, some of these marvels of aeronautical engineering can be humongous. The game’s biggest is the Antonov An-225 Mriya, which is an incredible 84 meters in length with a wingspan of 88.4 meters. What was once the world’s largest aircraft was originally designed to transport space rocket parts, making it a true icon of aviation.

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