We all love open-world games — and for good reason. They give us the freedom to go anywhere, do anything, and as technology advances, they’re becoming more and more realistic. These worlds feel alive, crowded with people walking around, going about their business. It honestly feels like you’ve stepped into a completely different world. So, I thought — why not make today’s Blog about the 10 most realistic open world pc games with realistic physics?
Table of Contents
Mafia: Definitive Edition
This is a remake of the 2001 Mafia game, released in 2020. The best thing about it is that, aside from missions, you can just explore the open world. Its city isn’t based on any real-life location, but it’s inspired by 1930s Chicago, during the time when gangs and the mafia were on the rise. The first thing is — its open world feels very alive. Everywhere you go, you’ll see people walking around and cars driving on the roads. Sure, they’re 1930s-era cars, but they don’t feel slow because they match the setting. The buildings also match that time period. Even the ads and the way the buildings are designed perfectly fit the 1930s vibe. The only thing I don’t like is that if you leave the city and go outside, it feels very empty. Maybe back then, people didn’t travel that far because transportation was difficult. Also, you can’t swim in this game. If you jump into the water, you won’t die like in GTA Vice City, but you’ll instantly teleport back to land. That’s why the water areas feel pretty empty too.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
In my opinion, this is one of the more underrated Assassin’s Creed games. Sure, compared to previous Assassin’s Creed titles, the gameplay didn’t change that much, and at some points, it even felt repetitive. But when it comes to the open world — it’s absolutely incredible. It’s set in London in the year 1868, during the Industrial Revolution. That’s why you’ll see factories on the ground and pollution in the sky — exactly like that time period. On the streets, you’ll see people everywhere doing their work.
You’ll see children running around, some pickpocketing, others victims of child labor. You’ll also see plenty of horse-drawn carriages, which give the city a unique feel, and you can use them to explore the entire city and do side activities. In the middle of the city, there’s a river from which goods are exported to other countries, and the rivers are even more crowded than the roads because they’re full of boats and ships. And if you’re not into roads or boats, there’s also a train that lets you travel across the open world — and your safehouse is inside the train itself. Even the city’s districts are designed with great thought. Poor districts are full of factories and workers, middle-class districts are a bit better, and high-class districts are where the rich live — or even the Queen. The buildings in those areas are tall, beautiful, and realistic to the time period. The developers did an amazing job showing that era in-game.
Next up, Sleeping Dogs
Released in 2012, this open world pc games with realistic physics title is set in Hong Kong. It’s a crime game where your main character works for both the gangs and the police — basically, you’re an undercover cop. I probably don’t need to explain the story, but I do want to point out the open world. The city feels incredibly crowded, especially at night — and honestly, the best time to play Sleeping Dogs is at night. The developers have perfectly captured the atmosphere of an Asian city, with street stalls, food vendors, glowing neon signs, and constant activity. Somewhere, someone might be stealing from a shop, while elsewhere gang members are extorting shop owners. It’s fun to play a game where the open world feels alive, not just a bunch of buildings and empty roads.
Then comes GTA V
Everyone knows this one. Its city is based on real-life Los Angeles, which is why most of its buildings and locations exist in real life. Beyond missions, you can do a ton of other activities, and the environment around you always feels alive. Some people are working, others are talking on their phones, and some are just walking around. You’ll notice street performers playing guitar or other instruments for money. Near the movie theater, people are taking photos. The level of detail is incredible — one side of the city might have homeless people searching for shelter, while on the other, people are busy taking selfies. Even if you head out to the countryside, it doesn’t feel empty — you’ll still find people, shoppers, and activity going on. In the forests, you’ll see animals. Compared to older GTA games like GTA III, which felt very empty, GTA V’s open world is extremely realistic.
In sixth place, The Division 2
This third-person shooter takes place in a world where a deadly virus has broken out, leading to many deaths and most people evacuating the city. Only bad guys, Division agents, and dead bodies remain. Ubisoft is known for creating incredible open world pc games with realistic physics, and they recreate real-life locations with amazing detail. In The Division, we saw New York City. In The Division 2, it’s Washington D.C., and it looks very realistic. Just because the city has fewer people doesn’t mean it feels empty — there are wrecked cars everywhere, nature reclaiming the streets, and belongings scattered around, showing how people left in a hurry. The result is a very realistic world. And the best part? You can play it with your friends.
Next, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Some people say its story feels scattered and its setting is different from other games in the series. But its open world is very realistic. This is an open world pc games with realistic physics stealth game made by Kojima Productions, with large parts of the story set in Afghanistan and Africa. You have a dog and a horse as companions to help you. The game shows exactly what an army-controlled region would feel like, with enemies stationed everywhere. And since this is a Kojima game, if you keep using the same approach on enemies, they’ll adapt and change their tactics — meaning you’ll need to keep switching your strategy.
Then maybe The Witcher 3
This game was made by the same company that created Cyberpunk 2077. In fact, The Witcher 3 is the reason CD Projekt became so famous, and it’s why people had such high expectations for Cyberpunk 2077. If you love hunting monsters, this game is perfect. But beyond that, its open world is extremely realistic. Along with the main story, you can do side activities like card games or even dating scenes. The detailing is fantastic — NPCs aren’t just pretending to do things, they’re actually busy with tasks. There are dense markets, dogs wandering around, farmers working in the fields, and fishermen by the water. The wildlife and environments make the world feel alive, which is why it’s ranked so high. Now we’re in the top three
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Most people can’t play it because it’s a console exclusive, but it’s one of the best console games out there. It’s Spider-Man, so no introduction is needed — you can literally do everything you’ve seen in the movies. Its open world is a recreation of New York City, and many believe it’s the closest to the real thing compared to other games. The detailing is top-notch — sure, you can swing around using your web shooters, but even when you’re on the ground, the city feels dense and alive. New York is known for being crowded, with taxis everywhere, and that’s exactly what you see in the game. Because Spider-Man is a celebrity in this world, if you walk around, some people will stop to take pictures of you — that’s how much detail they’ve put in.
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Watch Dogs 2
Some people call it a GTA clone, but Watch Dogs 2 isn’t just about driving and shooting. You can use technology to change the game world — open locked gates, change traffic lights, or even disable people’s cell phones. It’s filled with unique things to do, and the open world feels incredibly realistic. The NPCs act alive, and the game shows a fictionalized version of San Francisco in great detail.
And finally, at number one — Red Dead Redemption 2
This is Rockstar’s latest game, and it’s on top of many lists for a reason. Its open world is the most realistic compared to any other game. Set in the 1880s and 1890s, during the era of cowboys, you can walk into villages and explore shops where people are always doing something. Head into the wilderness, and you’ll find plenty of wildlife. You’ll even see buildings under construction that get completed as the game progresses, and new railroad tracks being laid. There’s no doubt in my mind — Red Dead Redemption 2 has the most realistic open world ever made.
I know I didn’t cover every great game here — this is a short Blog, and I can only fit so much in. So tell me in the comments: which other open world pc games with realistic physics do you think have an incredibly realistic open world?