When we think of open-world gaming, we often imagine sprawling landscapes and limitless talking to freedom—two characteristics that have become synonymous with some of the best PlayStation games over the years. Sony’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of gaming has made PlayStation consoles home to some of the most expansive and immersive open-world experiences in the industry. Whether players are exploring vast wildernesses, tackling complex narratives, or simply creating their own adventure, PlayStation has continuously raised the bar for what an open-world game can be.

The iconic Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most recognizable open-world games in PlayStation’s history. Rockstar’s ability to craft a living, breathing world, full of complex characters and detailed environments, is a testament to what open-world games can achieve on the PlayStation platform. Similarly, titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt showcase breathtaking landscapes and richly detailed worlds that invite exploration for hours on end, offering players freedom in how they interact with the game’s environments.

Even in its handheld days, PlayStation’s PSP pushed the boundaries of open-world gaming. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories brought expansive, open-world gameplay to the PSP, giving players the chance to explore large, detailed cities while completing missions and experiencing stories. These games demonstrated that, even on portable systems, PlayStation could deliver an open-world experience that rivals their home console counterparts.

Today, PlayStation continues to dominate the open-world genre with games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Red Dead Redemption 2—titles that offer players truly expansive worlds to explore. PlayStation’s pioneering efforts in the open-world space have undoubtedly shaped the direction of the genre for years to come, and it remains one of the defining features of the platform.