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If you have just finished a large PlayStation Plus adventure, the best next game depends on what you want to change: Elden Ring for discovery and demanding combat, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition for a character-led fantasy story, Cyberpunk 2077 for choice-driven science fiction, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition for the next chapter of Aloy’s journey, or Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for turn-based battles and an unusually broad set of side activities.
“Best” is a set of good matches rather than an objective ranking. PlayStation Plus catalog membership changes by country, tier and date, so verify the game page in your own catalog before treating any recommendation as included. The dated announcements discussed below do not prove availability on October 13, 2026.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $74.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Demon's Souls - PlayStation 5 | $39.45 | Buy on Amazon |
How to choose your next open-world RPG
Finishing a long subscription game creates a specific problem: another enormous map can feel like more of the same, while a radically different game may not deliver the exploration or role-playing systems you enjoyed. Start by identifying the element you want to keep and the element you want to change.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors- Keep free-form exploration, change the combat: choose Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth if turn-based battles appeal to you.
- Keep difficult combat, increase discovery: choose Elden Ring, whose world is designed around finding routes, hidden areas and optional encounters.
- Keep a strong protagonist and story: choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition.
- Keep a science-fiction setting and meaningful character choices: choose Cyberpunk 2077.
- Continue directly from Horizon Zero Dawn: choose Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition; its included Burning Shores story follows the main game.
None of the available sources establishes a standardized completion-time comparison. World size, optional quests, difficulty and how much side content you pursue can change the experience substantially. Treat “not too long” as a personal threshold, not a promise attached to any title.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
At-a-glance comparison
| Game | Best fit | Core distinction | Edition or expansion detail | PS5 and Plus note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Players who want maximum freedom to roam and a serious combat test | Open exploration on foot or horseback with demanding but fair combat | Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is available separately | PlayStation lists PS4 and PS5 versions; check your current catalog |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition | Players who put character, dialogue and fantasy storytelling first | Geralt’s quest, branching narrative themes and a richly populated world | Includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine | PlayStation lists PS4 and PS5 versions; catalog status is regional and time-sensitive |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Players who prefer a dense city, role-playing choices and science fiction | Night City, V’s mercenary story, customization, jobs and relationships | Phantom Liberty adds the Dogtown area and its campaign | Listed for PS5; announced for Extra and Premium on July 9, 2025, so verify present access |
| Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition | Players who want more of Aloy’s story after Horizon Zero Dawn | Expansive natural and machine-filled environments with a direct narrative continuation | Includes Burning Shores, which takes place after the main game | Confirm the PS5 Complete Edition, not a different platform or edition |
| Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | Players who want turn-based combat and many diversions | Exploration in Yokohama and Honolulu plus karaoke, arcades and other activities | Edition contents vary by product listing; check the exact page | Included in PlayStation’s May 22, 2026 open-world catalog roundup; recheck your region |
The table describes the way each game plays, not a review score or an objective ranking. PlayStation’s open-world article is editorial curation, and the catalog announcements are dated snapshots rather than a guarantee of what remains available now.
Elden Ring: the choice for discovery and combat
Why it fits
Elden Ring is the strongest match when the pleasure of an open-world RPG comes from not knowing what is over the next ridge. PlayStation describes exploration on foot or horseback and combat that is demanding but fair. Those two ideas work together: you can leave a difficult encounter, discover another route, return with a different build and approach the problem on your own terms.
The game does not lead you through every activity in a fixed order. You may find a cave, a ruined settlement, a large optional boss or a path that eventually connects distant regions. That structure makes it a useful follow-up when a previous PlayStation Plus adventure felt overly guided. It also means the game expects patience. Reading enemy patterns, managing stamina and learning when to retreat are part of progression rather than obstacles outside the role-playing system.
What to know before starting
- Combat is intentionally demanding. “Fair” does not mean easy, and early defeats are normal while you learn timing and spacing.
- The open world supports both deliberate exploration and fast movement between discovered locations, so you can alternate between focused objectives and aimless wandering.
- The PS5 version is the relevant edition for this article; PlayStation’s guide also lists a PS4 version.
- Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion rather than part of the base adventure. Decide whether you want the base game first before budgeting for additional content.
Who should skip it
Choose something else if your priority is a heavily voiced, continuously directed story or if you want combat that rarely interrupts exploration. Elden Ring rewards experimentation, but it does not explain every system as directly as a conventional action RPG.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition: the story-first fantasy option
Why it fits
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition is the natural pick when your ideal open-world RPG is built around a memorable protagonist and substantial narrative choices. PlayStation describes Geralt’s quest and the game’s narrative themes, making it a better fit for readers who want conversations, investigations and character relationships to carry as much weight as combat.
The Complete Edition is important because it packages the two major expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Buying or downloading a different edition can change what is included, so read the product title and the contents panel before starting. If you already own the base game, compare your installed version with the Complete Edition listing instead of assuming that every expansion is present.
How it differs from a typical map checklist
The world contains contracts, side quests and activities, but many of them are framed through characters and local problems rather than anonymous map icons. You can follow the main investigation, pause for a contract or become involved in a regional conflict that has consequences for later scenes. This makes the game feel like a series of connected stories rather than a collection of unrelated tasks.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →That narrative density can also make it feel long. A Reddit commenter in the discussion that inspired this topic estimated more than 100 hours when pursuing all side missions, contracts and Gwent; that is an individual estimate, not an official completion-time statistic. Use it only as a reminder that optional content can greatly expand the experience.
Who should choose another game
If you want constant mechanical challenge or a compact, tightly directed campaign, the Complete Edition may be too expansive. Its strength is the accumulation of choices and relationships, so rushing from objective to objective leaves out much of what distinguishes it.
Cyberpunk 2077: the dense-city role-playing choice
Why it fits
Cyberpunk 2077 moves the open-world RPG formula into Night City. PlayStation describes V’s life as a mercenary, character customization, jobs, upgrades, relationships and choices. Instead of crossing a continuous wilderness, you navigate a dense urban environment where districts, interiors and missions create a more concentrated sense of place.
Adam Michel, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s senior director of content acquisition and operations, described it in the July 9, 2025 PlayStation Blog announcement as “an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.” The announcement placed the game in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog at that time and outlined the Night City setting. Because that announcement is dated, it is not evidence that the game is still included in every region or tier in October 2026.
What makes the setting different
- Urban density: activities and missions are concentrated in a futuristic city rather than spread across a medieval or natural landscape.
- Build flexibility: upgrades and customization let you shape V around the abilities and equipment you enjoy.
- Choice-driven missions: jobs and relationships can make the role-playing decisions feel personal rather than purely statistical.
- Expansion path: Phantom Liberty extends the setting into Dogtown and adds another campaign, but it is separate content that should be confirmed in the edition you select.
Who should choose another game
Readers looking for a traditional fantasy journey, a quiet wilderness or the direct continuation of Aloy’s story will be better served elsewhere on this list. The city’s scale is vertical and compact, so it delivers a different kind of exploration from a huge countryside map.
Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition: the direct continuation
Why it fits after Horizon Zero Dawn
If the adventure you just completed was Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition removes the uncertainty about what to play next. The PlayStation Store listing says that Burning Shores picks up after the main game, so the story sequence is clear: play the Forbidden West campaign, then continue into the expansion.
Rank #3
- Discover where the journey began - Experience the original brutal challenge, completely remade from the ground up. All presented in stunning visual quality with enhanced performance, this is the world of Boletaria as you have never seen it before.
- Become the Slayer of Demons - Venture to the northern kingdom of Boletaria – a once prosperous land of knights, now beset with unspeakable creatures and ravenous demons. Meet strange characters, unhinged and twisted by the world around them, and unravel the unsettling story of Demon’s Souls.
- Face the world’s greatest warriors in ferocious PVP combat - With online invasions adding to the danger of your quest. Or play cooperatively by summoning allies to aid in your fight against the demons. Active PS Plus subscription required for online multiplayer.
The Complete Edition also makes the edition decision straightforward because Burning Shores is included. Check that the listing is the PS5 Complete Edition; a similarly named product or a base-game listing may not contain the expansion.
What changes from the first game
The world remains centered on Aloy’s investigation, machine encounters and exploration, but the follow-up broadens the environments and the scale of the journey. This is the safest recommendation when you want continuity of characters, story and controls rather than a fresh genre interpretation.
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It is not automatically the shortest choice. The sources do not provide an official comparative completion time, and optional activities can add substantial time. If you want to finish a story before starting another, decide in advance whether you will follow the main path or clear every activity.
Who should choose another game
Pick Elden Ring for more uncertainty and self-directed discovery, Cyberpunk 2077 for a science-fiction city, or Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for turn-based combat. Forbidden West is intentionally familiar, which is its advantage after Zero Dawn and its limitation if you want a dramatic change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth: turn-based combat and side-activity variety
Why it belongs on the list
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the outlier here. PlayStation’s May 22, 2026 open-world catalog roundup describes turn-based role-playing battles, exploration in Yokohama and Honolulu, and diversions including karaoke and arcade games. Choose it when “open-world RPG” means a place full of activities and characters, not necessarily real-time swordplay or shooting.
The two-city structure gives the game a different rhythm from the other recommendations. You can pursue the central story, then spend time on optional diversions that change the tone without requiring another combat build. That variety is useful after a long, serious adventure when you want a game that can shift between dramatic scenes and lighter activities.
What to verify
- Confirm the PS5 product page and the exact edition before downloading or buying.
- Check whether your local PlayStation Plus tier currently includes it. The May 2026 roundup is a dated catalog reference, not a current guarantee.
- Expect turn-based battles rather than the real-time combat used by the other games in this list.
Who should choose another game
If you want uninterrupted wilderness exploration, a bleak fantasy atmosphere or a direct sequel to Zero Dawn, one of the other four recommendations will fit better.
Choose by the experience you want next
| Your priority | Best match | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Finding your own routes and accepting a hard combat test | Elden Ring | Exploration is open-ended and combat rewards learning rather than level alone. |
| A protagonist-led fantasy story with major additional chapters | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition | Geralt’s quest is the center of the experience, and both major expansions are included. |
| A futuristic city with character builds, jobs and relationships | Cyberpunk 2077 | Night City provides a dense urban alternative to fantasy landscapes. |
| The next part of Aloy’s story | Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition | Burning Shores follows the main game and is included in the Complete Edition. |
| Turn-based battles and a wide menu of lighter diversions | Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | Yokohama and Honolulu combine role-playing combat with karaoke, arcades and other activities. |
How to check PlayStation Plus availability before you start
Catalog games can leave, move between tiers or differ by region. Use the console listing as the final check instead of relying on an old article or a remembered inclusion.
- On your PS5, open the PlayStation Plus hub from the home screen.
- Choose Game Catalog and search for the exact game title.
- Open the result and confirm that the page says it is included with your current tier, such as Extra or Premium.
- Check the edition name. Look for Complete Edition when you need Hearts of Stone, Blood and Wine or Burning Shores.
- Confirm the platform label is PS5. PlayStation’s guide lists Elden Ring and The Witcher 3 for both PS4 and PS5, while the guide lists Cyberpunk 2077 for PS5.
- If the game is not shown as included, compare the purchase options and decide whether buying the correct edition is preferable to changing subscription tiers.
The July 9, 2025 announcement for Cyberpunk 2077 and the May 22, 2026 open-world roundup for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth are useful dated references. They cannot establish what is available in your account on October 13, 2026 or later.
Edition and sequence checks that prevent common mistakes
Do not confuse a base game with a complete package
Expansion names are not interchangeable with edition names. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition includes Burning Shores. If a listing does not explicitly name the edition or its included content, do not assume the add-ons are present.
Play Horizon in story order
For the clearest sequence, finish Horizon Zero Dawn, play the main campaign of Horizon Forbidden West, then start Burning Shores. The Store listing identifies the expansion as a post-main-game continuation.
Plan around optional content
All five games can expand beyond their central story through side quests, contracts, jobs, activities or exploration. Decide whether your goal is to reach the ending, complete a particular character arc or clear the map. That decision matters more to perceived length than any generic label such as “short” or “long.”
A practical decision guide
- Want a direct sequel? Pick Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition.
- Want the biggest change in combat? Pick Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for turn-based battles.
- Want to keep real-time combat but gain maximum freedom? Pick Elden Ring.
- Want dialogue and character consequences to lead? Pick The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition.
- Want a modern science-fiction setting? Pick Cyberpunk 2077, after checking its current tier and region.
- Still undecided? Open each game’s PS5 store page, check whether the edition you want is included, and choose the one whose central activity you would enjoy repeating for several sessions: exploration, conversation, build experimentation, urban missions or turn-based encounters.
What “best” means for this list
These recommendations are organized by fit, not by a measured score. PlayStation’s open-world guide supplies official descriptions and platform information, but it is editorial curation rather than an independent comparative test. The available material also does not establish a named statistic, review average, laboratory performance test or official completion-time ranking. Treat the list as a decision framework: choose the world, combat style and story emphasis that match what you want after your previous adventure, then verify the current PS5 edition and PlayStation Plus status in your region.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
