The Best Games Where Almost Everything is Optional in 2026

In 2026, the gaming landscape continues to evolve, but one trend remains a constant favorite: the ability to craft your own adventure. You know the feeling—you just want to dive into the story, no distractions, no fuss. Or maybe you're the type who loves to get lost in every nook and cranny, soaking up every bit of world-building a game has to offer. The real magic happens when a game masterfully blends a compelling main path with a wealth of optional content, making it all feel like a choice rather than a chore. We're talking about those special titles where the journey is truly yours to define. Let's explore some of the best games that have perfected this art of optionality, where the side quests aren't just filler; they're the secret sauce that makes the experience unforgettable.

10. Grand Theft Auto V: The City Is Yours

Grand Theft Auto V is more than just a game; it's a cultural touchstone that redefined open-world freedom. Los Santos isn't just a backdrop; it's a living, breathing playground where your agenda is the only one that matters. The main heist narrative is a blast, but honestly? You could ignore it for weeks and still have a riot. Fancy a game of tennis? Go for it. Want to hunt for UFOs, get a fresh fade, or dabble in the stock market? The city's got you covered. The beauty is in the sheer variety—there's no pressure, no ticking clock. It's just you, three wildly different protagonists, and a sandbox of possibilities waiting around every corner. The sense of discovery here is, frankly, unmatched.

9. Dragon's Dogma 2: You're On The Clock

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a fascinating beast. It throws you into a world that feels alive and indifferent to your presence. The key thing to remember? You're on the clock from the moment you start. Major story events will unfold with or without you, creating this unique, almost intimidating sense of a world in motion. This isn't a bug; it's a feature. It means every choice to explore, to help a villager, or to hunt a mythical creature is a conscious decision you make against the backdrop of a progressing timeline. You could literally stand still and let the world evolve—talk about player agency! The side quests often weave subtly into the main narrative, making them feel significant rather than superfluous. It’s a game that respects your time, but also challenges you to make the most of it.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: The Side Quests Are Endless

When people talk about side content done right, The Witcher 3 is the gold standard. Geralt's primary mission to find Ciri is epic, but it's the detours that often steal the show. We're not talking about "fetch ten bear pelts" quests here. These are fully-fledged narratives with moral complexity, shocking twists, and emotional weight that could be their own games. You can spend dozens of hours just being a monster-hunting contractor, solving local mysteries, or playing Gwent (because, let's be real, collecting every card is the true endgame). The world of the Continent is so dense with stories that you can completely forget the main plot for hours on end and never feel like you're wasting time. It's a masterclass in optional storytelling.

7. Elex 2: Explore At Your Leisure

Elex 2 is the underdog on this list, a game that truly lets you write your own ticket from minute one. Its world is harsh, weird, and completely open. You can beeline for the main quest (which is... fine) or you can just pick a direction and walk. The freedom is almost overwhelming—you can join factions, make powerful enemies, build a base, or just explore the bizarre post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy landscape. The side content here is where the game's heart lies, offering deeper world-building and challenging encounters. It’s a game that doesn't hold your hand and says, "Figure it out." For players who crave that pure, unguided exploration, it's an absolute gem that deserved more love.

6. Baldur's Gate 3: It's Your Story

Baldur's Gate 3 took the gaming world by storm by delivering on a profound promise: true freedom. This is Dungeons & Dragons in digital form, where "yes, and" is the core design philosophy. Is recruiting that companion optional? Sure. Is not murdering that companion also optional? Absolutely. The game adapts to your whims, whether you're a heroic paragon, a chaotic gremlin, or something in between. You can romance a mind flayer, ignore the central tadpole crisis to become a cheese-wheel hoarder, or talk your way out of (or into) almost any situation. The line between "main" and "optional" content is so beautifully blurred that every playthrough feels uniquely personal. It's a staggering achievement in player-driven narrative.

5. Cyberpunk 2077: So Much To See

Night City in 2026 is a testament to how far Cyberpunk 2077 has come. The main story about V and Johnny Silverhand is a tight, 20-hour rollercoaster, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. The city is packed with optional gigs, side jobs, and full-blown character arcs that are often more compelling than the central plot. Helping Panam or Judy isn't just a checkbox; it's a chance to build meaningful relationships that change the entire tone of your ending. You can become a legendary netrunner, a street-racing champ, or a corporate saboteur—all without ever touching the main quest. The optional content doesn't just fill time; it builds your version of V's legend, making Night City feel truly lived-in.

4. Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The Entirety Of Ancient Greece

Odyssey offers a scale that is, to put it mildly, bonkers. You can sprint through the family drama of the main story in a decent chunk of time, but why would you? Ancient Greece is your playground. The checklist of optional activities is enormous:

• ⚔️ Engage in the Peloponnesian War for Sparta or Athens.

• 🏺 Hunt down every member of the Cult of Kosmos.

• 🐂 Seek out mythical beasts like the Minotaur and Medusa.

• ⛵ Become a pirate, upgrading your ship and conquering the Aegean.

• 🏆 Take down mercenaries who hunt you as your bounty grows.

The beauty is in the blend. You can have a relatively grounded historical experience or lean fully into the mythic fantasy elements. The amount of stuff you can simply choose to ignore or dive into headfirst is what gives this game near-infinite replayability.

3. Elden Ring: The Map Is More Than Meets The Eye

Hidetaka Miyazaki famously said Elden Ring could be finished in 30 hours. What a hilarious understatement that turned out to be. The critical path through the Lands Between is there, but the game's genius is in how it whispers secrets from every cliffside and hidden catacomb. You're never forced to explore, but the temptation is irresistible. That mysterious glowing tree in the distance? That's an optional legacy dungeon with its own boss, lore, and treasures. The world is layered vertically and horizontally with secrets: underground rivers, hidden cities, and optional demigods. You could technically rush to the end, but you'd miss what makes Elden Ring a masterpiece—the sheer, overwhelming volume of awe-inspiring, completely optional discovery.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: An Endless Adventure

Even over a decade and a half later, Skyrim remains the poster child for getting blissfully lost. Its opening is iconic: after your near-execution, you're set free into a world where the main quest about dragons feels almost like an afterthought. The freedom is intoxicating. You can:

• 🏰 Join the Stormcloak rebellion or the Imperial Legion.

• 👻 Become an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood.

• 🗡️ Uncover the secrets of the Thieves Guild.

• 🧙 Master every school of magic at the College of Winterhold.

• 🏡 Buy a house, get married, adopt a kid, and become a blacksmith.

It's the game where you set out to deliver a letter and, 50 hours later, you're the archmage who has never even visited the Greybeards. The optional content is the game for millions of players, creating personal stories that have little to do with being the Dragonborn.

1. Starfield: Your Journey Through Space Is Full Of Possibilities

Starfield, in the 2026 gaming ecosystem, has solidified its place as the ultimate sandbox for self-directed adventure. The main narrative is a short gateway, but it's merely one star in a vast constellation of possibilities. The game truly shines in its optional faction questlines, which are deep, narrative-rich experiences that feel like entire games unto themselves. Signing up with the UC Vanguard or the Freestar Rangers offers hundreds of hours of content that you can completely miss if you don't seek them out. Then there's the quiet magic: building outposts on remote moons, encountering random space encounters, or simply surveying a planet's flora and fauna. The universe feels genuinely massive, and the joy comes from deciding what kind of explorer you want to be. Will you be a diplomat, a pirate, a scientist, or a lone wolf? In Starfield, that choice—and all the incredible optional content that supports it—is entirely, wonderfully, up to you.

Ultimately, these games remind us that the best adventures are the ones we choose for ourselves. They offer worlds not just to complete, but to inhabit and make our own. In an age where time is precious, the gift of optionality—the power to engage deeply or simply enjoy the ride—is what keeps us coming back for more, year after year. The map is open, the quest log is full... where will you go first?