Key Takeaways
- Open-world games require a combination of exploration, story, characters, and combat to keep fans engaged.
-
Mad Max, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, Days Gone
, and
Mercenaries 2
are open-world games that successfully balance these elements. -
The Saboteur
and
Mafia 2
offer unique settings and immersive experiences, while
Infamous: Second Son
delivers a thrilling action-adventure on the PS4.
The open-world sub-genre has become one of the most prevalent in the gaming industry. Improvements in console hardware and game engines have allowed developers to create enormous maps that are filled to the brim with loot to discover, side quests to complete, and NPCs to interact with. The acclaim and commercial success has, unsurprisingly, meant that numerous companies have tried to shoehorn open worlds into their games, often with lackluster results. Thankfully, there have been more than enough fantastic open-world games released over the last few years, many of which will appeal to fans of third-person shooters.
These open-world games need to keep fans engaged at all times with a combination of great exploration, memorable stories, lovable characters, and engaging combat. This can be a tricky combination to pull off, and it’s easy to see why some people feel like these games bite off more than they can chew. However, there are times when certain titles absolutely nail this combination, leading to a compelling game that fans can find downright un-put-downable at times.
Updated September 23, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Third-Person Shooters are somewhat of a stepchild in the shooter genre, with FPS titles taking much of the acclaim, leaving Third-Person Shooters to pick up the scraps. While there are games in this genre that are universally beloved, this number pales in comparison to the number of FPS titles in contention for the greatest game of all time. That said, there are some truly exceptional third-person shooters, especially recently, with titles like Remnant 2 and Helldivers 2 boosting the popularity of these types of games in a big way.
26 Palworld
Metacritic Score: N/A (Still In Early Access)
It’s easy for people to write off Palworld as a version of Pokemon with guns when this couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is that Palworld‘s mix of genres is done pretty well, and the fact that this game is in Early Access means that bigger and better things are in store for this title when a 1.0 release hits store shelves.
Some aspects of Palworld can be clunky, but this can’t be said for the gunplay. It takes a while to get used to the idea of shooting up cute critters, but Palworld manages to engage players with its shooting mechanics without making things more visceral than they need to.
25 Mad Max
Metacritic Score: 69
There was once a time when movie tie-in games flooded the gaming industry. From Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to just about every children’s movie, game publishers would often look to cash in on the success of popular films with a 6 to 8-hour adventure. Such games have died out in recent years, however, as the often ridiculously short schedules that developers had to adhere to with tie-in games would, unsurprisingly, result in lackluster products.
Despite the skepticism that players now have of movie tie-in games, there are some films and properties that are just crying out to be given the gaming treatment, including the Mad Max franchise. Mad Max was released just a few months after Mad Max: Fury Road, though the game isn’t a direct tie-in. This is likely why Mad Max proved to be a success, as the developers didn’t have the constraints of basing their game on a 90 to 160-minute film as most tie-in games do.
24 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
Metacritic Score: 70
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands made two very interesting and very divisive changes to the Ghost Recon franchise. For starters, it was the first game in the series to implement an open world, and second, it reverts to a modern setting, rather than a futuristic setting like the one that Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter introduced.
The two changes have divided fans, but one aspect that can’t be denied is how impressive the open world is, with breathtaking visuals that make the game a joy to look at and explore. With a steady stream of updates and fixes, many people have done a 180 on their opinion, considering Ghost Recon Wildlands to be one of the better games in the series.
23 Days Gone
Metacritic Score: 71
Days Gone was developed by Bend Studio and first released exclusively on PlayStation 4 in April 2019, before, like many PlayStation games lately, arriving on PC a couple of years later in May 2021. The game was released with its fair share of issues and bugs, but players who check out this game now will enjoy a pretty stable experience on both platforms.
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The action-adventure game is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows bounty hunter Deacon St. John as he searches for his wife and completes numerous side quests along the way. The game split opinion among fans and critics, but picked up a handful of awards, including PlayStation Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
22 Mercenaries 2: World In Flames
Metacritic Score: 72
- Released: August 31, 2008
- Developer: Pandemic Studios
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames was developed by Pandemic Studios and offers an over-the-top action game that is a blast to play, with tons of weapons and vehicles to use, much like the Just Cause series. It’s a wildly underrated game that more fans of explosive open-world TPS titles should check out.
Interestingly, the action game was a surprising source of political issues in 2008 due to its narrative. The game takes place in Venezuela, which is a fictional war-torn state, and tasks players with killing the country’s president. Unsurprisingly, this didn’t go down too well in the country, with accusations of propaganda being directed toward the game.
21 The Saboteur
Metacritic Score: 73
Just like The Mercenaries 2, 2009’s The Saboteur was developed by Pandemic Studios and published by industry giants Electronic Arts. Instead of Venezuela, The Saboteur takes place in Nazi-occupied Paris back in World War 2. The game features an interesting art design that intertwines with the gameplay, as areas that are significantly controlled by Nazi forces are displayed in black and white, with only a small handful of features being in color, such as certain symbols and blood.
The gameplay of this title is pretty unique, with players having to bring color and life back into Paris’ various boroughs by taking out Nazi forces and dismantling their base of operations. Liberating each district fills it with happiness, replacing the drab black-and-white art style of the series with a splash of color that feels quite rewarding indeed.
20 Outriders
Metacritic Score: 73
Outriders is a class-based Sci-Fi third-person shooter where players venture into a hostile alien world and gun down anything that looks remotely threatening. The gunfighting is hectic, engaging, and plain fun, capturing the essence of what great shooters are all about. The game also has co-op mode, and the shared experience is incredibly rewarding, especially when doing sick combos with multiple over-the-top superpowers stacking on top of each other in a hectic skirmish.
The super abilities unlock through progression, which allows it to remain meaningful, rather than just ‘X type of gun now deals X% more damage.’ The campaign lasts roughly 30 hours, but there is some end-game content that gives players more things to do if they’re interested. That said, Outriders is best enjoyed as a single-player experience, and by the time players reach the end game, they’ll likely have seen everything worth seeing.
19 Just Cause 3
Metacritic Score: 74
Just Cause 3 is the direct sequel to Just Cause 2, set six years after the events of the previous game. Players take up the role of Rico Rodriguez and are tasked with freeing a region from a local despot the best way he knows how: guns blazing. The charm of the Just Cause universe has always been the over-the-top set pieces and the ability to role-play as an adrenaline junkie on steroids with guns.
JC3 is a step up from JC2 in almost every way, with much better graphics, improved gunplay, and an overall smoother experience to enjoy. Players can use the grappling hook to tether to any object imaginable, including active missiles, moving cars, and the tallest skyscrapers in existence. Combined with Parachute and the Gliding Suit, this makes traversal across the vast open world feel closer to a Spiderman game than a GTA one. Vehicles ranging from a simple bike to a commercial airplane are all on offer. Almost all environmental elements are destructible, which allows for things like shooting a bazooka into a gas station and watching it blow sky-high.
18 Mafia 2
Metacritic Score: 74
Mafia 2 is an atmospheric and engaging game that takes place in the 1940s and 1950s, doing justice to this setting in many ways. The game follows the story of Vito Scaletta, a young Italian-American who gets involved in the criminal underworld to provide for his family.
The game features a detailed and immersive world, a wide range of vehicles and weapons, and many cinematic missions. It was praised for its engaging story and memorable characters, leading to many fans considering it to be the best game in the series by quite some margin. While the open world does feel rather lifeless and uneventful at times, this is a small gripe in what is otherwise an amazing experience.
17 Mafia: Definitive Edition
Metacritic Score: 78
Mafia is one of the most engaging open-world games released around a time when the GTA craze was pretty high. While the non-reactive nature of the open world was a major source of criticism, the story of Mafia more than made up for its misstep in the sandbox department.
The original version of the game was definitely showing its age, so fans were glad to see Mafia: Definitive Edition take care of this issue. The world looks more beautiful than ever before, with the shooting mechanics getting the job done and letting players power through an amazing experience that really lets them feel like a part of the Mafia.
16 Gun
Metacritic Score: 79
It’s only a given that a game with the name Gun wouldn’t have the broadest market appeal, which is why a lot of people haven’t heard about this 2005 open-world third-person shooter. The game’s nondescript name does a huge injustice to the appeal of Gun, which features great shooting action and a quality story set in the Western genre.
The authenticity of Gun‘s setting elevates things up a notch, making it a blast to play through from start to end. If players don’t mind the dated visuals, then they’ll have a great time enjoying the classic shooting action of Gun as they mow through waves of enemies and uncover a great story in the process.
15 Infamous: Second Son
Metacritic Score: 80
The PS4 needed to come out with a bang to entertain its fans, and there was no better option for fans to sink their teeth into than a new entry in the Infamous series that changed things up quite a bit. Second Son‘s story may be largely forgettable, but the great visuals and gameplay were a treat for fans to engage with.
The open-world activities may not have aged all that well and the morality system is as dated as ever, but it’s the presentation, visuals, and gameplay where Infamous: Second Son shines quite a bit. Delsin’s new powers are fun to mess around with, and the variety of options is always appreciated.
14 Just Cause 2
Metacritic Score: 81
Just Cause 2 is a game that will appeal to players who just want their games to focus on fun, regardless of how ridiculous and unrealistic it may be. Similar to Saints Row, the Just Cause franchise ramped up its extreme elements to a whole new level with its second installment, with the explosive gameplay being ramped up to the max.
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Just Cause 2‘s action gameplay didn’t go unnoticed, and it quickly became one of the most beloved games in the series. It delivers a ton of destruction and explosive goodness for fans who want to blow up everything in the game world without a care, and the grappling hook was as engaging as ever.
13 Sunset Overdrive
Metacritic Score: 81
From one over-the-top open-world shooter to another, Sunset Overdrive was published in 2014 by Microsoft Studios. The game was developed by Insomniac Games, which is best known for its Ratchet & Clank and Spider-Man games.
Much like Saints Row 4, Sunset Overdrive sacrifices realism for extreme and enjoyable action, with the simple intent of making the game as enjoyable as possible. Fans of the game have been eagerly awaiting news of a sequel since the game’s release, though there has been little concrete word as of yet.
12 Watch Dogs 2
Metacritic Score: 82
It’s easy to forget now just how highly anticipated the original Watch Dogs was before its 2014 release. Much like the aforementioned Mass Effect: Andromeda, the game was heavily criticized upon release for failing to live up to expectations, though players are now beginning to appreciate the game for what it was. Watch Dogs 2 was released just over two years after its predecessor and attempted to improve upon many of its shortcomings, such as the dull open world.
Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2, like the trilogy’s other two installments, feels like it could have been so much more; but it does still offer a solid open-world experience. One of the best changes from the first game was the fact that the game didn’t take itself too seriously, with players controlling a member of a hacker group who has a bunch of jovial interactions with his friends and enjoys the time he spends trying to fight back against the dystopian system that is invading everyone’s privacy.
11 The Division 2
Metacritic Score: 82
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an online action RPG set in Washington, D.C. that lets players compete in squads of up to four people. Shortly after the game’s release, Ubisoft revealed that the game had failed to meet sales expectations. However, through word of mouth and high praise from parts of its player base, The Division 2 has since surpassed 10 million sales.
Along with its impressive sales figures, The Division 2 performed well with critics, scoring 84 on Metacritic and earning a nomination for the Best Action/Adventure accolade at The Game Awards 2018.
10 Crackdown
Metacritic Score: 83
This 2007 Xbox 360 exclusive, titled Crackdown, was developed by Realtime Worlds and turned heads with its playable demo. The game’s Grand Theft Auto-inspired over-the-top fun made it an absolute blast to just pick up and play, with missions being something as an afterthought for players due to how enjoyable it is in Crackdown to simply explore and cause mayhem.
Crackdown has received two sequels, though neither game could quite capture the magic of the original. It’s a shame since players would’ve loved to see this series go on with a steady stream of quality titles that could’ve possibly turned Crackdown into a household name. Regardless, fans can still check out the first game in the series if they want to check out a unique open-world game that still feels quite fun to play in its own right, even if the title can feel somewhat dated at times.
9 Fallout: New Vegas
Metacritic Score: 84
Fallout: New Vegas is a unique entry on this list as players can seamlessly switch between a first-person perspective and a third-person one. Although the game is first-person by default, many people prefer to play through the entire game in third-person. Fallout: New Vegas was initially dismissed by a large portion of the gaming community, as its lackluster visuals made it seem like little more than a glorified Fallout 3 DLC.
However, such people were soon proven wrong when playing the game, as it soon became regarded as one of the greatest action RPGs of all time, largely thanks to the incredible amount of freedom that players have in the game, making it a shining example of the role-playing genre. The incredible writing, wealth of interesting factions, engaging combat, and one of the greatest stories ever written for a Fallout game make it clear why so many people simply can’t stop singing praises for this amazing title.
8 Red Faction: Guerrilla
Metacritic Score: 85
Red Faction: Guerrilla is a sci-fi game that takes players to the planet Mars. The game stood out in 2009 for its destructible environments, which may not seem like much today but were an impressive innovation at the time, and many players enjoyed simply firing at buildings and watching them fall.
Red Faction: Guerrilla recently received a remastered edition which was quite brilliantly named: Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered. The game was released in June 2018 and gives a perfect excuse for another playthrough.
7 Saints Row 4
Metacritic Score: 86
Although it seems like a distant memory now, there was once a time when the Saints Row franchise was viewed as having a more serious tone than its Grand Theft Auto counterpart. The complete opposite is now the case, with Saints Row 4 embracing the franchise’s new identity as essentially being Grand Theft Auto with every mod and cheat code enabled.
Saints Row 4 was well received by critics upon release, with the PC iteration scoring an impressive 86 on Metacritic. The game, just like its predecessor, prioritizes fun over everything else, and players who want to engage in a whirlpool of mayhem and destruction will have a blast with this title. With the Saints Row reboot being a massive failure across the board, fans may be dejected that their favorite open-world series is pretty much dead in the water, but Saints Row 4 and the other titles in this over-the-top are still playable to this day and serve as a great reminder of what Volition achieved as a studio before their eventual downfall.
