Going through all the best sandbox games listed here, you’ll be quick to realize that they offer so much more than meets the eye. Their beauty lies not only in the number of missions they have, but also in the incredible amounts of freedom you are provided with besides sticking to the main quests.
Resembling actual sandboxes, the universes in these titles are constructed in such a way that they would always have something to offer, each time you jump into them. Such games have a tendency to lure you back, by imbibing you with that feeling of ‘still not having seen everything.’ It’s the massive explorable territories and large quantities of side missions in sandbox titles that make them so addictive. So here’s a look at our 8 picks of the finest open world games out there.
1 – Fable III:
This game spells brilliance through all the aspects that it treads upon. Its large open world is filled to the brim with collectables and NPCs that turn this title into the fun to play experience that it is. Out now for the Xbox 360 and PC, this game is also one of the most sought after out there. But its Fable 3’s excellent open world offerings that managed to place this title on our platter.
2 – The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim:
Now it would have been a crime had we missed this one out. The vastness of the world that is presented in all its grandeur contains over thirty different animals that can all be interacted with and excessive quantities of crafting items. To put it in a straightforward manner, almost everything in Skyrim has some use or another. And of course who can forget the intense battles that crop up out of nowhere owing to the gorgeous dragons that are found everywhere within this game.
3 – Red Faction: Guerrilla:
Its 2011 sequel might not have been able to grab as much attention, but Red Faction: Guerrilla did have lots of treats up its sleeves when it came out in 2009. While all the other titles from our list occurs on a familiar terrain we call Earth, this one takes things up a notch by rendering beautiful open world environments on the surface of planet Mars. You can either choose to hike through these Martian milieus on foot or traverse on them making use of one of the many futuristic vehicles offered in the game.
4 – inFamous 2:
A PS3 exclusive, inFamous 2 has as much as one whole game to be explored in its open-world environments. When you’re done with the game’s ‘electrifying’ story mode, you can jump into its side quests spread all around the city. And once you’ve completed them, the game still isn’t over. Its innovative User Generated Content feature lets you go online and play out missions that have been crafted by other gamers worldwide. If that’s not enough for you – which definitely won’t be the case – you can chip in a few missions yourself for others to try out. Now, it is this enormity of the game that makes it such an incredible offering.
5 – Assassin’s Creed Revelations:
Each and every Assassin’s Creed game is known for the spectacular renditions of historical environments. Taking this tradition to new heights, Assassin’s Creed Revelations acquainted us with the gleaming locales of Constantinople, and the game’s free roaming features amplified this experience by taking us right into the middle of those environments. Traditional Assassin’s Creed quests with slightly altered elements lie in store within this game’s open world.
6 – Saints Row The Third:
While some like to go the skeptic way and slam Saints Row games for being rip offs of GTA titles, we believe in letting the debate be and concentrating on them individually. This third iteration to the series is whacky as usual. A level design that spawns an array of new missions almost each time you complete a campaign quest, definitely deserves some lauding. And the sheer craziness that revolves around these extra missions makes roaming around in the game’s vast metropolitan landscapes an experience worth savoring. Vehicles play a vital role in this sixth title and its driving mechanics are simply a treat to have a go at.
7 – Grand Theft Auto IV:
Crafting perfect games is a lesson that certainly doesn’t need to be taught to Rockstar Games. And this point was further accentuated when GTA IV hit the scene in 2008. Trademark GTA open world elements make their presence felt in this title, letting you commit every imaginable crime that has entered the book. And then there are tons of vehicles that linger around the city, just waiting for you to thump their drivers and grab their steering wheels. Seriously, with all the delightful mayhem we experienced in this game, we just can’t wait to lay our hands on GTA V which is expected to land sometime this year.
8 – Red Dead Redemption:
Kicking in a Wild West setting, Red Dead Redemption leaves you spellbound with its intricately designed visuals and immersive gameplay. Its colossal open world can be put to use for carrying out various activities like bounty hunting, killing animals, scavenging for treasures and so on. Having been developed by Rockstar Games, this offering holds a similar sandbox mode as compared to GTA titles, but the magnificence of Red Dead Redemption rests in its over-the-top missions and eye-popping visuals.
This concludes our roster of the best sandbox games. With a barrage of new and exciting titles coming out later this year, this might be a nice time for you to try out these above listed offerings.