Today we have for you a catalog of some of the best open world games of recent times which you can lay your hands on. All these titles are different in their own way, yet each of them boasts of at least one thing which makes them stand out among the rest. Aside from what they have on offer with their main gameplay, they are filled with other stuff you can indulge in at your will, or just roam around in their massive environments while exploring them bit by bit. Without much ado then, let’s have a look at these titles.
1 – Batman: Arkham City
When Batman: Arkham City came out back in 2011, it took critics and gamers with storm. Its large rendition of Gotham City proved to be a winner in every aspect, and so did its superbly enjoyable combat and stealth-based gameplay. While donning the role of the caped crusader himself, this title has you encounter some of the most popular villains from the DC Universe. Available now for the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac as well as the Wii U, it even has a successor coming up which will be released later this month.
2 – Just Cause 2
By far, one of the largest open worlds created for a game has to be Just Cause 2’s fictional island of Panau. Avalanche Studios’ 2010 offering gained immense praise for its satisfying open-ended gameplay and its explosive overall feel. The grapple hook which your character possesses is one of the main things that keeps you involved in the game, thanks to the huge number of different activities you can perform with it during the free roam mode or when in missions.
3 – Sleeping Dogs
The next title in our compilation was a surprise hit when it launched last year. Sleeping Dogs tells the story of an undercover cop who has been assigned the job of infiltrating the Triad society in Hong Kong. Be it with guns or with bare hands, the combat in this game is every bit as enjoyable as you’ll want it to be. Sleeping Dogs even features GTA-style car-jacking and various side activities which keep you engaged through its entire duration.
4 – Far Cry 3
Creating inviting open world experiences is Ubisoft Montreal’s strongpoint, and with Far Cry 3, it has done just that. Apart from memorable characters, including the outstandingly portrayed antagonist Vaas, this first-person shooter contains a superb story set within the confines of a tropical island filled with all kinds of different animals which you can hunt for earning upgrades while you’re not involved in its story missions.
5 – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim as it’s better known, is exceptionally large in terms of the size of its open world. And to add to that it’s one of the finest role-playing experiences you’ll ever witness. Its dragons battles, its varied adventures, its immense activities and more are a blast to indulge in. Skyrim should also be praised for its tremendous atmosphere which is created by its soundtrack and graphics.
6 – Saints Row IV
Released in August this year, Saints Row IV is… well… it’s what all Saints Row games are like – crazy and always fun to jump into. It takes place in the fictional city of Steelport, and has the Saints fighting an alien invasion this time around. One of the great new additions to its gameplay are superhuman abilities which can be used to leap up buildings, glide through the air, fire paranormal projectiles and more.
7 – Fallout 3
One of the highest-rated games of all time, Fallout 3 is a role-playing extravaganza contained inside a post-apocalyptic retro-future environment modeled along the lines of Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland. The freedom to explore its widely attractive areas and characters, its elaborately designed open-ended gameplay, its gorgeous visuals, its enchanting atmosphere are just some of the things that make Fallout 3 the fantastic open world offering that it is.
8 – inFamous 2
A PS3-exclusive, inFamous 2 revolves around Cole MacGrath who has acquired electric-based super abilities after an incident. It’s these awesome abilities which make inFamous 2’s gameplay the pleasurable and pleasing experience that it is. Its extensive open world fitted inside a fictional city called New Marais has a lot to offer in terms of activities you can revel yourselves in when you’re not involved in story missions. The game also features user-generated content which allows you to play missions created by folks from around the world, giving one more dimension to its sandbox offerings.
9 – Grand Theft Auto V
Need we say more? GTA V is open world gameplay at its finest. It’s already a record-breaker in terms of sales, and this is only the beginning. GTA V features not one but three protagonists, and has you switch between them in real-time to explore three different perspectives on its events. You can forget the story missions, and engage in all kinds of unique activities inside its massive rendition of Los Santos, and you still wouldn’t be tired of it. You need to play Grand Theft Auto V in order to believe its magnanimity.
10 – Assassin’s Creed 3
When Assassin’s Creed 3 came out late last year, it brought with it a slew of features new to the series, while also building upon the old ones. Firstly, the setting shifted from Europe to North America in order to explore the period during the American Revolution. Hunting, tree-traversing, naval expeditions and more enhance the appeal that the AC series already possesses. Additionally, there’s a lot to explore in its side missions which are aimed at giving you more information about the environments.
11 – Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar Games’ 2010 offering turned out to be a super success. The main appeal of this game resides in its open world which has chosen the Wild West as its setting. Above all, Red Dead Redemption succeeds in capturing the atmosphere of the era thanks to the well enacted characters, its superbly crafted music and above all, the aesthetics of that period. Its optional activities and challenges complement its story well, and so does its pleasing gameplay.
12 – Dark Souls
Dark Souls prides itself on its extreme difficulty, and that’s exactly what has made it one of the most acclaimed role-playing titles of recent times. The kingdom of Lordran is where all the action takes place, and despite its brilliantly attractive environments, it gets scary at times. Dark Souls is a testing game, with its long boss battles and dangerous creatures. It even contains a unique online mode.
Conclusion
We’re sure these are not the only titles that can be called the best open world games, but we tried to fit in 12 exciting offerings for you gaze at. Have a go at any of them to gain all that you desire from such games.