For fans of sandbox gameplay, our comprehensive collection of the best open world games for Xbox 360 should definitely come in handy in order to gain lots of unforgettable experiences. These offerings are the most suited when it comes to delivering extreme amounts of gameplay freedom, thus rendering elements like exploration, free-roaming and much more. The Xbox 360 has seen its fair share of awesome games which adhere to this genre and hence we’ve generated this list of 12 such titles which we think you should have a look at.
1 – Far Cry 3
This 2012 offering from Ubisoft takes place on a beautifully crafted tropical island populated by pirates as well as its native folk. It’s a first-person shooter at heart, but features open world environments filled with flora and fauna which can all be interacted with. Hunting plays a big part in this title, and so does stealth. Far Cry 3 moreover, also contains an engrossing story and some role-playing elements.
2 – Grand Theft Auto V
Nothing can possibly go wrong with something when Rockstar Games is at the helm of it. Grand Theft Auto V is one of the finest sandbox games you’ll ever see and it features quite a few innovations in the genre as well. Prime among those is the fact that it has three protagonists which you can switch between on the fly, no matter where they are in its massive environments. Moreover, there’s the series’ trademark vehicle-jacking and other awesome attributes which will make it extremely difficult for you to put down your controllers.
3 – Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City is a piece of art. It’s a game filled to the brim with finesse in every aspect it treads on. Playing as the dark knight, you can glide your way through the crime-filled Gotham City and explore it at your will. Its gameplay is highlighted by its investigation mechanics which let you utilize various cool gadgets, and also by its combat model which makes it a treat to fight off the bad guys.
4 – Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
This game is a unique take on the open world genre, for its environments are largely dominated by seas populated by big and small islands. As its name suggests Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a game based on the piracy era of the eighteenth century. Apart from the trademark parkour and stealth mechanics of the series, this game also features naval combat as a large part of its experience.
5 – Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs is an amazing game in more ways than one. It features great visuals, excellent combat mechanics, enjoyable vehicle-jacking attributes with a cool vehicle-to-vehicle jump feature and a lot more. More importantly though, it takes place in a well realized rendition of Hong Kong which you can free-roam your way through as you wish.
6 – Dark Souls 2
The just-released Dark Souls 2 builds upon its predecessor’s exceptional quality of making it as hard for you to complete it as possible. Featuring unrelenting difficulty and testing challenges, this game somehow manages to delight you with these very aspects. It’s an action-RPG at heart and it takes place in a dark fantasy setting.
7 – Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar’s take on the western genre, Red Dead Redemption is both a serene as well as an exciting experience to grab on your Xbox 360 consoles. Set during the decline of the American Frontier in the year 1911, it takes place in expansive environments of Western United States and Mexico where you can travel on horseback as well as on carriages. It also features great shooting mechanics and all the aspects which you’d come to expect off something that bears the western branding.
8 – Just Cause 2
Just Cause 2 is characterized by its grappling hook mechanic which lets you perform all kinds of awesome actions. It takes place in a truly massive open world, but travelling through it is made fun by its aerial vehicles as well as a combination of parachutes and the grappling hook which is extremely satisfying to use. Taking place on a fictional island named Panau, it renders unforgettable gameplay.
9 – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim is most effectively defined by its open world. Filled with all kinds of terrain and distinct creatures, this game lets you enjoy your exploration as much as its quests. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action-RPG which also features brilliant combat. Visually too, this game manages to easily impress thanks to its stellar graphics.
10 – Saints Row 4
Saints Row 4 is the fourth take on the utter craziness of a concept that the series is based on. Wacky scenarios, a twisted story, humorous characters, funny parodies and a lot more make Saints Row titles truly awesome experiences. And to add to that, this game grants its protagonist superhero abilities, thus giving you plenty of different ways to move about in its sandbox environments.
11 – Crackdown
This third-person shooter from developer Realtime Worlds contains hours and hours of breathtaking gameplay crammed into it. Set in a beautifully created fictional metropolis, it features non-linear missions, frenzied firefights and unique abilities for your characters to explore. Its cooperative gameplay is fun to indulge in as well.
12 – Fallout 3
One more action-RPG in this list of ours, Fallout 3 comes from the masters of the genre – Bethesda Game Studios. It features a retro-futuristic setting that is bearing the cursed fruits of a nuclear apocalypse. This amazing role-playing title will enthrall you with all kinds of different experiences that make it a truly unforgettable game for all those who play it.
Conclusion:
That’s our take on the best open world games for Xbox 360. We hope you’ve found what you came here looking for. Do leave your feedback about them.