The open-world genre is easily one of the most saturated genres in the gaming industry, with the majority of mainstream titles being constructed around this particular structure. With the modern advancements in video gaming, most open-world titles are genuinely incredible and end up taking a player's breath away.
Of course, some open-world games end up hitting the nail on the head in some aspects but not so much in others. A big part of what makes a massive world all the more believable is the story that connects it all, and while the following games certainly excel in that regard... the combat is an entirely different story altogether. While not necessarily bad, these games certainly don't consider the combat to be their saving grace — it's always the story.
10 Fallout 3
The first 3D open-world Fallout title was a massive achievement. Bethesda poured their heart and soul into this title — a rarity in modern times — to create a brilliant post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear war. Just like most of the games in their library, Fallout 3 was a title driven by the personal stories and amazing discoveries that people made on their way while exploring the Capital Wasteland.
However, just like most of Bethesda's games, the combat was somewhat of a mess and didn't really feel natural. It was clear that this game was the studio's first attempt at a first-person shooter, and it took some time before this combat could be refined over time.
9 Fallout: New Vegas
After the project for Fallout: New Vegas was given to Obsidian Entertainment, people pretty much knew what to expect. Their track record had shown a pattern of crafting games with deep and thought-provoking narratives that are held back by bugs and glitches across the board. Fallout: New Vegas was no exception to this golden rule.
While New Vegas certainly made some strides when it came to improving Fallout 3's combat, the seemingly unfinished design of the game ended up undoing most of their achievements. Thankfully, the advent of mods has ensured that people can enjoy New Vegas in all its glory without having their experience marred by glitches, bugs, and the like.
8 Assassin's Creed II
The first Assassin's Creed game to truly embrace the open-world format is also considered by many to be one of the best games in the series, and for good reason. After all, Assassin's Creed II has what most people consider to be the greatest story in this massive franchise.
However, due to the dated mechanics of Assassin's Creed II, one has to admit that getting through the combat of this title can be a bit of a slog. That being said, people who do manage to bear with the dated gameplay mechanics will be able to enjoy the franchise at its very peak.
7 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The fact that Warhorse Studios decided to take on a massive realistic open-world title for their first game was quite ambitious indeed, and it's quite refreshing to see that the vision of this studio was fulfilled for the most part.
The story of Kingdom Come: Deliverance is undoubtedly its biggest highlight, with players being able to enjoy an excellent narrative from start to end. However, progressing through the story involves learning the messy and clunky combat system, which is nothing short of an absolute chore. First-person melee combat might be hard to pull off, but it's somewhat painful to see just how hard the ball has been dropped here in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
6 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age games have never been known for their incredible combat systems. While the latest game in the series definitely dressed up the combat to make it look as flashy as possible, the shallow mixture of strategic and real-time combat systems in this title isn't really something to look forward to.
That being said, Dragon Age: Inquisition is certainly an excellent title in terms of the story, which is an absolute treat for any fan of the series. The game genuinely feels epic and a worthy installment in the Dragon Age series.
5 Days Gone
Perhaps the most underrated title on this list, the story of Days Gone is unlike anything seen in a video game, with Deacon St. John serving as one of the most unique and interesting protagonists in a video game.
It's a shame that the gameplay of Days Gone is ridiculously banal and offers nothing new to the player. The only unique part of the game is the hordes, and even their appearances end up losing their novelty over time.
4 L.A. Noire
A noir detective title that attributes the major chunk of its success to the title's story, L.A. Noire is easily one of the most unique open-world titles around that any fan of great stories should check out.
However, the gameplay in L.A. Noire is fairly unremarkable. While it gets the job done, the game doesn't really offer anything unique in terms of combat or traversal, making some chases and shootouts feel rather mundane and soulless.
3 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Easily the most popular Bethesda game on this list, Skyrim is one of the greatest open-world games of all time. Each nook and cranny of this world hides a tale of its own that's always entertaining to unfurl.
However, as is the case with most Bethesda titles, the combat in this game is quite barebones. Most people become a stealth archer in Skyrim mainly because that's one of the few entertaining ways to play the title... and even that gameplay style ends up getting stale over the 100+ hours that people will inevitably sink into this game.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is considered by many to be one of the greatest open-world titles of all time, and for good reason. The game served as the perfect culmination of Geralt's story, with the amazing characters and engaging plot driving the entire affair.
To say that The Witcher 3's combat is outright bad would be doing the game a huge disservice, but one can't deny that the gameplay of this title is easily the weakest part of the overall experience. However, the overall quality of this game is so immense that the combat also gets elevated as a result.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar decided to up the ante when it came to their latest AAA title, with the sheer amount of work put into Red Dead Redemption 2 being nothing short of astounding. The massive open-world and incredible story are just a few of the areas where this phenomenal title absolutely shines.
However, the massive focus on realism in Red Dead Redemption 2 certainly has its drawbacks — the game feels sluggish to play at times, with the third-person cover shooting feeling somewhat dated and more cumbersome compared to some of the other games that utilize the same systems. Thankfully, the spectacle of this title makes up for the barebones combat system quite a bit.