Open-world games give players a much larger sense of freedom to explore and even roleplay in large and expansive sandboxes. When utilized correctly, an open-world experience can give gamers more replay value and playability than linear games do.
In addition to a wealth of side-quests and missions, open-world games are far better equipped to provide gamers with world-building techniques like environmental storytelling by dotting clues or non-playable characters around their maps for the player to interact with.
What was once a sub-genre has become a genre to itself and the market is flooded with games that use similar mechanics and very often many games don’t quite resonate with reviewers as they did with the fans. Let’s take a look at open-world games that deserved better Metascores.
Updated on August 10, 2021 by Michael Llewellyn: Brand new video games are usually expensive upon launch. So as a gamer it’s important to get a good idea of how good a title is before they part with their cash. That’s why a site like Metacritic is so important to the consumer. It tallies up as many scores as possible into an average so players have an idea how good that game actually is. The only trouble with a Metascore is that it very rarely includes the improvements made to a title after launch and there are times when a game is simply misunderstood.
14 Prototype Biohazard Bundle (Metascore 52)
Released: 2015
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS4
Developed by: Radical Entertainment
Often compared to the more polished Infamous series on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Prototype is a game that combines the powers of the Hulk and Venom in one anti-hero. Released as something of a follow-up to the excellent Hulk: Ultimate Destruction on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, Prototype used many of the same mechanics as that game.
However, it wasn’t held back by the constraints of being a Marvel superhero and players could get as violent and as bloody as they wanted. The Biohazard Bundle has both Prototype games in one package or they can be purchased separately. It was panned by critics because it felt more like a last-gen port than the HD remaster it was promised to be. That aside, its framerates have definitely seen a boost and the power fantasy is as fun now as it was when it was first released in 2009.
13 Dynasty Warriors 9 (Metascore 65)
Released: 2018
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Developed by: Omega Force
Released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC, Dynasty Warriors 9 and was the first time the series used an open world setting. In addition to the open world, the gameplay mechanics are a step up with combat flowing much better than its predecessors.
The more open environment gave the developers Omega Force more flexibility to tell the story of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in a more cohesive manner than ever before. Visually, the game looks great, and exploring a historical recreation of the Chinese countryside with a dynamic day and night cycle is quite the experience for fans of the time period.
12 Maneater (Metascore 68)
Released: 2020
Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch
Developed by: Tripwire Interactive
As a gory open-world title that puts the player in the shoes of a man-eating shark, Maneater isn’t exactly a spiritual successor to Ecco the Dolphin. However, as a game that offers a surprising amount of upgrades and customization, this open-world actioner is surprisingly deep.
It’s true that the game’s staying power doesn’t quite hit the heights of a GTA game, but Maneater is the perfect kind of title to play in short bursts. Additionally, the underwater swimming mechanics are easy to control and a joy to use, and the environment is packed with side quests.
11 Just Cause 4 (Metascore 70)
Released: 2018
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Developed by: Avalanche Studios
Just Cause 4 was released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC in 2018. Just like its predecessors, the game features a truly massive open-world sandbox for the players to experience and perform insane stunts.
The stories in the Just Cause series have never been a strong point for the series but the game is so open to experimentation players can create their own narrative. Just Cause 4 has a slightly smaller world to explore than the third entry in the series but the landscapes are more varied and detailed.
10 Assassins Creed Unity (Metascore 70)
Released: 2015
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, and PC
Developed by: Ubisoft
Assassins Creed: Unity may be the series’ most infamous title when it comes to its issues at launch. It was released with endless bugs and a controversial system treasure system that required its players to download an app. This resulted in some terrible PR for Ubisoft and the reviews from fans critics alike were less than kind.
Thankfully, Ubisoft has fixed the majority of these issues and what was once a game far too ambitious for the systems it released on is an excellent entry worth revisiting. The historical setting of Paris is incredible and the weather and lighting effects still look good to this day. Furthermore, the combat system is one of the most complex and technical in the series. Those who are lucky enough to own an Xbox Series X/S will also benefit from a 60fps boost.
9 Fist Of The North Star: Lost Paradise (Metascore 72)
Released: 2018
Platform: PS4
Developed by: Ryo Ga Gotaku Studio
Developed by the Ryo Ga Gotaku Studio the same team that created the Yakuza series, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2018. It’s based on the manga franchise of the same name and also incorporates many aspects and quirks of what makes Yakuza so great.
Players are able to explore a post-apocalyptic Mad Max-style city called Eden. While the city isn’t as detailed or as complex as the ones seen in Yakuza it’s just as fun and players can participate in all kinds of amusing side-quests. Additionally, the combat system is fast, brutal, and entertaining making Fist of the North Star worth a look for fans of beat-em-ups and open-world action games.
8 Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-Tered Edition (Metascore 73)
Released: 2016
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Nintendo Switch, and PC
Developed by: Volition
Originally released on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2009, Red Faction: Guerrilla is a science fiction open-world action game developed by the creators of the Saints Row series. It’s not as crazy or as satirical as that series, however, and the setting of a colony on Mars feels more unique.
The story of an uprising against an oppressive government isn’t anything new but the fun comes from the destructive environments. The true star of the show is giving the player a sandbox that they can destroy, collapse, and blow up to their heart’s content.
7 Mad Max (Metascore 73)
Released: 2015
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, and PC
Developed by: Avalanche Studios
Released in 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and the PC, Mad Max is an open-world action-adventure game from the creators of the Just Cause series. It’s based on the post-apocalyptic films of the same name starring Mel Gibson and Tom Hardy and features some of the best car combat since the Twisted Metal series.
Furthermore, Mad Max is packed full of side quests to keep the most adventurous of players busy for hours and the hand-to-hand combat is brutal. Mad Max is one of the best movie-licensed games available and criminally overlooked.
6 Batman: Arkham Origins (Metascore 74)
Released: 2013
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC.
Developed by: WB Games Montreal
Batman: Arkham Origins was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, and the PC in 2013. It serves as a prequel to the Arkham trilogy developed by Rocksteady and is far more deserving of critical acclaim than it received.
Developed by Rocksteady's understudies at WB Games Montreal, Arkham Origins features an improved fighting system over its predecessors. Even the low-level villains like the martial artists put up a great fight against Batman. In addition, the boss battles are by far and a long way the best in the series with the fights against Deathstroke and Bane being the standout fights.
5 Dying Light (Metascore 74)
Released: 2015
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Developed by: Techland
Released in 2015, Dying Light is an open-world survival horror released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC formats. Players are able to explore the world using some of the best parkour mechanics ever seen in a video game allowing players to avoid zombies and other monsters that occupy the city of Harran.
The developers at Techland worked very hard to make improvements to the game through the use of patches and DLC by adding cars. Dying Light is undoubtedly a much better game than when it was first reviewed. The title now benefits from a 60fps boost on the Xbox Series X/S making the experience so much smoother.
4 Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (Metascore 76)
Released: 2015
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Developed by: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate was released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC in 2015. It was the ninth mainline entry in the Assassin's series and last before the series went even further back in time in a new story arc to ancient Egypt and ancient Greece.
Syndicate’s 1868 industrial London has been incredibly recreated and though it’s a much smaller world than some of its predecessors London had much more verticality than other games in the series with the ability to climb iconic buildings like Big Ben. Additionally, the story is one of the series’ best and features two very likable characters in the leading roles.
3 Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (Metascore 77)
Released: 2014
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, and PS3
Developed by: United Front Games
Originally, released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Sleeping Dogs is a fantastic open-world action title that shined on the powerful hardware. The game is a Hong Kong action fan’s dream come true with its Batman: Arkham-inspired Kung Fu combat system and excellent shooting mechanics.
Furthermore, the storytelling more than holds its own as players take on the role of Wei Shen an undercover cop that infiltrates the Triads while trying not to lose sight of who he is. The Hong Kong setting while not as advanced as Grand Theft Auto V it’s still a refreshing change and looks rather beautiful under the neon lights of the city streets.
2 Watch Dogs (Metascore 78)
Released: 2014
Platform: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Stadia
Developed by: Ubisoft
When Watch Dogs was first announced it was promoted with footage that made the game look incredible. While the game still looked good at the time of its release it didn’t quite live up to the game’s expectations on a visual level.
However, the recreation of Chicago is one of the most visually impressive open-world games in a generation. Furthermore, the ability to interact with and hack into computer-controlled items allows players a lot more freedom.
1 Sniper Elite 4 (Metascore 78)
Released: 2017
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and the PC
Developed by: Rebellion Developments
First released in 2017, Sniper Elite 4 is the first time the series fully embraced larger and more open-world environments. It’s also the best game in the series giving players more freedom than ever before to achieve their mission and take out their targets in the 1943 Italian setting during World War 2.
There’s just so much replay value to Sniper Elite 4’s single-player mode giving players lots of reasons to return missions and take different paths or try new ways to assassinate their targets. The multiplayer experience is the best series that has ever been and feels like a complete package for gamers that prefer more thoughtful tactical shooters. It also benefits from a next-gen boost on the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S.