Open-world gaming has become all the rage in modern times. The idea of exploring a massive sandbox full to the brim with distractions to keep players engaged is something that grabs the attention of fans around the world. The modern boom of this genre won’t be dying out anytime soon, so it’s easy to see why so many fans would be fascinated to check out the games that tinkered with this sandbox design before it was eventually perfected and thrust into the mainstream.
Some of the best open-world games of the modern era owe their success to the titles that helped push the genre to new heights. It may be hard to get into these titles given their dated nature, but players who give them a fighting chance will love the innovative design present here. It’s fascinating to see ideas that have matured into something special, while other design choices may have faded into obscurity despite boasting some promise.
5 King’s Quest 6: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
Non-Linear Gameplay Progression In A Classic Adventure Game
There was a time when Sierra’s adventure games were beloved by the masses as some of the best story-driven titles players could get their hands on. The term “moon logic” was popularized by the ridiculous puzzles present in these titles, but players who managed to look past these issues could enjoy some hilarious writing and endearing charm that oozed out of these games. The King’s Quest series is no exception here, and fans of this series remember the sixth game boasting something amazing they’d never seen before.
Unlike the previous games in the series, King’s Quest 6 features a massive open world where players can solve numerous puzzles in any order they wish. Most of the puzzles are optional and can be tackled in whatever order the players choose. Based on the number of solutions that players find in this game, the ending may differ accordingly.
4 Grand Theft Auto 3
Helped Open-World Games Become The Most Mainstream Genre Around
Everyone knows about the brilliance of Grand Theft Auto 3 and the wonders it did to make the open-world genre so mainstream. Rockstar Games had tinkered around with this genre with their previous two games, but it was the shift to 3D and the advancements they made in world design that turned Grand Theft Auto 3 into one of the most influential and beloved video games of all time. Claude’s journey of redemption after being betrayed by his girlfriend, Catalina, is something that fans never grow tired of.
While the lack of bikes and planes may be hard to get used to for players who have seen the GTA series evolve, Grand Theft Auto 3‘s revolutionary open world is wonderful to explore to this day. It’s a shame that the Definitive Edition didn’t do justice to this game, but fans willing to look past the many problems of this updated version will find it to be a worthy excuse to revisit this masterpiece.
3 Shenmue
A Vast World Where Players Can Use Their Time However They Wish
The fact that Shenmue held the title of being one of the most expensive video games ever made showed how much stock Sega put into its open-world sandbox. Controlling Ryo as he tries to find clues to solve the mystery behind his father’s murder is a riveting experience, as players spend their days investigating this incident and helping out people to obtain information. The game features its fair share of fighting, but these moments are few and far between in the grand scheme.
Along with this, Shenmue is littered with many quicktime events that don’t feel nearly as grating as their integration in other such titles. It may feel slow and plodding to trudge along in these open-world environments, but players who love time management and retro games will find the original Shenmue to be a marvelous product of its time that pushed sandbox gaming to new levels.
A Sandbox That Promoted Freedom Over Everything Else
The first two Elder Scrolls games are certainly fun titles that fans can check out, but it wasn’t until the third game that Bethesda nailed the importance of designing a beautiful open world. To this day, fans can’t believe that Morrowind‘s world is so rich and jam-packed with detail. Exploration feels positively joyous as the Nerevarine is transformed from a hapless prisoner into the savior of Morrowind who will go up against Dagoth Ur himself.
There’s no denying that the dated combat, blocky visuals, and a lack of voice acting may take some time to get used to, but these are minor issues overall. It takes little to no effort for players to be immersed in the world, and it helps that Morrowind arguably boasts the greatest story in an Elder Scrolls game to date.
1 Assassin’s Creed
Pioneered The Ubisoft Open-World Formula
There was a time when Ubisoft didn’t shy away from trying new things and helping new IPs become a reality. After struggling to reinvent the Prince of Persia series, their latest concept of a player controlling the Prince’s bodyguard was transformed to become a game about an order of Assassins and how they tried to stop the Templars, with players controlling one such Assassin by the name of Altair. The game takes place during the Third Crusade and introduces open environments along with the map-revealing towers that have become a Ubisoft staple.
The story of this game is fascinating and dripping in lore, but what makes the first Assassin’s Creed such a joy to play through is its brilliant integration of an open world. This sandbox elevates the game to new heights and ensures that players will have no problems immersing themselves in the world as they take out their targets and uncover a conspiracy for the ages.
