Open-world gamesare pretty much inescapable in this day and age, with every month seemingly producing a couple of new entries. For example, theNintendo Switch 2’s launch line-up contained nine open-world projects, even if most of them were ports and enhanced editions. Although fatigue set in a long time ago, these types of projects cover such a wide spectrum of subgenres, tones, and gameplay styles that they hardly lack variety. Some titles emphasize realism and simulation elements; meanwhile, other open-world games make players feel like all-powerful gods.
Sometimes, nothing is more entertaining than raining destruction and chaos down on a sandbox filled with puny enemies who cannot possibly present anything resembling a challenge. While the road to godhood can be a relatively long one, all these upcoming games are power fantasies in the best possible way.
Only full open-world games, so no semi-open titles likeGod of War RagnarokandBorderlands.
MostUbisoft open-world gamescast players as one-person armies who can take down entire villages without breaking much of a sweat.Assassin’s Creedcan be particularly satisfying as an OP simulator, as the protagonist is usually far more skilled and deadly than nearly anybody else in the game.Origins,Odyssey, andValhallaincorporate mythology more than the other entries, enhancing the feel that players are playing through a legend rather than a grounded and realistic tale.
Set in Ancient Greece,Odysseybrings to life its period with style and excess, blending history with mysticism to create a journey that walks the line between both. Although Kassandra’s skillset takes a while to fully flourish, she is an absolute terror against humans, and she even takes on mythological beasts that should be beyond her capabilities.
Occasionally, logic should be thrown out the window.Driver: San Franciscotook the franchise in an absurd direction that was not even hinted at by its predecessors, but this decision ended up producing arguably the best game in the series. Randomly, Tanner gains the ability to possess other drivers, allowing him to shift from car to car quickly and seamlessly.
Presented through an almost god-like view, this mechanic is incredibly satisfying and empowering, even if the rest of the gameplay is fairly typical for an open-world driving game. As silly as this concept sounds on paper,Driver: San Franciscocommits completely to it, resulting in an experience that has aged very well and is still a blast to play all these years later.
Watch Dogs: Legionis built on a similar concept, but it does not stick the landing as soundly asDriver: San Francisco.
The Lord of the Ringshas its share of god-like beings, but most of the games tend to revolve around fairly vulnerable characters. That said,Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorandWarcan 100% be enjoyed as straight-up OP fantasies, especially once Talion and Celebrimbor’s abilities are expanded to grant them way more options in and out of combat scenarios.
Along with having a wide range of physical and traversal skills, Talion can also mind-control enemies, forcing them to fight alongside him. He is also brutal, and his mere presence can send orcs running for the hills. Players craving an open-world game that lets them play as a vengeful deity will want to check these two titles out.
Crackdownhas a simple formula that ensures a constant sense of power progression. Players grow stronger through their actions and by collecting orbs, gradually transforming them from super-soldiers to superheroes that can leap over buildings, throw cars like the Hulk, and tank gunfire like it is nothing. Even at the start of a playthrough, players are already quite formidable, but they become monstrous within a couple of hours.
All three sandbox games are worth playing to an extent, but the original game has yet to be surpassed.Crackdown 2incorporated a few changes that make it less enjoyable as a pure chaos generator, while the third entry is more in line with the first game.
Avalanche Studios’Just Causeis all about destruction. As super-agent Rico Rodriguez, players are dropped onto an island that has a dictator problem, and the only solution is to blow everything up. Technically, Rico is a mere human, but he is effectively an over-the-top ’80s action movie hero who has the will and resources to take out a small country’s military. While deadly on land, Rico frequently rains death from above using vehicles like helicopters, delivering god-like judgment that is particularly awesome in the third and fourth entries.
Just Cause 2and3are generally regarded as the franchise’s high points, although all four games are enjoyable in their own right. In terms of supplyingrelentless wanton destruction, the third entry is arguably the strongest and most consistent.
BothPrototypegames are fast-paced open-world romps that feature protagonists who walk the line between hero and villain. Genetically engineered to become something way more than human, Alex Mercer and, in the sequel, James Heller are forces of nature who can, among many other things, shapeshift to resemble other people. They can also steal health from victims, transform their bodies into weapons, and scale buildings in seconds, and these abilities are their relatively “normal” and “weak” ones.
A few plot beats aside,Prototypeprioritizes aggressive and frantic action, with both campaigns seldom allowing for any quiet or slow moments while exploring their worlds. The story also depicts Alex and James as entities to be feared, and that comes across in the gameplay.
While the protagonists are overpowered, thePrototypegames are quite difficult, which can slightly undermine their god-like potential.
Saints Row 4is almost too over-the-top for its own good. Far removed from the IP’s fairly grounded origins, the 2013 entry casts the 3rd Street Saints' Boss as the President of the United States, introduces an alien invasion, and primarily takes place in a simulation of Steelport. While driving is technically an option, cars are rendered obsolete since players quickly acquire the Super Sprint ability, one ofnine superpowersthat turns the Boss into an OP superhero who could put to shame most Marvel and DC heavyweights.
If somebody is craving a gang-based sandbox reminiscent ofGTA,Saints Row 4is not the game for them. However, as far asopen-world games for feeling like a god, this entry is about as good as things get, especially since the gameplay is quite easy.
Sucker Punch has moved on fromInfamous, but Sony’s franchise lives on in memory and through services like PlayStation Plus. While their stories are somewhat divisive, these games excel in crafting power systems that are versatile, explosive, and quickly feel second nature. Regardless of whether somebody goes down the good or evil karma route, they quickly acquire abilities that are both visually and mechanically outstanding, especially Cole’s mastery of electricity in the PS3 entries.
Infamous 1 and2are about as close to an open-world Thor game as the industry seems likely to get, at least for the time being.Second Sonis not quite as highly-regarded as Cole’s duology, but Delsin’s powers are just as impressive as his predecessor’s.
