Summary
Themeteoric rise of open-world gaminghas led developers to attempt to create long-running series featuring tantalizing sandboxes that keep players engaged for hours on end. Some companies stop at trilogies, while others keep these games going for as long as possible.
As a result, there are bound to be some ambitious open-world gaming trilogies that fans will remember long after they finish their journey after completing a trio of incredible games. Some titles may be more engaging than others, but players will always have a great time powering through these games to check out a tantalizing story and engaging gameplay, among many other things.
Shenmueis one of the most important open-world gamesever made. While the first two games may show their age, they’re still important pieces of video game history that fans can check out, as long as they can get over the dated gameplay loops in these titles.
Shenmue 3could’ve been a great way for new fans to get into the series, but questionable design choices, poor combat, and a lackluster story held it back. However, the misstep of this third title should take nothing away from the sheer joy fans experienced with the other two titles in the series.
TheMafiatrilogy is full of excellent story-driven games that fans will have a great time with. While the sandbox itself may not have too many distractions in the first two games, the compelling narrative andfun gameplaymore than make up for it.
Meanwhile,Mafia 3has so many distractions that players have to go through open-world busywork to progress the story. This approach left fans with mixed opinions, but the trilogy is still a must-play for fans who love excellent narratives in their video games.
Assassin’s Creedwas at the top of its game when Ezio debuted. This charming Italian rogue made such a strong impression on fans that Ubisoft couldn’t stop itself from developing a trilogy dedicated to this hero.
BothAssassin’s Creed 2andBrotherhoodare must-play titles for players who want to get into this series, while Revelations has its strengths — despite being less memorable. Either way, players will loveThe Ezio Trilogyand form a bond with this eponymous character by the time his adventures draw to a close.
STALKERis one of the best open-world survival game trilogies fans can get their hands on.Heart of Chornobylmay be the most recent game in the series, but there’s something about the original trilogy that keeps fans wanting more.
Shadow of Chernobylis a great debut for players,Clear Skyis the hardest to get into but also provides players with the most high-stakes gameplay, andCall of Pripyatperfects the formula present in the previous entries. This makes theLegends of the Zone Trilogya great romp if they want to challenge themselves.
An open-world JRPG series that has become one of the best games on Nintendo consoles,Xenoblade Chroniclesfeatures incredible world design and tactical combatthat is present in every single entry. The stories are genuinely great for fans who are invested in the world and its struggles.
Barring a hand-holding misstep inXenoblade Chronicles 2, all three titles are a blast to play and show just how rich and engaging this series' worldbuilding is. Players invested in these titles should also check outXenoblade Chronicles X, a prequel that features arguably the best exploration out of any game in this franchise.
Arkham Originsalso deserves its due praise, but most people refer to Rocksteady’sBatmangames when talking about theArkhamtrilogy.Arkham Asylumset the stage for something special, although calling its open areas ‘open world’ is definitely a stretch. That all truly kicks into high gear with its sequel.
Arkham City’s restrained and engaging open world is a blast to explore even now, whileArkham Knight’s take on Gotham City is amazing and lets players soak in the moody atmosphere as they drive around in their explosive Batmobile.
After hitting its groove withGrand Theft Auto 3, Rockstar wasn’t going to look back anytime soon. The 3D Trilogy ofGTAgames had officially made a debut,withVice Cityadding to the atmosphere and storytelling chops of this formula.
WithSan Andreas, Rockstar went all out and threw everything but the kitchen sink into one of the most iconic open-world games ever made.GTA 3may show its age now, butVice CityandSan Andreasare must-plays for fans who want to check out pieces of gaming history that have aged gracefully.
ArenaandDaggerfalldeserve their fair share of praise, but it wasn’t until the release ofMorrowindthat Bethesda finally understood how to make a compelling open-world RPG. The foundation of the third mainlineElder Scrollsgame was used to developOblivion, which is so iconic that fans are still getting a kick out of it with the remaster.
However, none of these games come close to the cultural impact ofSkyrim, which quickly became one of the greatest open-world games players can get their hands on. Even now, players can’t get enough of their adventures as the Dragonborn, especially when they use a set of curated mods to enhance the experience.
