Summary
The open-world video game genre has become one of the staples of the industry. These huge, expansive worlds have left players in awe for decades. And within the scope of unlimited possibilities and things to do within these worlds, some of them have also created deep, complex combat systems that allow players to feel powerful ina hostile and aggressive world. These games have found ways to infuse incredible combat into huge worlds, a task that has proven rather difficult over the years due to the unpredictability of the player’s involvement.
Some of these games have focused combat encounters around melee and magic, while others see players engaging enemies with firearms and tactical espionage. Whatever route a game takes, these titles have done so with precision, crafting the best combat systems in the open-world genre. These open-world games have been ranked based on their battle systems, and how well the combat encounters are woven into the environments.
Rockstar’s open-world Wild West epic began in 2003 when they purchased the rights to theRed DeadIP from Capcom, which led to the franchise becoming one of the cornerstones of the company. While the originalRed Dead Redemptionwas an instant classic when it launched in 2010, Rockstar produced a prequel in 2018 that took everything about the first game and improved on it, including the already compelling combat.
Much like the first game,Red Dead Redemption 2uses the Dead Eye system, which allows the player to lock onto enemies and slow down time to mark enemies for execution. Thanks to the improvements in hardware afterRDR1, the prequel features a much more dynamic, free-flowing version of Dead Eye that also utilizes advanced gore to sell the harsh reality of the Old West. Shooting inRed Dead Redemption 2feels precise and snappy, and is easily Rockstar’s most accomplished combat system.
Metal Gearcreator Hideo Kojima continued to expand the combat possibilities ofthe franchise withSnake EaterandGuns of the Patriots. However, the most refined version of the series' combat system was released in 2015 withThe Phantom Pain. Utilizing nearly every aspect of prior combat systems, Kojima and his team crafted a unique, engaging world. Encounters feel natural and are treated with an unpredictability that makes each one more exciting than the last.
After setting the stage withGround Zeroes, a prologue released a little over a year prior to the launch ofThe Phantom Pain, the team at Kojima Productions crafted what is still one of the most incredible examples of an open-world stealth game ever made.The Phantom Painalso offers a wide variety of tools and abilities that Snake can use during combat. The act of marking a base for infiltration, then raiding it, is one of the most addictive game feels of the last generation. Guns feel powerful and aggressive, while dismantling enemies with CQC remains one of the most satisfying feelings in the franchise’s history.
After shepherdingFalloutfrom its roots as a top-down 2D experience into a 3D first-person RPG, Bethesda continued to improve and challenge the status quo of this iconic franchise. This culminated in the fourth entry, which launched in 2015.WithFallout 4taking fulladvantage of next-generation hardware, Bethesda managed to create what is still the best combat in the franchise. Even a decade later, it remains one of the most fun open-world RPGs of all time.
Much like the rest of the series,Fallout 4uses VATS, the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, which allows players to effectively pause the game and target specific body parts of enemies. It bridges the gap between classic and modernFallout, allowing the new games to play similarly to the older titles without feeling like too radical of a departure.Fallout 4features some of the most intense, chaotic shooting scenes in the series. It also recently received a next-gen update for modern consoles, making it even more exciting to jump into today.
After creating some of the most influential, successful video games of all time, FromSoftware decided to take their skill at designing intricate labyrinths and direct that effort into the open-world genre. The end result wasElden Ring, a massive and wonderfully detailed open world. The camecaptures FromSoftware’s uncanny abilityto create hand-crafted settings , but never lost a step when it came to combat, a specialty of this talented studio.
The prospect of transitioning FromSoftware’s combat style into a large-scale experience was risky, but it worked out wonderfully. Like FromSoftware’s other games,Elden Ringrelies on detail-oriented combat, where each encounter requires something different. Confrontations with enemies and bosses are built around patience, tasking the player with utilizing every skill at their disposal. The combat system featured inElden Ringis one of FromSoftware’s best, alongside classics likeBloodborneandSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
After spending decades creating some of the most legendary worlds and locations in video games,The Legend of Zeldafranchise was poised to break out, and did so in spectacular fashion withBreath of the Wild. TheZeldaseries has featured some rather large worlds in the past, butBreath of the Wildwas a step above into a fully open world. It also maintained the franchise’s commitment to impeccable combat.
Breath of the Wildfeatures fast-paced, entertaining melee combat and outstanding ranged conflict. As Link feels nimble and agile, moving him through the wide open fields of Hyrule is incredible, and engaging with the game’s expansive variety of enemies is a delight. In terms of combat, theZeldafranchise has never felt better, as the player has access to a huge list of tools and abilities to overcome the evil that threatens Hyrule. The physics of the world makes it feel alive, like anything is possible.
After a rough launch in 2020, developers CD Projekt Red worked to elevateCyberpunk 2077to the game it was promised to be. They have done a remarkable job in that quest. One of the areas that was in need of refinement the most was combat, and CDPR was able to transform the game into something special, a far cry from its disappointing launch.
Cyberpunk 2077’skinetic, entertaining combat has evolved and re-shaped itself over the years, emerging as one of the most fun open-world video games on the market. As an RPG,Cyberpunkallows the player to choose what combat avenues they want to explore, offering a fantastic variety of different play styles. Ranging from the Netrunner to the Corpo build,Cyberpunk 2077 offers a huge, distinct number of possibilities. Shooting and melee feel fabulous, with terrific feedback, asCyberpunk 2077remains one of the genre’s most spectacular entries.
Having dominated film, television and video games for the past sixty years, Spider-Man has become one of the entertainment industry’s most iconic and successful characters. But when it comes toSpidey’s turn in video games, no title has ever been able to compete with 2018’sSpider-Man.This open-world masterpiece felt like a dream come true for fans of the webhead. The developers at Insomniac knew that one of the most important aspects of a video game based on Spider-Man is the action, and they passed with flying colors. This stellar title features the best combat system in any open-world game on the market today.
Spider-Manuses all the things that make the character so appealing in his other media appearances. Every element of his wall-crawling, web-slinging, and furious punches and kicks work in tandem. The feeling of zipping around an environment, flipping over enemies, and delivering brutal take-downs is still unmatched by any open-world game, as it allows players to live out the power fantasy of being Spider-Man. And when Spidey isn’t taking out waves of goons and towering bosses, sneaking around and picking enemies off from above feels magical.Spider-Mancaptures the spirit and action of the classic Marvel Comics character flawlessly, and is in a class of its own when it comes to open-world combat.
