Summary
Open-world gaminghas progressed by leaps and bounds over the years. Long-running series that let players roam massive sandboxes need to evolve with the times, too. What may have been revolutionary at the time of a game’s release can become outdated in just a few years, and franchises that fail to adhere to modern gaming standards will lose relevance in no time.
This is whythe best and longest-running open-world franchisesare the ones that understand players' desire for something unique and different. Even if these franchises falter from time to time, the changes they bring to the table in successive entries are engaging enough for gamers to stick with these titles for the long haul.
5Assassin’s Creed
Went Through Several Changes Despite Being Accused Of Stagnation
There was a time whenAssassin’s Creedwas hailed as one of the most revolutionary open-world franchises of all time. Unfortunately, that perception changed over time as Ubisoft chose to rest on its laurels and integrate minor improvements over substantial ones. However, this approach changed afterAssassin’s Creed Syndicatedidn’t reach its sales targets, which was downright unforgivable givenhow engaging the jaunt through Victorian London wasin this title.
It was clear that theAssassin’s Creedfatigue was real, and Ubisoft’s answer to this was to take a page out ofThe Witcher 3’s book. It sparked a trilogy ofAssassin’s CreedRPGs that were massive and loaded with content. This change in approach was appreciated by many, although some players also got tired of this formula and successfully managed to bring the oldAssassin’s Creedformula back once again.
4Grand Theft Auto
From A Top-Down Arcade Action Game To A Revolutionary Open-World Franchise
TheGrand Theft Autogames have always been at the forefront of technical and gameplay innovation.Grand Theft Auto 1and2were decent titles in their own right, but it wasn’t untilGrand Theft Auto 3that fans witnessed the evolution of what is easily the most popular open-world franchise of all time. Theshift to a 3D sandboxwhere players could do anything they set their minds to was incredible. BothVice CityandSan Andreascarried forward this design ethos with a few improvements.
With a new engine,Grand Theft Auto 4marked a major shift in the series, where the gameplay became less arcade-y and more serious. This was further solidified inGrand Theft Auto 5, which also marked the inclusion of three new protagonists, coupled with anOnlinemode added further down the line that has transformed into Rockstar’s bread and butter.GTA 5is the poster child of the open-world genre and how it has evolved, although the linear focus on missions in modern titles may go against the freedom promoted by the sandbox.
3Saints Row
Became Goofier With Each Entry
Saints Rowis dying a slow death at this point, and fans can only hope that this franchise enjoys a revival under the watchful gaze of another studio. Regardless, though, it’s still one of the zaniest open-world franchises of all time, shaking off comparisons toGrand Theft Autoand becoming a unique product. The firstSaints Rowwas a bit too similar to Rockstar’s offerings, but the same problem wasn’t repeated in later entries.
Saints Row 2combined the best of the game’s silly and serious moments, whileSaints Row 3leaned into over-the-top humor. The addition of superpowers inSaints Row 4made it clear that this approach was here to stay, even if it came at the cost of other elements in the series that had played a dominant role.
2Yakuza
The Combat System Is The Biggest Thing To Change
TheYakuzaseries started out as open-world brawlers with a focus on Kiryu Kazuma. As the engine evolved, the games decided to craft narratives with multiple protagonists to try and stand out even more. The games became wackier while still retaining their serious edge, and players were fascinated by the series' evolution. However, nothing could have prepared them forthe wild swerve when it came to the seventh mainline entry.
The numbering system was ditched from this point for Western audiences.Yakuza: Like a Dragonincorporated a turn-based combat system that was more engaging than it had any right to be. It was a massive change and a bold move from RGG Studio that fans respected. It helped that the manyYakuzaspinoffs still had real-time combat for fans who didn’t want to miss out on the brawling goodness, making for an entertaining franchise that has a little something for everyone.
1The Elder Scrolls
Became Bigger And Better With Each Successive Entry
The Elder Scrollsis a series that fans love when the discussion of open-world games comes up. Bethesda has made a name for itself with these stellar titles, which are in a class of their own and show just how far modern open-world RPGs have come.Bladeswas a decent first entry in the series, andDaggerfallintegrated a massive, procedurally-generated open world that was a bit too large and lacked structure. This approach was polished inMorrowind, whichset the foundation forThe Elder Scrollsseriesthat fans know and love.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionlets players explore the lush land of Cyrodiil and try their hands at a wealth of unique gameplay mechanics. Meanwhile,Skyrim’s massive success speaks for itself and shows just how far Bethesda has come from its humble beginnings. It’s a state-of-the-art open-world game with magical exploration that has served as a template for future titles in the genre ever since.
