Summary
The termopen-worldcan be applied to games that cover many different genres, fromzombie survival gamesto narrative-driven role-playing games. Providing the player with a large game map they can roam at will is fast becoming a must-have for every successful game.
However, some titles and franchises did a lot to show how an open-world map can add diversity and improve immersion in a game. For example, theGrand Theft Autofranchise is renowned for demonstrating the impact that player agency has onemergent gameplay, and for empowering the player to take any action they wish, at any time, anywhere in the game world.This is a recipe that many other titles have emulated to some extent.
7Watch Dogs Legion
A Hacking-Focused Revolution In Open-World London
Watch Dogs Legionbuilds on the gameplay of previous games in the franchise, with its focus on hacking gameplay in anopen-worldsetting. The biggest change inWatch Dogs Legionis that the player can play as any of the NPCs they find in London, recruiting them throughout the game, with each receiving a randomized skillset suited to different gameplay styles.
Set in the near future,thedystopianopen-world map is detailed and looks great. The game shares many gameplay features withGTA, including stealing vehicles, frantic gunfights, and a whole host of tertiary activities the player can enjoy by stepping outside of the main story.
Taking on the role of Lincoln Clay, a veteran of the Vietnam War, players ofMafia 3face a quest to get revenge on the Mafia who betrayed Lincoln’s family. Set in the late 60s, with an open-world game map heavily inspired by New Orleans, the game offers many similar activities toGTA.
The driving inMafia 3is exceptionally well executed, and a heck of a lot of fun, just like the newerGTAgames. There are also a whole host of side missions for the player to enjoy, and some excellent gunplay that is very reminiscent ofGTAat times.
L.A. Noirehas a lot of similarities with theGTAgames, but it has one huge difference as well. In this game, the player is a cop, instead of a criminal. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s, the player acts as a detective, rooting out corruption and solving crimes.
AlthoughL.A. Noireis far less chaotic than theGTAgames, and a little more seminal, it does have a certain to it feel that is reminiscent ofGTA, just from the other side of the tracks.GTAfans might like to giveL.A. Noirea try for a change of pace and to play from a different viewpoint.
Way back before open-world games were as common as they are today,The Getawaywas released for the PlayStation as a direct competitor toGTA. The game is set in London, and combines two interweaving stories into a single game; one about a reformed criminal, and the other a detective.
AlthoughThe Getawaywas compared toGTAback in its day, it follows a slightly different route, aiming for realism over sheer chaos. That being said, at launch, it was one of the best PS2 games of the era. It is obviously long in the tooth now, but it was a different take onGTA-style gameplay in its day.
Despite its rocky launch,Cyberpunk 2077has matured into an incredible gaming experience, especially when thePhantom LibertyDLC is taken into account. Set in the futuristic Night City, the adventure revolves around playing as V, a mercenary with the invasive personality of Johnny SIlverhand (played by Keannu Reeves) trying to take over his mind.
Gameplay similarities are myriad when compared toGTAgames. Free-form chaos in an open-world map,stealing vehicles, gunfights, escaping from the police, and plenty of side quests, to name a few examples. However,Cyberpunk 2077adds some quality RPG aspects as well in the form of character and skill progression, along with a branching narrative.
It could be said that, overall,GTAgames play out as a crime drama with hints of comedy. Well, if this is the case, thenSaints Row 2could be called a “crime comedy” with the rare hint of drama. It shares many gameplay features withGTAgames, including a large open-world map, but it takes all theGTA-style activities and does them in an over-the-top, often hilarious way.
The gameplay revolves around being a member of the Third Street Saints, a gang trying to rebuild their power and reputation, and claim some fresh turf.Gang wars, insurance fraud, theft, and, of course, gunplay are all available to the player, in ways that go above and beyond the absurdity ofGTAin most cases.
Think ofJust Cause 3as being very likeGTAgames, but with larger explosions, and a lot more of them. Filling the shoes of a freedom fighter named Rico Rodriguez, players use a wide range of weapons—many of which go boom—to liberate a fictional nation in the Mediterranean.
WhileGTAfocuses more on crime,Just Cause 3leans more toward destruction. That difference aside, there are many similarities, especially when it comes to hijacking aircraft and vehicles.Just Cause 3is a game that offers a chaotic open-world experience, with plenty of side action, thatGTAfans will likely appreciate.
