open world games It's known that there are large, expansive areas that players can explore at their leisure, but in most cases, developers of these titles inevitably end up minimizing the scope after a few entries. Whether it's simply because the world has become too big to handle, or simply because the developers want to focus on a more linear story, there are a number of reasons why open world franchises start to get a little smaller over time, but that doesn't mean all open world franchises follow this trend.
In stark contrast, things get bigger and bigger with each new installment, not only in terms of the world it offers, but also the amount of content and activities players can engage in on their adventures. Considering how bold and ambitious these franchises have already become, it's gotten to the point where it's hard to imagine how they could get any bigger. However, this only makes fans more excited to jump into each new entry, especially when it comes to the popular open world franchises listed below.
grand theft auto
Rockstar continues to create massive worlds filled with a variety of side activities and characters.
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Number of mainline games: 5
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Developer: Rockstar Games
many people trust grand theft auto 3 Despite being the game that brought the open world genre into the mainstream, and deserving of the reputation it deserves, it's honestly a bit comical to look back on how small that world actually was compared to modern standards. With a map that covers just over 1.45 square miles of land, it's clear to Rockstar that they need to make the city larger for future games and make players feel like they're truly living in a believable, realistic area where they can wreak as much havoc as they want.
while grand theft auto 4 and san andreas They started adding a ton of new mission types and allowing you to visit specific areas throughout the city. This was actually the fifth mainline entry that took the size and scope of the world to a whole new level. Simply put, Los Santos is absolutely huge, so much so that it will take days, even weeks, to explore every part of it, from the bustling streets to the lush mountains. But this is a big reason why the game became a huge hit. Because just revealing the sheer amount of content Rockstar has packed into this game is a huge undertaking.
Far Cry
A bigger world, more radio towers, too much chaos.
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Number of mainline games: 6
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Developer: Ubisoft
Ubisoft may have decided to reduce the size of the map by: Assassin's Creed Mirage Especially for that series Far CryWith each new game, the world gets bigger and bigger. in Far Cry 2allowed players to freely explore the visually stunning yet dangerous African country. Africa was littered with treasures to be acquired and deadly weapons to be acquired. with far cry 3, Ubisoft wanted to give players more things to do while exploring, and the introduction of radio towers revealed what activities players could engage in in each area of the map, ultimately ensuring there was always something to do.
As the series progressed, the maps became increasingly larger. But thankfully, new content is making this area feel like an actually lived-in place and not just an empty sandbox. for example, Far Cry 5Players can recruit companions to help them eliminate enemy bases, and in the sixth game, there are also a number of unique weapons that players can discover if they take the time to explore as much of the map as possible to find them.
horizon
Aloy's adventures get longer and more adventurous with each new game.
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Number of mainline games: 2
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Developer: Guerrilla Games
Despite following the traditional open-world gameplay formula, Sony's horizon The game is actually considered quite unique in a few specific aspects. A prime example of this is the enemy type, a giant robot dinosaur that protagonist Aloy must destroy using a makeshift arsenal including explosive arrows and deadly spears. In the first game horizon Zero Dawn, Players could encounter all kinds of dinosaurs as they explored the huge open world, while also having the opportunity to help some of Aloy's friends through their personal struggles.
The hotly anticipated sequel, Horizon Forbidden WestTo give fans the sequel that made the original so special, they decided to go bigger in almost every aspect. For example, the maps are bigger, healthier, and include more environmental diversity so the journey doesn't feel boring or predictable. In addition, the number of weapons and skills that Aloy can obtain when she goes on a great adventure, as well as the number of dinosaurs, has increased significantly.
spiderman
The two Spideies will travel through a few more locations in New York in the sequel.
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Number of mainline games: 2
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Developer: Insomnia Games
While this is Insomniac's first open world. spiderman It featured a huge map that would take hours to fully explore, but it was hard to tell just how big it was considering the incredible speed at which Spider-Man uses his webs to shoot through the city. But with the ridiculous number of collectibles and side missions dotting the map, players will quickly realize that Manhattan is no small place. However, over time, we'll eventually be able to explore much more of New York City in the sequel. spiderman 2.
This time, Brooklyn and Queens have also been added to the game world, opening up new regions for players to explore, while also still featuring iconic locations from the first game. While Peter Parker returns to save the city from danger once again, the sequel also sees Miles join in, with players able to switch between the two almost instantly during gameplay. Combine this with a longer story, far more exciting unlockables, and tons of unique boss enemies, and it's clear that Insomniac wanted the sequel to be as big as possible. Only time will tell whether it can improve further in the third game.
red dead
Rockstar's cowboy simulator features a huge map and tons of content to enjoy
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Number of mainline games: 3
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Developer: Rockstar Games
first game of red dead franchise, red dead revolverAlthough it flirted with the idea of moving towards an open world, it was ultimately a fairly linear experience that primarily revolved around a single town. When Rockstar Started Thinking About Creation red dead redemptionNow that they've become one of the most popular and well-known developers in the industry, it's been necessary for them to go all-in on the open-world formula to keep the game from feeling like an entry in a bygone era.
When creating a world red dead redemptionRockstar has done an excellent job of making it as believable as possible by maintaining a balance between areas filled with chaos and combat and areas that are quieter and more serene. They will build on this. Red Dead Redemption 2It contains one of the largest open worlds in gaming history to date. There are tons of strange missions to complete and some frankly jaw-dropping side activities that are completely optional. Red Dead Redemption 2The world never seems like a huge empty space, but rather like a wasteland full of opportunities.
watchdog
Bigger cities simply mean more tools for players to hack.
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Number of mainline games: 3
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Developer: Ubisoft
On the surface watchdog While it may look and play similar to other open world games, there is one particular mechanic that makes this game in the series feel distinctly different from its predecessors: hacking abilities. In the first game, players were able to hack most of the equipment and electronics in the environment, allowing them to take down their enemies in creative ways. For example, there were ways to turn traffic lights on and off, tap someone's phone to distract them, and then sneak in a lethal attack.
But it actually felt a bit limited in the number of ways players could actually use their hacking abilities. Watch Dogs 2Ubisoft has significantly expanded the playable area while adding new ways to manipulate the map, giving players more freedom. watchdog corps It takes this even further by giving players the ability to switch characters on the fly, encouraging them to create their own mini-hacker army to take over the city of London. What started out as a niche little experiment from Ubisoft has blossomed into a massively popular open-world franchise that continues to grow in size over time, so it'll be interesting to see how the developer takes this to the next level in future installments.
