Incredible Open-World Games That Deserved More Attention

Open-world games are incredibly popular, and it’s easy to see why. They offer players a huge amount of freedom – you can explore vast worlds, complete tons of activities, and do things your own way, without a lot of the usual restrictions.

Even though open-world games are incredibly popular, many excellent ones don’t get the recognition they deserve. While games like Skyrim and The Witcher 3 are well-known, there are numerous other fantastic open-world titles that deserve more attention. This list highlights just a few of those hidden gems – games that offer something fresh and might be new to you.

Sunset Overdrive

Insomniac’s Hidden Gem

Considering how successful Insomniac Games has become with recent titles like Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank, it’s surprising that Sunset Overdrive doesn’t get more recognition. While it’s not as well-known a series, it’s a really great game that demonstrated the innovative movement skills Insomniac later perfected in Spider-Man, and the creative, over-the-top weapons that define Ratchet & Clank.

A reason why Sunset Overdrive didn’t reach a larger audience might have been its initial release only on Xbox One. But with Game Pass now available on PC, more people should give it a try. While the story isn’t groundbreaking, it offers a quirky, action-comedy feel similar to games like Hi-Fi Rush and Saints Row. Considering its amazing fast-paced movement and combat, it’s surprising that Sunset Overdrive wasn’t more popular during the last console generation.

The Saboteur

Killing Nazis In Black And White

It’s unfortunate Pandemic Studios didn’t last to see the rise of game developers being celebrated as creative visionaries. The team behind popular titles like Destroy All Humans!, Mercenaries, and Star Wars: Battlefront likely would have generated a lot of positive buzz for The Saboteur. Sadly, EA closed the studio just two weeks before the game launched, meaning it never had a real chance to find an audience.

It’s easy to see why The Saboteur is so well-regarded – it’s a fantastic game! Set in Paris during World War II, you play as Sean Devlin, an Irish race car driver who joins the French Resistance after being wronged by an SS officer. While it focuses on stealth, the game also offers plenty of action with shooting, driving, and parkour. What really makes it special is the way the game world changes as you liberate districts from Nazi control – areas transition from bleak black and white to vibrant color. Games like this are rare, and The Saboteur proved to be a memorable final project for Pandemic Studios.

Far Cry Primal

Prehistoric Perfection

Far Cry Primal is a unique game in the Far Cry series. Even Far Cry 2, which is already quite different from the others, feels more familiar than Primal does. However, that doesn’t make it a bad game – it just feels like it struggled to find its audience. It didn’t quite appeal to existing Far Cry fans, and it didn’t fully attract players who enjoy first-person action or even games like Skyrim, who might have been interested if it weren’t branded as a Far Cry title.

Far Cry Primal is an open-world action game set in prehistoric times, where you play as Takkar, a hunter striving to become his tribe’s leader. Instead of guns, you’ll use weapons like spears and clubs, though bows and arrows still make an appearance. What really sets this game apart is Takkar’s ability to tame wild animals – everything from sabertooth tigers to mammoths – and call them into battle. While it didn’t become a blockbuster, Far Cry Primal is a unique game that many feel deserves more recognition.

Rage 2

A Vibrant Post-Apocalypse

Looking back, it doesn’t really shock me that Rage 2 didn’t become a huge success, because the original Rage wasn’t a massive hit either. Both games came from id Software, a studio with an amazing history making first-person shooters, so they definitely caught people’s attention. But with series like Fallout already owning the post-apocalyptic FPS world, Rage had a tough time building a loyal fanbase. Rage 2 definitely tried to do things differently and shake things up, but it just didn’t quite click for a lot of players.

A major improvement in Rage 2 is its vibrant color palette. Unlike the first game’s drab browns, Rage 2 bursts with purples, oranges, and yellows, making it visually striking. The game also leans more into the feeling of being incredibly powerful. The nanotrite abilities, which felt like simple skills in the original Rage, now act as powerful combat enhancements. These boosts allow players to ignore caution, rush into battle, and perform over-the-top action moves. While not a perfect game, it’s unfortunate that Rage 2 has largely been forgotten, as it offers a lot of exciting gameplay.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Don’t Sleep On The Spellwork

Tango Gameworks, founded by Shinji Mikami after leaving Capcom, experimented with different game types. They started with the survival horror of The Evil Within, then expanded to a more open-world experience with The Evil Within 2. Their game Ghostwire: Tokyo took things even further, creating a fully open-world action-horror game where players rely on psychic powers instead of traditional weapons to fight ghosts and spirits in a detailed recreation of Tokyo.

Okay, so the combat isn’t revolutionary, but it feels different, especially using the DualSense controller on the PS5. Honestly, exploring the world is stunning, and I was really invested in the story and characters. The enemy designs are fantastic – Tango Gameworks always delivers there! What I really loved was how the game blended stealth and action; it kept things interesting the whole time. But honestly? The side quests are the best part. The main story is good, but the side quests get seriously strange, and in the best way possible. They’re the moments I’ll remember most about this game.

Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning

A Forgettable Name Hiding Unforgettable Combat

Similar to the game The Saboteur, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning likely would have gained popularity through word-of-mouth if it had been released in 2018. The game boasted a strong creative team, featuring a world designed by renowned fantasy author R.A. Salvatore and artwork by Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn and Venom. However, it launched in February 2012, just four months after Skyrim, a time when many open-world RPGs struggled to succeed.

Kingdoms of Amalur is a fantastic game, especially when it comes to combat. Players can master two different weapon types and a range of skills tailored to their chosen class. It’s challenging, but the fast-paced battles – switching between weapons, using skills, and dodging – remain engaging and allow for lots of experimentation. The story is also well-written and set in a distinctive fantasy world with a unique concept – the Weave of Fate. It’s classic high fantasy, penned by R.A. Salvatore, but with a welcome touch of humor that makes it stand out. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a beautifully updated version of the game, and it’s ideal for anyone looking for an open-world RPG that does things a little differently.

Gravity Rush 2

The Weight Of The World

Keiichiro Toyama, known for creating the Silent Hill series, directed Gravity Rush 2. This sequel builds upon the fantastic original, offering a larger and more immersive experience. Players once again control Kat, the protagonist with amnesia, as she explores the expansive city of Jirga Para Lhao and uses her powers to help its people with bravery and a cheerful attitude.

Gravity Rush 2 brings back the fun gravity-shifting powers from the original game, and adds two new ones: Lunar, which lets you move super fast and jump higher, and Jupiter, which makes Kat hit harder. While the game’s world isn’t quite as unique as the city in the first game, the new ways to move and the more involved story more than compensate. The Gravity Rush series doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but Gravity Rush 2 is the stronger game, and it’s easy to pick up the story even if you haven’t played the first one.

Batman: Arkham Origins

The Black Sheep Of The Arkhamverse

Considering how much praise the Batman: Arkham trilogy – Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arkham Knight – receives, it’s surprising that Batman: Arkham Origins doesn’t get as much love. It’s just as good as the other games in the series, and while it doesn’t surpass them, it’s a solid and worthwhile installment.

In Arkham Origins, players experience a younger Batman facing a dangerous Christmas Eve. Black Mask places a bounty on the Dark Knight, attracting a group of the world’s most skilled assassins to Gotham City. The game features the same fluid combat system as previous installments, along with new tools like the Remote Claw, which allows Batman to connect enemies. While the absence of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and the Joker may have contributed to the game being overlooked, Arkham Origins is a worthwhile addition to the series for anyone who enjoys the Arkhamverse and hasn’t yet played it.

Maneater

There’s Something In The Water

Shark games are naturally exciting, and Maneater fully embraces that fun. It’s not meant to be a realistic simulation; instead, the combat is over-the-top and action-packed. Players can launch their shark out of the water and onto land or even onto boats to cause chaos. Controlling the shark feels fantastic – it effortlessly glides through the water, eating smaller fish and dramatically bursting out of the waves to attack people on the beach.

What’s really cool is that the shark can transform into a futuristic monster, almost like a giant kaiju creature. By unlocking different evolved parts, you can give it electric powers, leave poisonous trails, and more. There’s a basic story about a mother shark seeking revenge on the fishermen who harmed her pups, but the main appeal is the chaotic fun of rampaging through the ocean, destroying fish and people, and earning high scores for the most outrageous kills.

Shadows Of Doubt

Private Investigating Done A Dozen Ways

When it comes to detective-focused immersive sims, Shadows of Doubt is in a league of its own. While it uses a visual style similar to Minecraft to create its sprawling, randomly generated city, that’s where the comparisons stop. You play as a private investigator in a unique 1980s setting, tasked with solving a randomly assigned crime. Success depends on thoroughly exploring the city to uncover clues, identify suspects, and ultimately find the person responsible.

What makes Shadows of Doubt so impressive is its freedom – you can investigate in any way you choose. The game world is fully accessible, letting you question anyone about the crime. You can follow suspects to observe their behavior, or even break into their homes to search for clues. This detailed system keeps the game consistently interesting because a new crime always emerges as soon as one is solved. But be careful – if you accuse the wrong person, the real criminal will continue their activities, creating more evidence and suspects to consider.

2025-12-31 08:36