Open-World Games Where You’re The Invader

Most open-world games put you in the role of a local resident. You might start from a specific country or town and then explore the world. Sometimes, these games include outsiders who act as invaders, and their reasons for being there can range from clear to mysterious. These newcomers are often met with suspicion or hostility by the game’s other characters, either during gameplay or in story scenes.

Some open-world games, like Elden Ring and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, let players directly invade other players’ games and disrupt their progress. While those are well-known examples, other open-world games also feature invasion mechanics. In these games, players take on the role of a hostile newcomer in another player’s world, with the intent to cause trouble and aren’t playing as the ‘good guy’.

Destroy All Humans!

Take Me To Your Leader

If you’re looking for a game about aliens invading Earth, look no further than Destroy All Humans! You play as Crypto, and the game lets you wreak havoc on humans using alien weapons, mind control, and even a flying saucer. It’s the perfect fit for this list!

A particularly enjoyable ability in the game lets you remove people’s brains – but it’s presented in a silly, cartoonish way, rather than being overly violent like in games such as Mortal Kombat. The game is lighthearted and doesn’t take itself too seriously. A 2020 remaster improved the overall gameplay and story, giving players a strong sense of control as they lead an alien invasion.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

A Pirate’s Life

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag uniquely focuses on the life of a pirate, Edward Kenway. While he puts on a pirate persona, he isn’t truly ruthless. However, both he and his fellow pirates are still feared for their rebellious nature.

Players will experience massive naval battles, fighting against both enemy fleets and other pirates. They’ll blast each other with cannons and then clash swords in close-quarters combat. This game is ideal for anyone who dreams of living the life of a Caribbean pirate – taking what they want without regard for rules or laws.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Not Your Planet

Okay, so in Xenoblade Chronicles X, you’re part of a colony from Earth – New L.A. – that’s landed on this new planet. It looks amazing, but it’s crawling with huge monsters! As you explore and fight – the combat is kinda like an MMO – you quickly realize the locals aren’t exactly happy we’ve shown up and started building a home on their planet.

Most of the colonists prefer a peaceful approach to negotiations, but the native inhabitants are much more aggressive, resulting in significant clashes. Although players aren’t intentionally acting as representatives of a country and aren’t destroying the land for territorial gain, the natives perceive them as hostile invaders attempting to take over their planet and displace them.

Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Giving Orcs A Purpose

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor takes place before the story of The Lord of the Rings. The game follows Talion, a Ranger, who is brought back to life by the spirit of Celebrimbor, a High Elf who helped forge the Rings of Power. Together, they join forces and combine their abilities.

After this, players journey into Mordor, systematically defeating orc bases and their leaders. If players fail, those orcs won’t forget—they’ll bear the scars of battle, climb the ranks, and hunt Talion for revenge. This dynamic ‘Nemesis System’ is the most memorable part of Shadow of Mordor, turning Talion into a notorious enemy throughout Mordor.

Prototype

Man Eat Man

The game Prototype doesn’t feature an external enemy, but rather a threat originating from within. You play as Alex Mercer, who gains incredible shapeshifting abilities after being infected with a dangerous virus. Hunted by the military, Alex decides to get revenge on those who want to recapture and experiment on him.

In the game, players unleash a virus in New York City, gaining power by absorbing humans and mutants. This understandably causes panic among the city’s residents. With abilities like scaling buildings and sprouting blade-like arms, Prototype lets players experience the thrill of being a super-powered villain.

Just Cause 2

Viva La Revolution

In Just Cause 2, you play as Rico Rodriguez, a CIA operative sent to the island nation of Panay after a rebellion. Your mission is to restore order, and the game lets you do that in a chaotic and explosive way – blowing things up is not only effective, but also incredibly enjoyable!

Rico has lots of weapons and vehicles at his disposal, but the grappling hook is his most important tool. It lets you connect anything to anything else – even attaching people to speeding jets! It’s wonderfully chaotic, and you can feel good knowing you’re only taking down the villains, all while fighting for freedom and democracy.

Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction

For The Love Of Money

Similar to the game Just Cause 2, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction arrived on the scene first. The game takes place in North Korea, where different groups are fighting for power. Players take on the role of a mercenary with no particular allegiance. Working with a specific faction builds trust, unlocking new possibilities and gear. However, alienating a faction will make them see you as an enemy.

Setting aside the game’s focus on hired guns, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is all about causing as much mayhem as possible. For a game released in 2005 on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the level of environmental destruction is remarkably good, and a single explosion can create a huge amount of chaos.

Far Cry 2

Mosquito Kill

In Far Cry 2, you play as a mercenary sent to Africa with the mission of stopping a dangerous arms dealer. While you can choose from a few different mercenaries, it doesn’t significantly change the gameplay. The main objective is to destroy enemy bases, but the local people, mostly militia groups, will fiercely resist your efforts to take control.

In Far Cry 2, earning money lets you buy better weapons to assault heavily guarded bases, creating a wild and exciting experience. The only downside is malaria, which you’ll inevitably contract and need to manage. This illness is a distinctive part of the game, setting it apart from other Far Cry titles, although it wasn’t universally loved when it first came out.

Subnautica

Explore At Your Own Risk

Subnautica begins with your spaceship crashing into the ocean of an alien planet. The goal is to survive and repair your ship, and the entire game takes place underwater. You’ll gather resources, construct underwater bases, and craft equipment within those bases to help you explore the deeper parts of the ocean and stay alive.

Combat isn’t a major focus, and the weapons available are only effective against smaller creatures. This isn’t a game where you feel overwhelmingly powerful, but the local inhabitants will definitely react negatively to you exploiting their waters.

2026-01-28 08:35