Best Open-World Games To Play As A Mercenary

Key Takeaways

Open-world games offer varying morality shades & mercenary options with direct political impact.
Elex, Mercenaries, & Cyberpunk 2077 are standout open-world games featuring mercenary roles.
These games provide freedom in faction choices, combat styles, and leadership decisions.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that each one of these games offers a unique and thrilling mercenary experience in their own right. However, if I were to choose one that truly resonates with my life as a modern-day mercenary, it would have to be Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

A variety of open-world games exist, ranging from strategy titles to action-adventure ones and numerous options in between. These games often demand that the player assume the role of a heroic character, often battling against an adversary, to accomplish objectives within a game world guided by a dualistic moral system.

In contrast to some open-world games, they present moral decisions as a spectrum of shades rather than clear-cut right or wrong. These games often place the player in the role of a mercenary, allowing them to adjust their moral stance based on the most financially beneficial tasks at hand. Frequently, these games put you in charge of a band of mercenaries and offer morally questionable choices that significantly affect the game’s world.

7 Elex

Post-Apocalyptic RPG

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, GeForce Now, Microsoft Windows
Released: October 17, 2017
Developer: Piranha Bytes
Genre: Adventure game, Action role-playing game, Fighting game, Shooter Video Game

In the realm of gaming, Elex stands out as a unique roleplaying experience, merging medieval combat with futuristic technology in a post-apocalyptic setting. This game offers an array of captivating features, including an expansive open world map teeming with diverse landscapes from sprawling metropolises to barren wastelands scorched by time.

In this game, you assume the character of Jax, a former soldier turned mercenary. You’re free to ally with various factions and engage in their tasks or contracts. By doing so, your actions significantly influence the political landscape of the game universe.

6 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Play A Mercenary During The Peloponnesian War

In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the story unfolds amidst the historical backdrop of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. However, the action takes place in a vast, open-world environment modeled after ancient Greece.

In “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey,” you’re given a fantastic battle system that empowers you to shape your combat approach entirely, tailoring it to your playstyle. Additionally, the game offers a mercenary progression system where you can rise through the ranks of the organization and challenge other mercenaries along the way. This game is a testament to player choice and freedom, making it a worthy addition to this list.

5 Mercenaries: Playground Of Destruction

Fight A Fictional War In North Korea

In this timeless open-world title, you step into the role of any of three hired guns, carrying out diverse tasks for multiple factions within the game. The manner in which you execute these missions rests solely on your decisions, since the game offers a flexible sandbox gameplay design.

In Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, you have a vast arsenal of weapons and vehicles at your disposal, alongside completely destructible landscapes and settings. The action-packed combat can get quite thrilling, making this one of the top mercenary games out there. It doesn’t aim for overcomplicated narratives; instead, it focuses on providing an enjoyable gaming experience.

4 Cyberpunk 2077

Explore Night City

As V in Cyberpunk 2077, gamers enjoy the liberty to traverse and discover the expansive map of Night City at their leisure. The gripping narrative is engaging, enriched by captivating full-motion videos starring Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand.

In this game, players have the liberty to tailor their character’s abilities according to their preferences. They can opt for a straightforward combat build, employing either melee or ranged weapons, or a sneaky, hacking-oriented build. In addition to the main storyline, players can also accept jobs from fixers, which are referred to as ‘gigs’. Despite a challenging start, this game has gained recognition as one of, if not the finest cyberpunk-themed games available today.

3 Mount & Blade: Warband

Lead A Warband Of Mercenaries

In the realm of Mount & Blade: Warband, I find myself shoulder-to-shoulder with a motley crew of mercenaries who look up to me as their leader. Recruiting these fighters from far-flung corners of the vast open world map is a task that keeps me on my toes. Leading a Warband in this game isn’t just about charging into battle; it’s a intricate puzzle I’m constantly trying to solve.

In a sandbox format, this game empowers players to decide which faction they’ll serve, earning currency called gold that can sustain their Warband. The action takes place in real-time, yet there’s an additional strategic layer involved. Essentially, the game provides an immersive experience of managing a mercenary group, not only focusing on combat but also daily operations.

2 Just Cause 3

Set On The Island Of Medici

As Rico Rodriguez, the protagonist, you’ll be set on a mission to liberate the Mediterranean island of Medici from its tyrannical ruler in Just Cause 3. This despot, let me tell you, isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Your objective is either to dethrone him or bring his rule crumbling down.

In a vast, open environment, this game offers the freedom for players to tackle objectives and challenges from multiple perspectives, embodying the essence of a sandbox game. The action-packed battles are accompanied by additional features like grappling hooks and parachutes, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

1 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Be The Big Boss

Among all games, none could claim the number one spot more fittingly than Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. This game offers an unparalleled level of satisfaction as it allows players to assume the role of the legendary mercenary, Big Boss. In this adventure, you’ll command your own private military force, guiding them through diverse landscapes such as Africa and Afghanistan.

Different types of mercenary jobs require distinct strategies. Some demand stealth and time, while others lean on suddenness and heavy firepower. The primary campaign and narrative are captivating, and Big Boss’s character, though occasionally excessive, serves as an outstanding model for what a mercenary leader should embody.

2024-10-14 06:04