Great Open-world Games That Missed The Mark

Summary

Fable III lost franchise fans by straying from relatable characters despite cool concepts.
Avowed’s intriguing concept fell short due to a lackluster world and rushed narrative.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, though promising, stumbled due to a flawed business model.

Occasionally, open-world video games contain impressive concepts for environments and gameplay elements, but they don’t always meet expectations. This can be due to a variety of reasons such as premature release, technical glitches, or design aspects that don’t resonate with players. In today’s market, there are many games that fail to gain popularity despite their potential.

This list highlights several open-world games that, despite falling short in some areas, boasted exceptional mechanics, groundbreaking design, or intriguing elements of their world creation and storytelling. From a sequel struggling to shake off the legacy of its predecessor, to one of the top Fantasy RPGs that could have been even better if it had fewer puzzles and less vibrant color.

6. Fable III

The Concept Was Cool, And The Narrative Was Decent, Yet It Lacked The Spark

The Fable series was born from the imaginative minds of a brilliant game design team, spearheaded by visionary Peter Molyneux, head of Lionhead Studios. Following The Lost Chapters, they immersed themselves in the development of a next-generation sequel, resulting in the creation of Fable II. This game marked a new chapter in Albion’s history, featuring heroes who inherited the Power of Will and were direct descendants of the original Chickenchaser/Sparrow. As players progressed with the franchise, they watched as Albion transitioned into an industrialized age, where guns posed a threat to overtake bows, swords, and magic.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on my experience with “Fable III.” Initially, bandits were a menacing presence, causing unrest among the peasants due to their well-equipped nature. So, it was crucial for us players to exert extra effort in eradicating these pests from our lands. However, when “Fable III” arrived, the developers made an unfortunate misstep – they transformed a hero born and bred in the slums into a royal figure with an overly privileged upbringing.

Despite ample opportunity for character development as they took on the mantle once worn by their ancestors who vanquished the evil Jack of Blades, neither the narrative, world-building, nor the protagonist’s emotional depth resonated with us players. This is often why “Fable III” is regarded as the start of a downward spiral for this cherished series.

5. Avowed

An Overal Great Concept, That Failed To Reach The Hearts Of The Players

The concept of Avowed is generally impressive as a follow-up to Pillars of Eternity, but it fell short during its launch and subsequent months due to several problems. Firstly, the open-world setting appeared somewhat sparse for an RPG, which was disappointing. Moreover, the lack of respawning monsters in a game with significant build-crafting potential didn’t align well. This issue left players with unfinished builds that didn’t meet their expectations, disrupting immersion and giving the impression that the game wasn’t fully developed.

However, the game’s narrative failed to provide a deeply impactful journey due to overly demanding player interaction and multiple irreversible moments, making the storyline seem hurried. Essentially, it seemed better suited for an initial multiplayer campaign than a fully-fledged single-player open-world RPG. In essence, the concept was intriguing, but it stumbled in some essential areas of game development.

4. Middle Earth: Shadow Of War

While Superior In Various Aspects To Its Prequel, It Still Missed The Mark

As a devoted fan, I can confidently say that Middle-earth: Shadow of War could very well be the greatest Lord of the Rings game ever crafted. It reigned supreme during its launch period, making it the top-selling game for that month and maintaining its dominance in the months that followed. This enduring success can be attributed to Monolith’s unwavering support and the release of two expansions, which enriched an already bustling open-world environment even further.

Despite their initial plans, the chosen business model for the game, which was afflicted by Microtransaction issues, did not sit well with the audience. Moreover, the contentious use of DENUVO DRM led to numerous performance problems, and players held a grudge against the developers for it. Persistent technical glitches drove a significant segment of its player base away from the series, ultimately undermining Monolith’s aspiration for continued installments in the franchise.

3. Prototype 2

Its Main Character Lacked The Drive And Charisma Of Alex Mercer

In an unfortunate turn of events, Prototype 2 violated a fundamental principle in storytelling: turning a cherished character into a mere plot device as a means to boost the protagonist’s role in the sequel was a mistake. This move left players disappointed, and the Prototype series suffered as a result. With such promising potential, they squandered an exceptional anti-hero capable of steering the franchise successfully for many years.

Fans rarely forgive betrayals, especially when it involves destroying a well-liked character to introduce a new one abruptly, who may follow a similar path but with poor character development. The creation of Prototype 2, however, might be the source of this issue: the team behind it lacked appreciation for Alex Mercer as a character and his potential role in shaping the future of the series.

2. Fallout 4

It Had Major Technical Flaws, But Its Core Gameplay Was Great

In Fallout 4, there were numerous technical problems, a multitude of bugs, poor optimization, and ineffective rendering. However, the excitement of having Meatball back after such a long time helped balance out these issues, as it was one of the game’s best features. This dog seemed to flout all physical laws, passing through high-level locks to deliver valuable items (such as the Cryolator) and engaging in combat with Super Mutants and Deathclaws head-on.

One standout aspect that made Fallout 4’s gameplay exceptional (even now) was its buggy nature notwithstanding. What truly sealed the deal and turned Fallout 4 into an unquestionable success, despite falling short in all technical aspects, was the revival of melee weapons. In Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, melee combat left much to be desired, but in the fourth installment of the series, these weapons were refined to a level that made even the most eccentric build strategies viable.

1. Mass Effect: Andromeda

Launched The Ball, Missed All Pins

Andromeda” was a game that had great ambition but fell short in many aspects. Compared to its previous installments, it lacked depth in storytelling. Despite these issues, it retained a sense of promise and potential. So you could say it reached for the stars, but ended up with some noticeable design flaws instead.

The game boasted intriguing ideas, such as vehicle-based exploration and exceptional combat systems coupled with engaging character skills. When functioning correctly, these elements provided a satisfying reward for players aspiring to create Shepard-like legends in a distant galaxy beyond the Reaper attack. It was unfortunate that this remarkable franchise concluded its adventure prematurely, leaving behind numerous loose ends, unresolved plot holes, and countless fans yearning for what could be _Mass Effect 4_.

2025-06-01 01:14