Top 9 Shelved Open-World Game Franchises That Deserved More

by

Summary

  • Open-world games are now a standard, but not a guarantee for success.
  • “Wheelman” and “The Godfather” offer unique experiences in open-world gaming.
  • “Driver,” “Prototype,” and “Sleeping Dogs” are missed opportunities for sequels.

In the early days of video game consoles, open-world games weren’t available, but as technology progressed and presented fresh avenues for development, games began to showcase larger environments where players could roam freely, setting their own pace of exploration.

In today’s gaming landscape, an open-world setting is often seen as non-negotiable for big-budget releases. However, it doesn’t always guarantee success. Over the years, numerous open-world games have been launched, and surprisingly, many of these titles were ultimately discontinued despite providing a fulfilling player experience. As a dedicated fan, I’ve seen this pattern repeat itself, leaving me with mixed feelings about the reliance on this feature alone to ensure a game’s success.

9. Wheelman

Shelved Since 2009

In today’s world, it’s fairly typical for big-screen stars to show up in video games, but during the seventh generation of gaming consoles, this was quite unusual. As a result, many gamers still recall the game called Wheelman because it was such a rarity back then.

The game offers an open-world action adventure with Vin Diesel as the main character, who isn’t connected to the Fast and Furious franchise, but shares similarities due to its emphasis on driving. While Wheelman doesn’t belong to the Fast and Furious series, it’s clear that it was influenced by these movies, especially considering driving is a crucial element of gameplay.

In this game, titled Wheelman, you’ll find both main story missions and side quests. Additionally, like Grand Theft Auto, there’s the freedom to roam around freely in the city, allowing you to drive any vehicles you spot on the streets.

In the game Wheelman, you assume the character of a secret agent on a mission. Your task is to secure confidential documents before they fall into the wrong hands, all set against the vibrant backdrop of Barcelona. This game offers a distinct, scarcely found driving experience in an open-world European city, which sets it apart from many contemporary games of its kind.

8. The Godfather

Shelved Since 2009

Not many movie adaptations manage to excel as exceptional video games, but Electronic Arts’ attempt with “The Godfather” was commendable. This game effectively bridges the gap between the original “Mafia” and the “Grand Theft Auto” series.

The reason why The Godfather is an exceptional game is because it offers players a chance to immerse themselves within the film’s universe by creating a fresh character, yet still experience the critically acclaimed narrative that was presented in the original movie.

In comparison to the original Mafia game, the open-world aspects found in The Godfather are significantly more sophisticated, offering a new and invigorating gaming experience despite the fact that its storyline wasn’t quite as captivating. One of the unique features within The Godfather is the ability to rob banks, which was not present even in the GTA series when it was first released.

Sadly, the sequel to “The Godfather,” produced by EA, turned out to be such a colossal disappointment that they ended up shelving the entire series. The game deviated greatly from its predecessor, with the open-world activities becoming superficial and the narrative elements drawn from the films being drastically reduced in scale.

7. Mercenaries

Shelved Since 2009

A more fitting series to liken Mercenaries to might be Just Cause. This franchise, developed by Electronic Arts, offers an entertaining open-world setting where chaos, destruction, and explosions are central elements, while maintaining a relatively humorous approach to its narrative.

In the Mercenaries series, both games offer landscapes with a greater emphasis on wilderness over cityscapes. The cities themselves are often dominated by military bases, complete with massive vehicles, which serve to amplify the gameplay by promoting mayhem and devastation.

2009 saw plans for a third Mercenaries game taking shape following the moderate achievements of its predecessor. However, the shutdown of both Pandemic and Danger Close studios put an end to this project, leaving the series temporarily on hold.

6. Midnight Club

Shelved Since 2008

Prior to being immersed in consecutive releases of “Grand Theft Auto” and “Red Dead Redemption”, Rockstar was indeed developing multiple franchises spanning various genres. Notably, “Midnight Club” held its ground as a significant competitor to Electronic Arts’ “Need For Speed”, offering its own distinctive gameplay style.

The game titled “Midnight Club” was known for its theme revolving around illicit street racing, featuring an intricate car customization system. Unlike other games such as “Need For Speed“, which primarily emphasized the aesthetic aspects in the customization section, “Midnight Club” took it a step further by offering detailed technical modifications as well. This was considered a daring aspect of the game when it was released.

Since the launch of the Los Angeles Complete Edition in 2009, the Midnight Club series has not seen another release. It has been scarcely mentioned by Rockstar Games or its parent company, with Grand Theft Auto taking center stage as their primary franchise instead.

5. Driver

Shelved Since 2011

Initially, Driver was often compared to the Grand Theft Auto series, but after its second release, it saw a dramatic decline in popularity. At one point, Driver ruled the roost among open-world driving games on the original PlayStation, with both Driver and Driver 2 being highly acclaimed and well-received titles due to their engaging driving mechanics and appealing free-roam options.

Nevertheless, the shift to the PlayStation 2 era posed significant challenges for the Driver series. In contrast to the monumental success of Grand Theft Auto during this period, the Driver franchise struggled with each innovation they attempted. Disappointment ensued among fans as both Driver 3 and Driver: Parallel Lines fell short of expectations.

Eventually, the series made a comeback through “Driver: San Francisco,” a title that rekindled its focus on driving and moved away from the GTA-like gameplay. This change brought about impressive outcomes. Despite San Francisco marking the end of the franchise, it was undeniably a fitting finale at its zenith.

4. The Saboteur

Shelved Since 2009

As a gamer, I’d say: Instead of the typical World War 2 shooter games, “The Saboteur” stood out as it offered an open-world action-adventure experience amidst Nazi-occupied France. In this game, you join a resistance group in France who find themselves embroiled in a conflict with the Nazis following a chain of events. The goal is to reclaim sectors of the city that have fallen into German hands.

The character known as “The Saboteur” drew influences from numerous games. Its open-city exploration and chance to create chaos for the Nazis might evoke memories of a game similar to GTA, yet it also incorporated stealth elements and numerous rooftops to scale, offering players a blend of the stealthy gameplay found in both Hitman and Assassin’s Creed, all set within a World War II backdrop.

In terms of plot and game mechanics, The Saboteur was incredibly enjoyable, but sadly, it was common knowledge prior to its launch that there wouldn’t be a sequel. Interestingly, Electronic Arts disbanded the studio responsible for the game, nearly a month before The Saboteur hit the shelves.

3. Prototype

Shelved Since 2012

Originally developed by the creators of “The Simpsons: Hit & Run”, Protorype was an innovative debut that proved to be a hit, ultimately leading Activision to approve not only its initial launch but also a sequel.

In both games, the story revolves around a main character possessing extraordinary powers, whose mission is to prevent a lethal virus from spreading throughout Manhattan. A distinctive feature of these games is the Shapeshifting mechanic, enabling players to transition between their normal and mutated personas.

Although the narrative strives to portray the protagonist as a good character, gameplay mechanics enable players to injure or even harm the citizens. This feature was more prevalent in the sequel. Both Prototype games offered exhilarating fast-paced combat and agile movement options, but the second installment fell short of Activision’s financial targets, leading to the cancellation of the third game and putting the franchise on hold.

2. Sleeping Dogs

Shelved Since 2015

It’s often disappointing when fantastic games, brimming with unfulfilled potential, fail to get a follow-up. Sleeping Dogs, for instance, represents a significant untapped opportunity in the gaming world, overlooked by Square Enix. The game stands out in nearly every aspect.

The game offers a distinctive backdrop accompanied by an engrossing narrative. The action incorporates both martial arts and standard weapon-based moves typical in an expansive, open-world environment. Furthermore, the main character has earned much admiration among the gaming community.

The game “Sleeping Dogs” was well-equipped for a follow-up, and the developers were even developing an online extension of it. However, Square Enix chose to scrap the project and close down the development team, effectively putting an end to the promising intellectual property.

1. Red Faction

Shelved Since 2018

In earlier days, when game destruction was a premium aspect, Red Faction stood at the forefront, providing dynamic destruction settings for players. This enabled them to alter the game’s landscape as they wreaked havoc using explosives.

Just like Saints Row, Red Faction was another groundbreaking new IP created by Volition, a studio that is now defunct. Regrettably, the end for Red Faction came much sooner than Volition’s own closure. The latest installment in the series was released as far back as 2011. While Volition did re-release a remastered version of Red Faction: Guerilla in 2018, it failed to revive the series from its lengthy hiatus.

At present, ownership of the IP lies with Plaion, yet there’s no indication as to whether the franchise might be reborn or not.

Read More

2025-04-05 23:11