Open world games give players an unprecedented amount of freedom. Sometimes, this is a good thing. Just look at the innovation and successRockstar Gameshad with Grand Theft Auto 3. There’s nothing as immersive as getting lost in a gorgeous video game world.
Other times, however, exploring an open world can be, well, a little overrated. The lack of direction can be frustrating, and a game should be able to capture your attention with something more than a “massive open world experience.”
9 Forgotten Open World Games That Deserve A Remake
These open world games couldn’t quite stand out from the pack in their time, but could make a comeback with a remake.
It’s been commonplace for the industry to make their open worlds bigger and bigger, but bigger does not always mean better. Sometimes, we’re blown away when these games were released.
Over time, though, we’ve realized that these games are actually quite overrated.
8The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Most Overrated Elder Scrolls Game
The best parts about theElder Scrollsseries are the combination of discovering secrets within its open world and the hilarious jank that can ensue.
Sometimes, the game breaks when you push it too far. Other times, it’s the same voice actor being reused over and over. Yes, these are imperfections, but they make the game more endearing and enjoyable.
Skyrimsuffers from its polish. The game feels less organic and more like it was explicitly designed to hit specific engagement metrics from its users. As a result, the game fails to develop the sense of charm and delight that exists within Oblivion and Morrowind.
It’s the biggest reason why I’ve always felt like Skyrim is so overrated. The main story is already forgettable, and when the side content feels like it was generated by an algorithm, you lose me. Sure, I remember that meme about the adventurer taking an arrow to the knee, but that can only take a game so far.
7Far Cry 4
I Can’t Help But Feel Like We’ve Done This Before
One of the biggest surprises of 2012 was Far Cry 3. It was a fantastic open world backed by an iconic antagonist. Yes, the gameplay sometimes felt a bit like a chore, but I was hooked.
Two years later,Far Cry 4 came out,and it received even more positive reviews. It looks like Ubisoft has created another successful franchise. There’s just one problem: I couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
A villain with an eccentric personality? Check. An exotic open world setting? Check. Copy and paste chores and tasks that become tedious over time? Check.
I’ve been here before, two years ago in fact. Far Cry 4 isn’t a bad game, but I liked it far more when I did all this in Far Cry 3. Considering that its predecessor did nearly everything better, especially when it comes to storytelling, the result is an overrated experience.
6Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Less Assassin’s Creed, More Generic Open World Action-Adventure
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
I am one of a handful of people who seriously enjoyed the originalAssassin’s Creedexperience. There are dozens of us, I tell you. Dozens of us!
The sequel, Assassin’s Creed 2, does an excellent job of staying true to the franchise’s roots while opening up the gameplay loop. It became less tedious and embraced an enjoyable open world with some much-needed quality-of-life updates.
Over time, these games became bigger and bigger, leading to an eventual “reboot” for the series that had more in common with an open world RPG experience than a stealth-based action game.
Assassin’s Creed Odysseyis the highest rated of these titles, which promises players an impressive amount of content. The problem, though, is that there’s far too much happening here.
The game is far too big, filled with bloat and fluff that only pads the runtime. Despite all of that content, you’re still forced to needlessly grind to bypass the inexplicable level gating that exists.
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Long games can sometimes be the perpetrator here, but it’s often the way a game is made long rather than the length itself.
5Burnout Paradise
Crash And Burn
Burnout Paradise
I’m a huge Burnout fan. One of my fondest memories with theXbox 360was playing Burnout Revenge online. I made so many new friends on Xbox Live.
With the news ofBurnout Paradise, we were excited to dive back in. Yes, the game’s open world felt like the franchise was chasing industry trends, but I’m not one to judge a book by its cover.
In this case, I should have been a little more cautious.
With the transition to open world gameplay, Burnout Paradise loses the magic the series became known for. It was no longer about arcade racing and memorizing the tracks to know where to take down enemies.
It became yet another generic entry in a sea of arcade-style racers. Half the time I was playing, I wouldn’t see another driver during a race because we were all taking different routes.
4Starfield
Is Bethesda Losing A Step?
Fextralife Wiki
On paper,Starfieldis a slam dunk. A Bethesda RPG experience that lets you traverse through space? Sign me up.
Here’s the thing, though. Remember how I mentioned that Skyrim felt like it had content that seemed like it was generated by an algorithm? That’s still on full display here.
For a game that’s all about exploration and journeying into the unknown, there’s little to no reason to do so. Once you’ve explored a handful of planets, you’ve seen them all. That typical Bethesda magic from exploring their worlds is gone, particularly since venturing through space isn’t a seamless experience.
Worst of all, the game’s main story fails to capture your attention, and the characters are shockingly forgettable. For all the flaws that exist within Bethesda’s more modern releases, such as Skyrim and Fallout 4, there’s still something that you can take home with you. That isn’t the case with Starfield. It’s a forgettable experience that wasnowhere near worth the wait.
3Halo Infinite
Not Quite the Return of the King
Halo Infinite
I’m probably one of the biggestHalo Infiniteapologists out there. The multiplayer feels like classic Halo, and the open world gameplay is an excellent addition to the campaign.
Still, I know an overrated game when I see one, and Halo Infinite is absolutely overrated. The biggest reason is a severe lack of variety within its open world. It’s fun and engaging, but that slowly but surely wears off.
It feels like everything in the world was copied and pasted ad nauseam. There’s very little variety at play here, and no reason to experiment with your play style. It’s like the game is at odds with itself, feeling like a traditionalHaloexperience despite taking place in an open world. The two design philosophies ultimately do not mesh.
The unfortunate part is that I truly think there’s something here. Halo Infinite is a good game deep within its core. Sadly, its troubled development does nothing but hold it back, with frustrating decisions hindering enjoyment.
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2Horizon Forbidden West
Robot Dinosaurs Galore!
Horizon Forbidden West
For me, the biggest takeaway with the Horizon franchise is its unfortunate release timing. The original game launched alongside theNintendo Switchand Breath of the Wild, a far better open world game if you ask me. Don’t worry, the sequel didn’t share a release window with a Nintendo game. This time, it wasElden Ring. Whoops.
Horizon Forbidden Westis the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, which means we’re in for more robot dinosaurs, more open world adventure, and more of the same thing that everyone enjoyed with the original. That’s all fun and all, but sequels are supposed to move the franchise forward, not just replay the hits.
Forbidden West’s open world is lifeless, dull, and uninviting. It doesn’t capture the magic of something like Tears of the Kingdom or Elden Ring, offering little to no reason to explore on my own terms other than some random NPC wanting me to complete a side quest.
The biggest issue I have with these games is that, like Starfield, there’s not much here to capture your attention. It’s a forgettable experience that boils down to the same experience from the dime-a-dozen open world games that exist in this industry. Yes, this one has robot dinosaurs, but that’s nowhere near enough to warrant its praise.
1Just Cause 2
Just Cause 2
Every time I hear good things about a Just Cause game, I get sucked in. It’s a fantastic premise: cause over the top mayhem and destruction.
The problem, though, is that no matter how enjoyable a gameplay loop can be, if that’s your only selling point, it’s going to lose its luster.
Just Cause 2’s chaos system takes precedent over everything else. Sometimes this leads to being rewarded for actions that are detrimental to the game’s already thin narrative. The game feels at odds with itself. Granted, I’m not playing Just Cause, of all things, for its story, but I’d at least like something to hold my attention as gameplay wears thin.
Furthermore, the game’s missions are so repetitive that they accomplish the impressive feat of becoming boring over time. A grind is a grind, even if you’re blowing up settlements. No amount of style and flash can make up for that.
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Discover 8 open-world games with insane random encounters, from RDR2’s dynamic events to Skyrim’s unpredictable dragon attacks and hidden surprises!
