Call of Duty has been a staple in video games since the first game launched in 2003 on the PC. Medal of Honor was still the biggest military franchise on consoles at the time, until a version of Call of Duty 2 launched alongside the Xbox 360 in 2005, which changed everything. It is now the premier shooter that both gamers and non-gamers like to play on a yearly basis.
Features That Need To Be In Every New Open-World Game
Open-world games will change how players engage with them for the better after these features are added.
The Call of Duty series is now over two decades old, and yet it has never had an open-world entry. There are certainly titles with more open areas or open-ended gameplay, like Call of Duty: Warzone, but no true open-world game exists in the franchise. While not exact matches, these games either feature stellar first-person shooting or military experiences that blur the line between fact and fiction, and they're about as close as players can get to a true open-world CoD game.
Halo Infinite
Master Chief Goes Open-World
Halo Infinite
- Released
- December 8, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Before Call of Duty, the Halo series was the premier first-person shooter franchise on consoles. Halo Infinite is one step ahead again, as it is an open-world game featuring the same gripping gameplay as the series' other titles. Master Chief can switch between dozens of alien and human weapons, blasting away foes with ease. There are vehicles to commandeer too, from Ghosts to Warthogs, making traversal simple.
Another big gimmick is Master Chief’s grappling hook, which helps players scale big cliffs more easily. It may not be a traditional open-world game with big cities, diverse NPCs offering quests, and cool spots to explore, but for Call of Duty fans, it will suffice. After all, the shooting is superb in Halo Infinite, and that’s all that really matters for shooter fans. Plus, Master Chief is a gaming icon, which has its own appeal.
Destiny 2
Less Open, But Solid
Destiny 2
- Released
- August 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Destiny 2 is less of an open-world game with one expansive planet and more like an open-galaxy game. There are hub areas where players can visit shops and accept quests from NPCs, but missions will send players all over the galaxy. Taking on a mission, Strike, Raid, or anything else will send players to specific locations on a planet for a more linear experience akin to most shooters. However, those same planets can also be explored freely outside of missions. They are smaller in scope than most open-world games, but they are still engaging to explore either solo or with random players online.
Best Open-World Games With Science-Based Combat
These open-world games incorporate science and sci-fi into their weapons, ensuring you can zap your enemies to the next life.
What’s more, the developer that created Halo, Bungie, moved on after Halo: Reach to start the Destiny franchise. This means they brought their stellar gunplay into the looter shooter genre. Beyond many sci-fi guns, each class in the game gets a variety of powers to blast enemies away with, from beams of light to fiery bullets from a magic revolver. Best of all for Call of Duty fans, players can start playing Destiny 2 for free on consoles, although some of the better content does require spending some money on expansions.
Far Cry 6
Retaking Paradise
Far Cry 6
- Released
- October 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Far Cry 6 is the latest entry in the Far Cry franchise, and while any game after and including Far Cry 3 is worth recommending, this entry has a more menacing military influence. It’s also a more grounded game, as there are no big sci-fi elements. Players are part of a revolution working to take down a dictatorship one base at a time. They will explore a rich island with tropical features aplenty, from tall mountains to gorgeous, crystal-blue rivers.
The shooting is less responsive than some other entries in the series, but it is solid enough to get the job done. The weapon variety is greater than most, especially when it comes to explosives. Also, players can acquire animal companions to help them on missions, which is a tad sillier than any Call of Duty game, but there have been animal companions before. The dogs in Call of Duty: Ghosts come to mind, so fans of that specific entry should love Far Cry 6. Beyond gunplay and animals, it should also be noted that players can steal vehicles to get around, completing the open-world experience.
Cyberpunk 2077
Become The Terminator
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
Cyberpunk 2077 is another sci-fi example, and one that is less of a strict shooter and more of an RPG. The nicest thing about the game is how open-ended it is. Players can go into most situations with guns at the ready, or they can be sneaky with stealth and hacking, or even be diplomatic with the right dialogue choices. With the right modifications to V's body, players can get cybernetics to enhance their shooting skills if they want to turn their cyborg hero into The Terminator.
Best Open-World Games With Ridiculous Gameplay
Punch rocks, catch humans, and sail like a pirate in these strange open-world games.
For example, they can get new eyes to target enemies better, or arm enhancements to steady their aiming. There are even guns with specific modifications that will help in a gunfight, like bullets that auto-target enemies. With tons of weapons to find and customize, a big city to drive around in, tons of NPCs with quests to complete, and a desert outside the metropolis just waiting to be explored, Cyberpunk 2077 has content for weeks. Fans of the more futuristic Call of Duty entries, like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, will definitely enjoy it.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands
The Ubisoft Equivalent Of CoD
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Tom Clancy's novels are great for dads and grandpas who want to read about big military endeavors and secret plots. It made sense to capitalize on the popularity in the 90s by making Tom Clancy games, and every entry definitely has a military edge that Call of Duty fans will appreciate. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands is the first game in the series to be set in an open world, and like Far Cry 6, it is grounded in reality. The only catch is that it's a third-person shooter, which not all CoD fans will like, but there are mods for the PC version to play it in first-person if that's a major issue.
Mods and perspectives aside, players are given an open-ended approach to most missions, whether they want to go in hot or take enemies down quietly. It’s more satisfying to plan a mission with friends online and then to execute them to perfection without triggering any alarms, but single-player is fun too, so multiplayer isn’t a necessity. Beyond trusty pistols, shotguns, and sniper rifles, players can get a handful of gadgets like drones to survey the land. Also, there are vehicles to cruise around in. If any of Activision’s teams plan to make a third-person entry in the Call of Duty franchise someday, they should look to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands for inspiration.
Best Open-World Games To Play Over A Long Time
Sit down and take your time in these open-world games for weeks or months on end, as there is so much great content to experience.