Summary
- Open-world game threequels often bring refined gameplay, richer stories, and bigger maps.
- Grand Theft Auto 3 set a new precedent for open-world games that would influence future sequels and other franchises.
- Beautiful 16-bit visuals and sounds combined with improved gameplay turned The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past into a classic.
Open-world games have a unique way of pulling players into vast, immersive worlds where exploration and freedom are key, and their sequels can prove to be even better than the original. When these games reach their third installment—or threequel—they often bring refined gameplay, richer stories, and bigger maps.
The third entries in video game series have given players memorable adventures, ranging from expansive fantasy worlds to vast cities, while also revolutionizing the industry. Furthermore, many of these third installments can be enjoyed without prior experience with the earlier titles in their respective series.
10 Jak 3
The Third Game Went Bigger And Darker
Jak 3
- Released
- November 9, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action-Adventure
Running around a world and collecting important items is what helped turn Jak & Daxter into a classic for the PS2, but each sequel went in darker directions, especially Jak 3. It's still a fun and comedic adventure for kids and adults alike, but with edgier tones and more mature subject matter, including Jak being more combat-focused, using guns and his light and dark Eco powers.
20 Years Ago, Naughty Dog Left Jak & Daxter On a High Note With Jak 3
The last proper release in the Jak & Daxter series turns 20 years old today, serving as a reminder of what was lost when Naughty Dog shifted gears.
Jak 3 presents even bigger worlds than the previous games, with the Wastelands and Edge City becoming explorable the more the player progresses. Each one is filled with hundreds of Power Cells and Precursor Orbs to collect, memorable characters to meet, and plenty of quests to accomplish.
9 Grand Theft Auto 3
How Rockstar Changed Open-World Games Forever
Grand Theft Auto 3
- Released
- October 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
Instead of 2D isometric visuals, Grand Theft Auto 3 was the first game in the series to introduce the third-person perspective and a fully explorable world, which would prove to be a revolutionary decision. Not only would every subsequent Grand Theft Auto take from Grand Theft Auto 3 in some way, but the open-world aspect would influence dozens of games that came afterward.
Liberty City offered players an unprecedented level of freedom in 2001, enabling them to participate in various activities, such as stealing cars and going on rampages. This element contributed to the controversy surrounding Grand Theft Auto 3, which plays a significant role in the game's history and its impact on the gaming industry as a whole.
8 Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
The Rebooted Lara Croft’s Final Chapter Finished Her Journey
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Released
- September 14, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider is the third title in the rebooted Tomb Raider series . It continues the story of Lara Croft, finalizing her transformation into the hardened treasure hunter that fans know and love. This time, Lara is in the jungles of Central and South America, harking back to the classic Tomb Raider games, which often put her in exotic and tropical locations.
Every Tomb Raider Game, Ranked
Tomb Raider is an all-time great franchise with many great games, but not all of Lara Croft's adventures are equal.
The way Lara controls, the expansive world filled with challenges and quests, and the cinematic storytelling closely resemble those of Rise of the Tomb Raider— and this is a positive aspect. It doesn’t attempt to fix what isn’t broken; instead, it successfully blends action, survival, and puzzle elements to craft another iconic adventure. There are a few improvements, including enhanced swimming mechanics, a new barter system, and additional abilities for Lara's equipment.
7 Dragon Age: Inquisition
BioWare Made The Shift To An Open World
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Where the first two games stuck to a linear format, BioWare took the RPG and storytelling template for their games and leaped into an open world in Dragon Age: Inquisition. When the player is done creating their ideal character, they can be as heroic or villainous as they please while leading a group of ragtag heroes in a wartorn fantasy world.
Like in Mass Effect and the other Dragon Age games, choices matter, and they can drastically alter story events and relationships, especially now that the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition have a domino effect that carries over into Dragon Age: The Veilguard. It also presents multiple worlds to explore, offering more ways to level up the Inquisitor via grinding and completing side quests.
6 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
The Third Zelda Adventure Is A 16-Bit Classic
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Released
- April 13, 1992
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
With a leap onto the SNES, The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past maintains most of what fans loved about previous games, with Link traversing Hyrule to stop Ganon’s reign of terror. It has the dungeons, enemies, and item collecting that are still seen in the series today, but the more advanced hardware was able to execute the familiar concepts in a fresh way.
Storytelling was more involved, and 16-bit visuals allowed every area and dungeon to be diverse, especially with the ability to travel between light and dark versions of Hyrule. As a result, The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past is still a quintessential entry in the franchise and the SNES library.
5 Fallout 3
Bethesda Rebooted The Franchise For The Better
Fallout 3
- Released
- October 28, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
After a long hiatus between games, Bethesda brought back the Fallout franchise in the form of a first-person RPG that immersed players in the post-apocalyptic world like never before. Fallout 3 featured more detail, intense action, and storytelling that would help cement how future Fallout games would be made, expanding on what this entry set as the new norm.
Like all Fallout games, this installment offers plenty of action as players explore the devastated wasteland while also providing commentary on the consequences of war and corporate greed. Fallout 3 follows the story of a protagonist who was born and raised in a thriving Vault but is forced to leave in search of their missing father. The game blends post-apocalyptic themes with retro-futuristic visuals in a way that has become iconic in modern gaming.
4 Far Cry 3
The Game That Set The New Gold Standard
Far Cry 3
- Released
- November 29, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
The Far Cry games continue to follow a template established with Far Cry 3. This game puts the player in the middle of the fully explorable Rook Islands to fight pirates and the many deadly fauna. It mixes first-person shooter action with stealth and features an iconic villain in the form of Vaas, who would end up being the start of the series consistently featuring a signature villain in every game.
Far Cry: 8 Best Endings In The Games, Ranked
Far Cry games are known for their multiple endings, many of which stick with the player long after the credits roll.
Rather than a typical hero, Far Cry 3 presents a protagonist who is constantly being warped by the violence that he and his enemies partake in. At the same time, that evolution gives the player more abilities and tools for disposing of their foes, hunting wildlife, and traversing the tropical islands. Over a decade later, Ubisoft is still using Far Cry 3 as its template for current games in the beloved franchise.
3 Batman: Arkham Knight
The Arkhamverse Batman Went Out With A Bang
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
Batman: Arkham Knight was advertised as the ultimate Batman simulator, and that is definitely a way to describe it. Rocksteady gave gamers the most detailed virtual version of Gotham City ever as a playground. With all the DLC, there are a plethora of side missions featuring a massive gallery of iconic villains to fight across the three islands.
With the Batmobile, enhanced gliding, expanded combat, and an array of gadgets, Batman is almost unstoppable in Batman: Arkham Knight. The developers made Batman and all playable characters feel like they do in the comics, which, combined with a divisive but epic storyline, helped turn Batman: Arkham Knight into the definitive Batman title.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Life In The Old West Has Nearly Endless Content
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Don't be fooled by the "2" in its title. Red Dead Revolver began the series, but the Red Dead evolved heavily with each entry to make the player feel like an outlaw of the wild west, and Red Dead Redemption 2 is no different. It goes back in time to show how the Van Der Linde Gang rose and fell apart due to their leader, Dutch, thus paving the way for John Marston’s quest for revenge in Red Dead Redemption.
As Arthur Morgan, players can experience hundreds of hours' worth of content just by exploring the American frontier, from Rocky Mountain-like terrain to bayous straight out of Louisiana. Along with of top-tier visuals, there are hundreds of side quests, instances, and challenges to keep a player busy when they aren’t engaging with the dark story about outlaws.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Still A Best-Selling Game After A Decade
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Over a decade after its release, gamers are still enthralled by The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt thanks to its massive continent filled with monsters to hunt as Geralt of Rivia. CD Projekt Red has always filled The Witcher games with tons of content, but the third game took it to a whole other level, and that’s without considering the substantial DLC expansions.
From a multitude of storylines to follow to discovering new threats and dark fantasy creatures to slay, befriend, or even protect, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an immersive RPG. The combat is fun but also requires the player to strategize rather than swinging blindly, and it features a now-beloved storyline in which Geralt is trying to reunite with his apprentice.
8 Most Iconic RPG Open Worlds Ever Made
Open-world games are the shining star of the gaming industry. Of the many settings found within this genre, these are the most timeless and iconic.