Summary
- Shenmue trilogy: Historical, dated gameplay, but a must-play for fans.
- Mafia trilogy: Compelling narrative in first two, mixed opinions on third.
- Ezio Trilogy: Iconic protagonist, must-play Assassin's Creed entries.
The meteoric rise of open-world gaming has led developers to try to create long-running series featuring tantalizing sandboxes that keep players engaged for hours on end. Some companies stop at trilogies, while others keep these games going for as long as possible.
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As a result, there are bound to be some ambitious open-world gaming trilogies that fans will remember long after they finish their journey after completing a trio of incredible games. Some titles may be more engaging than others, but players will always have a great time powering through these games to check out a tantalizing story and engaging gameplay, among many other things.
8 Shenmue
Despite The Third Game's Issues, This Legendary Open World Trilogy Is Worth Checking Out
Shenmue
- Released
- December 29, 1999
- ESRB
- t
- Games: Shenmue, Shenmue 2, Shenmue 3
Shenmue is one of the most important open-world games ever made. While the first two games may show their age, they're still important pieces of video game history that fans can check out, as long as they can get over the dated gameplay loops in these titles.
Shenmue 3 could've been a great way for new fans to get into the series, but questionable design choices, poor combat, and a lackluster story held it back. However, the misstep of this third title should take nothing away from the sheer joy fans experienced with the other two titles in the series.
7 Mafia
An Excellent Series Of Open-World Games That Stumbles In The Final Leg
Mafia
- Released
- August 28, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Crime, Open-World, Action
- Games: Mafia, Mafia 2, Mafia 3
The Mafia trilogy is full of excellent story-driven games that fans will have a great time with. While the sandbox itself may not have too many distractions in the first two games, the compelling narrative and fun gameplay more than make up for it.
Meanwhile, Mafia 3 has so many distractions that players have to go through open-world busywork to progress the story. This approach left fans with mixed opinions, but the trilogy is still a must-play for fans who love excellent narratives in their video games.
6 Assassin's Creed: Ezio Trilogy
The Legendary Ezio Auditore Made A Huge Splash Over The Course Of Three Acclaimed Games
Assassin's Creed 2
- Released
- November 7, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Games: Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed Revelations
Assassin's Creed was at the top of its game when Ezio debuted. This charming Italian rogue made such a strong impression on fans that Ubisoft couldn't stop itself from developing a trilogy dedicated to this hero.
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Both Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood are must-play titles for players who want to get into this series, while Revelations has its strengths — despite being less memorable. Either way, players will love The Ezio Trilogy and form a bond with this eponymous character by the time his adventures draw to a close.
5 STALKER: Legends Of The Zone Trilogy
Fans Love This Hardcore Survival Horror RPG Series That Takes No Prisoners
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Released
- March 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Publisher(s)
- THQ
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Games: STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, STALKER: Clear Sky, STALKER: Call of Pripyat
STALKER is one of the best open-world survival game trilogies fans can get their hands on. Heart of Chornobyl may be the most recent game in the series, but there's something about the original trilogy that keeps fans wanting more.
Shadow of Chernobyl is a great debut for players, Clear Sky is the hardest to get into but also provides players with the most high-stakes gameplay, and Call of Pripyat perfects the formula present in the previous entries. This makes the Legends of the Zone Trilogy a great romp if they want to challenge themselves.
4 Xenoblade Chronicles
The Amazing World Design Gets Better With Each Entry
Xenoblade Chronicles
- Released
- July 29, 2022
- Games: Xenoblade Chronicles, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 3
An open-world JRPG series that has become one of the best games on Nintendo consoles, Xenoblade Chronicles features incredible world design and tactical combat that is present in every single entry. The stories are genuinely great for fans who are invested in the world and its struggles.
Barring a hand-holding misstep in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, all three titles are a blast to play and show just how rich and engaging this series' worldbuilding is. Players invested in these titles should also check out Xenoblade Chronicles X, a prequel that features arguably the best exploration out of any game in this franchise.
3 Batman: Arkham Trilogy
Rocksteady's Arkham Games Are In A Class Of Their Own
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
- Games: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight
Arkham Origins also deserves its due praise, but most people refer to Rocksteady's Batman games when talking about the Arkham trilogy. Arkham Asylum set the stage for something special, although calling its open areas 'open world' is definitely a stretch. That all truly kicks into high gear with its sequel.
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Arkham City's restrained and engaging open world is a blast to explore even now, while Arkham Knight's take on Gotham City is amazing and lets players soak in the moody atmosphere as they drive around in their explosive Batmobile.
2 Grand Theft Auto: The 3D Trilogy
Rockstar Was On Top Of Their Game When They Made This Legendary Trilogy
Grand Theft Auto 3
- Released
- October 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original), PC, macOS, Android, iOS
- Games: Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
After hitting its groove with Grand Theft Auto 3, Rockstar wasn't going to look back anytime soon. The 3D Trilogy of GTA games had officially made a debut, with Vice City adding to the atmosphere and storytelling chops of this formula.
With San Andreas, Rockstar went all out and threw everything but the kitchen sink into one of the most iconic open-world games ever made. GTA 3 may show its age now, but Vice City and San Andreas are must-plays for fans who want to check out pieces of gaming history that have aged gracefully.
1 The Modern Elder Scrolls Games
Morrowind, Oblivion, And Skyrim Are Three Of The Greatest Open-World RPGs Ever Made
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Released
- May 1, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original)
- Games: The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Arena and Daggerfall deserve their fair share of praise, but it wasn't until the release of Morrowind that Bethesda finally understood how to make a compelling open-world RPG. The foundation of the third mainline Elder Scrolls game was used to develop Oblivion, which is so iconic that fans are still getting a kick out of it with the remaster.
However, none of these games come close to the cultural impact of Skyrim, which quickly became one of the greatest open-world games players can get their hands on. Even now, players can't get enough of their adventures as the Dragonborn, especially when they use a set of curated mods to enhance the experience.
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