Grand Theft Auto 5 is easily one of the most impressive open-world games ever made, with an extensive, realistic cityscape for players to explore both alone or with a group of friends. Mltiplayer and free-roaming chaos aside, the game has a great story built around three protagonists whose paths intersect on a range of missions across the map. What makes the narrative so beloved is how the characters are written to behave and react like real people, with grounded motivations grounded and their roles in the gameplay that reflect their personalities.
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Even though the story of GTA 5 is still praised today, quite a few open-world games have better narratives for players to explore. There are games within the same series that manage to capture an even more human aspect within their stories, dystopian adventures that draw players in with compelling worlds and mission designs, and a few one-off greats that have stood the test of time, demonstrating that with a strong enough plot, any open-world game can become timeless.
Grand Theft Auto 4
The True American Dream
Grand Theft Auto 4
- Released
- April 29, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto 4 follows Niko Bellic, an Eastern European war survivor who arrives in Liberty City expecting opportunity and instead finding a network of criminals, debts, and a world of broken promises. The story is framed around Niko’s attempts to escape his past while being pulled into new cycles of violence that throw into question his loyalties. Although the game does explore some darker themes within the criminal world, it always presents them as negative rather than desirable.
What makes the narrative stronger than GTA 5's is the way choices and relationships develop over the course of a playthrough. Characters who begin as access points to jobs become utility points later on, allowing players to feel like they are in complete control of how certain arcs play out. At its core, GTA 4 always reminds players that progress often comes with compromise, and much like in the real world, there are no easy routes to success.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's Other Premier Open-World IP
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Red Dead Redemption 2 follows Rockstar's trend of delivering a breathtaking open-world held together by a truly unforgettable narrative. The game follows Arthur Morgan, a senior member of the Van der Linde gang whose loyalty is strained as the group deteriorates under pressures both from the law and from within. Arthur’s arc is written around the slow loss of belief in the gang's ideology and the dire costs that come with maintaining allegiance to those with dwindling capability.
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Its narrative strength comes from how specific developments are staged as the consequences of earlier collective decisions rather than moments that appear out of nowhere late in the plot. Dutch’s changes in strategy can be traced to identifiable events in the story, and Arthur’s change in attitude is anchored in a medical diagnosis that forces him to evaluate his life's meaning on a deeper level before his time expires. The writing in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a real step up from anything else in the genre, and few games manage to capture what it means to be human quite like it.
Sleeping Dogs
Taking Down The Triad From The Inside
Sleeping Dogs
- Released
- August 14, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- United Front Games
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Sleeping Dogs takes players on a journey with Wei Shen at the helm. Wei is an undercover police officer who infiltrates the Sun On Yee triad in Hong Kong. The narrative positions him as a man caught between two sides, one for the law and the other for the underground to which he slowly becomes more attached over time. The story keeps things straightforward and to the point, with things burning slowly over time, and it matches the gradual personal growth that Wei undergoes.
Its story is remembered because of several memorable moments that fit into the wider world perfectly, without feeling over-scripted or forced into the narrative. Key betrayals, retaliations, and deaths change how Wei is perceived, and with each major plot point, his options become narrower and narrower. The closing chapters force the character to absorb the cost of dual allegiances, showing players up close the consequences that come from choosing between two sides that couldn't be further apart.
L.A. Noire
Investigating A Criminal Underworld
L.A. Noire
- Released
- May 17, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
L.A. Noire is a game that Rockstar holds close to its heart. It's a standalone narrative that has received more praise for its story than most other games in the genre. The game follows Cole Phelps and his role as an LAPD detective who rises through the ranks while investigating various cases in an expansive post-war Los Angeles. The narrative is built on professional progression rather than a single villain chase, with each police desk exposing a different layer of corruption within a city that prides itself on greatness. The writing treats every action, from evidence acquisition to interview conduct, as part of the narrative stakes rather than a passing thought, allowing players to feel fully immersed in the world of crime.
The key comes from the way large truths are revealed through ordinary work instead of dramatic events, allowing the game to stand as a piece of grounded fiction rather than something extraordinary. Individual cases that appear disconnected accumulate into a pattern, with a large plot unfolding before the player's eyes, and over time, Phelps's personal history comes back to bite him, throwing into question the extent to which people will go to cover up the truth by any means.
Cyberpunk 2077
Exploring A Neon Soaked Future
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 takes everything that CD Projekt Red learned from The Witcher franchise and swaps medieval castles for a glowing city full to the brim with schemes and criminal organizations. Playing as V, players start by committing petty crimes to survive, but they are quickly faced with far more complex moral questions regarding human life and the evolution of technology. The narrative further shifts towards politics, corporate power, and personal loyalty as V searches for a cure to his unusual while resisting the grasp of Johnny Silverhand that continues to grow stronger inside their mind.
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The story of Cyberpunk 2077 stands out because the central conflict is both physical and existential. The outcome of many storylines is never black and white, and there is almost always an opportunity cost that needs to be weighed in order to make those major decisions. Even side characters like Panam and Judy become instrumental to the wider plot, feeding directly into the core question of whether liberation is possible inside a world that monetizes every form of freedom.
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