Some people might claim there are too many open-world games, and honestly, I get the argument. These types of projects not only seem to be constantly on the horizon, but they also attract a lot of attention since they are usually big releases. Genre fatigue is very much a real thing, and after playing through a dozen similar adventures, it can be tempting to start dismissing games for being just one more open-world romp.
The sheer volume of options also means that some titles will naturally slip through the cracks, be it due to a lack of exposure or underwhelming reviews that make them a hard sell. While these overlooked or underrated open-world games are not masterpieces, they can offer something relatively novel. Alternatively, they are just a lot of fun.
OK, "open-world games that deserve more love" is quite vague, so let's go through some criteria:
- To qualify, a game either has to be relatively unknown (think less than 10K reviews on Steam) or garnered mediocre reviews at the time of its release.
- This article is not really about titles that sold poorly or failed to meet commercial expectations. If a game received great reviews upon release and is generally looked back on fondly, it will not be considered. So, no Sleeping Dogs.
Echo Point Nova
Now, This Is How You Do Open-World FPS Action
Echo Point Nova
- Released
- September 24, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Greylock Studio
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, FPS, Exploration
- Platform(s)
- PC
If you are looking for a fast-paced and smooth-as-heck indie FPS game, check out Severed Steel. Consisting of short, time-based stages, the game is all about killing with style, speed, and accuracy, crafting a gameplay loop that is straight-up addictive. The same developer worked on Echo Point Nova, which essentially takes Severed Steel's core mechanics and drops them into an abstract sandbox environment.
Best Sci-Fi Open-World Games
Open-world sci-fi games can be difficult to get right due to just how vast they can be, but these games manage to nail it.
Despite being set on an open planet, the game world is still as tightly-crafted as Severed Steel's levels, albeit providing far more freedom on how to tackle scenarios and approach the overall campaign. The gameplay is close to flawless, and the combat and movement come with a learning curve that is fun to master rather than tedious. The map is also quite small by open-world standards, so you can easily complete a run in under 10 hours. People who have played Echo Point Nova do not need to be sold on its brilliance, but Greylock Studio's game has mostly flown under the radar, especially since it is only available on PC.
Mad Max
The Most "Famous" Underrated Open-World Game Of All Time...That Still Deserves More Love
Mad Max
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
Can a game become so well-known for being underrated that it becomes overrated? Pretty much since making its 2015 debut, when it garnered a mixed critical response, Mad Max has been the internet's go-to example of an overlooked open-world gem that deserves more love. For the first few years after its release, I constantly sang praise for its amazing vehicular combat, lore-accurate world, car customization, and solid-enough story. Nowadays, though, the game's legacy is relatively concrete, and it does not really feel all that underrated anymore. Like, describing Mad Max as underrated is a cliché at this point.
However, after revisiting Avalanche's game recently, I realized that it might never quite get enough respect. Even after all these years, Mad Max still has the best car-based combat in the open-world genre. Frankly, it is far and away better than nearly any of its competitors.
Ashen
Elden Ring Was Not The First Open-World Soulslike Game
Ashen
- Released
- December 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- A44 Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Ah, 2018 was a simpler time. Sure, "Soulslike" was already part of the gaming vocabulary by then, but new takes were not so common that they threatened to trigger player exhaustion. In 2025, every developer under the sun seems to take inspiration from Dark Souls; however, that was not the case when A44 dropped Ashen.
One of the earliest examples of an AA or even indie Soulslike, Ashen stood out from the crowd by going fully open-world, which was new for the genre. The Soulslike concept has historically lent itself well to exploration-based adventures and Metroidvania level design, but this 2018 game marked the first attempt to transfer Soulslike combat to a sandbox. More importantly, Ashen proved that this marriage could not only work but also flourish. While showing its age nowadays, this game does not get the love it deserves for its part in the Soulslike genre's history.
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
The Most Forgotten Spider-Man Open-World Game
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
Spider-Man has the best video game resume out of any superhero, bar none. No other Marvel or DC character comes close in terms of quality AND quantity. If focusing solely on open-world projects, Spidey has still had it better than most. Spider-Man 2 is a classic, Ultimate Spider-Man is superb, and Insomniac's recent trilogy is a must-play for anybody remotely interested in superheroes (or just good games). Even the "mediocre" games, like Spider-Man 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man, are enjoyable distractions and extensions of their source material. OK, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is pretty bad, but that is nevertheless an impressive track record.
Best Spider-Man Games That Lived Up To The Hype, Ranked
Spider-Man is such a popular character that any games starring him are always hyped up. These games actually lived up to those lofty expectations.
Then, there is Web of Shadows, a game that nowadays seems to be mostly remembered as filler between Ultimate Spider-Man and Shattered Dimensions. However, before 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man, I would argue that Web of Shadows was the wall-crawler's best open-world game. In 2008, this adventure was about as close to the full package as the IP ever got, delivering an impressive map, solid pre-Arkham combat, pretty great movement and web-swinging, and a story that balanced fanservice and strong writing well. Give Web of Shadow a go if you have never played it.
I am just talking about the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Web of Shadows, and not the handheld or PS2 iterations. While they have the same title, they are very different games.
Batman: Arkham Origins
A Wonderful Gotham Christmas
Batman: Arkham Origins
- Released
- October 25, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- WB Games Montreal
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Before Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Batman: Arkham Origins was the Arkham franchise's black sheep, at least when it came to major releases (as the series has plenty of forgettable spin-offs). While Rocksteady worked on Arkham Knight and fell in love with the Batmobile, Warner Bros charged WB Games Montreal with developing a prequel that covered Bruce's rookie days in Gotham, resulting in a somewhat forgettable entry that seemed like a rethread of Arkham City.
Honestly, that criticism is valid. Arkham Origins is Arkham City with a snowy coat of paint. The prequel mostly takes its predecessor's map and adds a Christmas theme, while the combat is expanded slightly but ultimately not all that different. Even the story kind of fizzles out after introducing a tired and unnecessary surprise villain.
Here is the thing: Arkham City is one of the greatest open-world games of all time, and its blueprint has rarely been repeated. So, in the year 2025, I am grateful to have Arkham Origins as an alternative. Removed from its big brother's shadow, the 2013 game has impressive visuals (for the era), a beautiful city, fun-as-hell combat, and fantastic boss fights that compare favorably with any other entry in the series.
Rage 2
Doom Gameplay In An Open-World
Rage 2
- Released
- May 19, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios, id Software
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2011's Rage used to be an underappreciated gem in its own right, but id Software's original has grown into a cult classic. The belated sequel transitioned into an open-world setting and was primarily handled by Avalanche Studios, due to the developer's work on Mad Max. That said, Id Software lent a helping hand by seemingly shaping the gunplay to be almost identical to 2016's Doom, a decision that proved to be Rage 2's saving grace.
Look, Rage 2 is not perfect. The post-apocalyptic world is empty in a way that is boring rather than atmospheric. Despite crafting perfection with Mad Max, Avalanche kind of missed the mark with Rage 2's driving and vehicular combat, both of which are slow and unsatisfying. The story is barely noteworthy and comes across as Borderlands but worse.
Yet, I still loved my time with Rage 2. Why? Well, the on-foot gameplay is just so much fun. While slightly more common nowadays, in 2019, open-world games with top-notch first-person gunplay were rare, and Rage 2 was comfortably among the best in its class. Even half a decade later, the guns still feel great, and the combat improves quite a bit once you unlock all your abilities.
Unlock all your Nanotrite abilities as soon as possible. They elevate the gameplay considerably.
The Saboteur
The Saboteur
- Released
- December 8, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Pandemic Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
I miss Pandemic Studios so much. Everyone knows Battlefront and its sequel, but nearly all the developer's games were great. Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is one of the most fun open-world games of the 2000s, and its sequel is decent, too. Destroy All Humans is magic, and even The Lord of the Rings: Conquest has its moments. Unfortunately, EA closed Pandemic's doors in 2009, a month before the release of The Saboteur, the company's final game.
Open-World Games With The Best Stories, Ranked
The focus in open-world games is often placed on explorations and player freedom, but some titles manage to tell awesome stories, too.
Set in Paris during World War 2, you step into the role of a race car driver who becomes part of the French Resistance. You go around the city, liberating areas from Nazi control. In a really neat stylistic choice, the world is mostly black and white, only for a zone to gain color when you free it. While the controls are a bit clunky at times, The Saboteur oozes personality, charm, and "cool" out of every single frame. Paris is a treat to explore, and the gameplay blends driving, stealth, and third-person shooting well.
Is this one of the greatest open-world games ever? Honestly, probably not, but I would recommend The Saboteur to pretty much anybody who likes this genre and wants something a bit different.
Way Of The Samurai 4
The Whole Series Deserves More Love, But WOTS 4 Is The Best (And The Only Open-World Option)
Way of the Samurai 4
- Released
- March 21, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
You might not love Way of the Samurai 4. Heck, you might hate it. Conversely, there is a small chance you might end up finding your favorite game of all time. WoTS is just weird that way, and there is nothing else quite like it. The fourth entry is the only one that could be classified as open-world, and even then, it takes place in a smallish village that consists of a few different areas. However, the port town's ecosystem is well-realized, and the game does a stellar job of immersing you within the setting. You are also challenged to make a lot of choices that directly impact the story's progression and ending, resulting in a journey that feels unique rather than on-rails.
Way of the Samurai 4 is not the greatest game on this list, but it is the one that deserves more attention. While overwhelming at first, the sword combat is generally fantastic and gets progressively better as you grow more confident. The three-faction system combines well with both the gameplay and story, and the writing manages to blend realism and silliness.
Best Games To Play If You Love Ghost Of Tsushima
After finishing Ghost of Tsushima, players craving a similar experience can try out a few of these games that share comparable attributes.