Open-World Gaming Franchises That Have Massively Changed…

Summary

Evolution is key; open-world franchises must adapt to modern gaming standards to stay relevant.
Longest-running franchises succeed by offering unique experiences with engaging changes in each entry.
Major open-world franchises like Assassin's Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Yakuza, and The Elder Scrolls evolved over time.

Open-world gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years. Long-running series that let players roam massive sandboxes need to evolve with the times, too. What may have been revolutionary at the time of a game's release can become outdated in just a few years, and franchises that fail to adhere to modern gaming standards will lose relevance in no time.

This is why the best and longest-running open-world franchises are the ones that understand players' desire for something unique and different. Even if these franchises falter from time to time, the changes they bring to the table in successive entries are engaging enough for gamers to stick with these titles for the long haul.

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5 Assassin's Creed

Went Through Several Changes Despite Being Accused Of Stagnation

Notable Games: Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

There was a time when Assassin's Creed was hailed as one of the most revolutionary open-world franchises of all time. Unfortunately, that perception changed over time as Ubisoft chose to rest on its laurels and integrate minor improvements over substantial ones. However, this approach changed after Assassin's Creed Syndicate didn't reach its sales targets, which was downright unforgivable given how engaging the jaunt through Victorian London was in this title.

It was clear that the Assassin's Creed fatigue was real, and Ubisoft's answer to this was to take a page out of The Witcher 3's book. It sparked a trilogy of Assassin's Creed RPGs that were massive and loaded with content. This change in approach was appreciated by many, although some players also got tired of this formula and successfully managed to bring the old Assassin's Creed formula back once again.

4 Grand Theft Auto

From A Top-Down Arcade Action Game To A Revolutionary Open-World Franchise

Notable Games: Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto 5

The Grand Theft Auto games have always been at the forefront of technical and gameplay innovation. Grand Theft Auto 1 and 2 were decent titles in their own right, but it wasn't until Grand Theft Auto 3 that fans witnessed the evolution of what is easily the most popular open-world franchise of all time. The shift to a 3D sandbox where players could do anything they set their minds to was incredible. Both Vice City and San Andreas carried forward this design ethos with a few improvements.

With a new engine, Grand Theft Auto 4 marked a major shift in the series, where the gameplay became less arcade-y and more serious. This was further solidified in Grand Theft Auto 5, which also marked the inclusion of three new protagonists, coupled with an Online mode added further down the line that has transformed into Rockstar's bread and butter. GTA 5 is the poster child of the open-world genre and how it has evolved, although the linear focus on missions in modern titles may go against the freedom promoted by the sandbox.

3 Saints Row

Became Goofier With Each Entry

Notable Games: Saints Row 2, Saints Row 3

Saints Row is dying a slow death at this point, and fans can only hope that this franchise enjoys a revival under the watchful gaze of another studio. Regardless, though, it's still one of the zaniest open-world franchises of all time, shaking off comparisons to Grand Theft Auto and becoming a unique product. The first Saints Row was a bit too similar to Rockstar's offerings, but the same problem wasn't repeated in later entries.

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Saints Row 2 combined the best of the game's silly and serious moments, while Saints Row 3 leaned into over-the-top humor. The addition of superpowers in Saints Row 4 made it clear that this approach was here to stay, even if it came at the cost of other elements in the series that had played a dominant role.

2 Yakuza

The Combat System Is The Biggest Thing To Change

Notable Games: Yakuza 0, Yakuza 5, Yakuza: Like a Dragon

The Yakuza series started out as open-world brawlers with a focus on Kiryu Kazuma. As the engine evolved, the games decided to craft narratives with multiple protagonists to try and stand out even more. The games became wackier while still retaining their serious edge, and players were fascinated by the series' evolution. However, nothing could have prepared them for the wild swerve when it came to the seventh mainline entry.

The numbering system was ditched from this point for Western audiences. Yakuza: Like a Dragon incorporated a turn-based combat system that was more engaging than it had any right to be. It was a massive change and a bold move from RGG Studio that fans respected. It helped that the many Yakuza spinoffs still had real-time combat for fans who didn't want to miss out on the brawling goodness, making for an entertaining franchise that has a little something for everyone.

1 The Elder Scrolls

Became Bigger And Better With Each Successive Entry

Notable Games: The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls is a series that fans love when the discussion of open-world games comes up. Bethesda has made a name for itself with these stellar titles, which are in a class of their own and show just how far modern open-world RPGs have come. Blades was a decent first entry in the series, and Daggerfall integrated a massive, procedurally-generated open world that was a bit too large and lacked structure. This approach was polished in Morrowind, which set the foundation for The Elder Scrolls series that fans know and love.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion lets players explore the lush land of Cyrodiil and try their hands at a wealth of unique gameplay mechanics. Meanwhile, Skyrim's massive success speaks for itself and shows just how far Bethesda has come from its humble beginnings. It's a state-of-the-art open-world game with magical exploration that has served as a template for future titles in the genre ever since.