Even the most die-hard fans of Ubisoft probably won’t argue that the company’s open-world games all feel quite similar, be it the Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, the Ghost Recon games, or even new ventures like Immortals Fenyx Rising, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, or Star Wars Outlaws. While there is nothing wrong with Ubisoft’s recognizable approach to the open-world genre, and it can be quite comforting and fun to play, it’s apparent that for those seeking something truly special and unique that this open-world design may not be the best choice.
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That’s where many other studios come into play. Over the years, many developers have adopted the pillars of Ubisoft’s formula, while others stand on the opposite side of the spectrum, delivering something Ubisoft games never even attempt. From entirely different takes on gameplay loops, open-world design, narrative flow, and core themes, here are some open-world games that do what Ubisoft’s best never could.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A Slow-Paced Living World That Breathes Between Quests
Open-world games developed by Rockstar aren’t just opposites to Ubisoft’s in many areas, but are largely in a league of their own within the genre, untouchable by any other studio. With its emphasis on uncompromising details, systemic gameplay, and overall slow-paced nature, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the perfect example, widely regarded as one of the genre’s essentials.
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Unlike Ubisoft’s titles, RDR2’s world feels truly alive rather than like a collection of locations to visit and objectives to clear. It’s hard to imagine much of anything happening in Ubisoft’s open-world games in between curated quest-focused sections, while Red Dead Redemption 2 truly shines in these exact moments when players are simply roaming the game’s roads and untamed wilds, meeting strangers along the way.
Elden Ring
Thrown In Blind, No Safety Net
By now, many probably saw the meme about “what if Elden Ring was developed by Ubisoft” — a screenshot from the game almost entirely covered in markers, tips, guidance, and control scheme reminders. This isn’t far from the truth, as Elden Ring is known for its near-total lack of handholding, guidance, or even traditional narrative, something that's hard to imagine in an Ubisoft title these days.
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Instead, Elden Ring just throws players into its world, leaving them to figure things out on their own, including where to go and what’s actually happening. Furthermore, it lacks difficulty options, placing all players in identical conditions and offering only optional tools to make the journey more manageable, but never a breeze.
Cyberpunk 2077
Mature Narrative And Complex Themes In A Triple-A Package
CD Projekt Red all but established the modern open-world action-RPG formula with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015, with many subsequent Ubisoft titles like Assassin’s Creed Origins drawing inspiration from it. While Cyberpunk 2077 mostly follows the formula, the game also embodies something hard to imagine from Ubisoft: a mature approach to its central narrative and themes that the devs aren’t afraid to tackle.
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Cyberpunk 2077 delivers an uncompromised vision of a dark future, including its harsh critique of corporate ethics and everything stemming from it — despite being made by a huge AAA company. Few games have managed to have it both ways as successfully as Cyberpunk 2077, with its unmatched creative vision, lifelike characters as complex as they are flawed, and a clear narrative message, all wrapped in a fully-fledged AAA title with high production values.
Death Stranding
Deliberately Slow And “Boring” At Its Core, Embracing Isolation
From the very first showcase, Death Stranding seemed like a different take on open-world design, with many players questioning what there was to do aside from walking? Well, it turned out: not much, really, but that’s all for the good, as the game was deliberately designed to stand apart from countless other open-world titles that offer players instant gratification, like most Ubisoft releases.
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Instead, Death Stranding aims to create feelings of isolation, loneliness, and even boredom, largely removing the typical carrots dangling in front of players’ noses for regular dopamine hits. The process and sense of the journey are what truly matter here. Add to that the lengthy story cutscenes that Kojima is known for, and you’ve got an even more distinct experience that stands as far as possible from any Ubisoft-style title.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Uncompromising Historical Authenticity Over Fun
Even with a plethora of historically inspired open-world titles under Ubisoft’s belt (Assassin’s Creed), it’s hard to imagine the company releasing a game set in a historical backdrop as authentic, hardcore, and deep as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Warhorse’s creation is an uncompromising medieval simulator that never attempts to entertain players through traditional means like streamlined progression, constant rewards, or moment-to-moment fun.
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Instead, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an immersive game for a mature audience that is willing to embrace its realistically mundane and demanding nature. KCD2 may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the game wholeheartedly leans into that rather than trying to appeal to all sorts of players. It delivers exactly what it sets out to do with sincerity and dedication, resulting in a truly special experience.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
A Playground Of Tools, Not Rules
In almost every Ubisoft open-world game, players have limited options for creative play or breaking the rules. The games carefully explain what to do and how to do it, leaving players mostly on autopilot. While minor exceptions exist, it’s best not to expect anything remotely close to the freeform gameplay offered by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom from a Ubisoft-made open-world game.
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Like its predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom features very little handholding, allowing for a true sense of unrestricted adventure in its vast world. What really sets it apart, though, are its flexible and interconnected gameplay mechanics, which form not strict rules to follow, but rather tools for experimentation. Players can approach and complete objectives in myriad ways, constantly discovering new interactions with the environment and ways to outsmart the game.
Shadow Of The Colossus
Pure Emotion Through Silence And Minimalism
Shadow of the Colossus is a very different breed of open-world game, almost incomparable to the modern approach popularized by Ubisoft. The remake largely follows the original 2005 formula, making the world around the player little more than decoration for a silent, wordless journey with minimal handholding and a very loose narrative, one that makes even Elden Ring feel like an Ubisoft game by comparison.
Instead, Shadow of the Colossus operates on a purely emotional level through feelings rather than additional directions, hints, or explanations for its story or characters. The game’s condensed, personal journey is a perfect example of how profound a message can be, even through minimal means.
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