Licensed games had a poor reputation for the longest time, but this reputation changed with titles likeBatman: Arkham Asylumshowing the promise of good licensed games that do justice to the source material. The video game industry got the memo, ensuring that any licensed game made in the future would be treated with a ton of love and care.
As a result, players have enjoyed a wealth of amazing licensed games across a whole host of genres. Given how popular open-world games are, it’s easy to see why players would love the idea of checking out a licensed open-world that is authentic and enjoyable.
While it’s true thatFrontiers of Pandoradid little to shake off theFar CryDNA it had adopted, the game wowed players in other ways. One’s first steps in Pandora are simply magical, with the open world being full of color and life.
This overflowing vegetation and incredible vistas make up for a combat loop that isn’t innovative. However, players whodon’t scrutinizeAvatar: Frontiers of Pandora’s uninspired gameplay will love taking out humans and liberating Pandora from outside influences.
Shadow of Mordorcame in a year that was pretty lean when it came to solid video game experiences. Thankfully, its execution of classic open-world elements coupled with a brilliant Nemesis system ensured that fans would love this dark tale that makes the most ofThe Lord of the Ringsand its rich world.
Subjugating orcs and taking out enemies with brutal finishers is something players can’t get enough of.Shadow of Mordormay be cliched, but it’s the immaculate execution of its concepts that helps it stand out as one of the best licensed open-world games of all time.
Hogwarts Legacyis a game that generated a ton of buzz before release for both positive and negative reasons. When it finally came out, fans were treated to an open-world game with an innovative combat system, even if the game felt a bit too cliched at times.
However, that takes nothing away fromHogwarts Legacy’s allure as one of the most captivatingHarry Pottergames players can get their hands on. Fans can only hope that a sequel improves upon some of the lackluster elements of this title to make for a truly magical experience that players can spend a ton of hours in with ease.
The news that a newMetrogame would implement an open world didn’t sit right with many, who felt that the game’s tense atmosphere and surgical combat would be better suited for a linear experience. Thankfully,Metro Exoduswas faithful to its source material and ensured that players would enjoy the best of both worlds.
The result is one of the scariest open-world games that players can get their hands on. The game features its fair share of linear levels to break things up, with the sandbox being expertly crafted and delighting players whenever they get a chance to explore every nook and cranny of this desolate world.
With the addition of Symbiote powers in aSpider-Mangame that lets players control two versions of the titular webhead, it’s easy to seewhyMarvel’s Spider-Man 2established itself as the best use of theSpider-ManIP in a video game.
Insomniac’s technical expertise can be seen in how smooth the game looks and feels, letting players swing at breakneck speeds and take out hostiles with a wealth of visually appealing moves. The story had its odd moments, but players who love everyone’s favorite neighborhood superhero will have a blast controlling both the Spider-Men in this title.
Cyberpunk 2077’s horrid launch is a permanent blight on the game that it’ll never shake off. However, it’s also important to acknowledge the immense work CD Projekt Red did to patch out the bugs and improve the gameplay experience to address fan complaints andmakeCyberpunk 2077miles betterthan it was at launch.
It’s clear to see why this studio was trusted with theCyberpunkIP, letting them weave an intriguing tale that has everything from backstabbing characters to twisted moments where V slowly starts losing their identity. The narrative is in a class of its own and the side content is brilliant, letting players make the most of their time in and around Night City.
Batman: Arkham Asylumwas a revolutionary superhero game, and fans wondered how Rocksteady would top this experience. They got their answer in the sequel, which is considered by many to be the best open-world superhero game ever made.
Arkham City’s wonderful integration of an open worldcoupled with a tantalizing narrative ensures that players will have a blast controlling the Caped Crusader. It’s an open-world game without any filler (barring the Riddler trophies) where Batman’s suite of abilities slowly increases, letting him wipe the floor with hundreds of enemies and some challenging bosses.
There aren’t many licensed video games that are more popular than the source material itself, butThe Witcher 3is an easy pick here. Without CD Projekt Red’s incredible efforts to adapt the source material into a worthy adaptation,The Witcherwould’ve never enjoyed a ridiculous level of worldwide fame and popularity.
From the books being adapted in various languages to various Netflix shows and movies,The Witcheris more relevant than ever before. The third mainline entry is to thank for this, letting players enjoy one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made.
