Some ofthe best open-world gamesplayers can get their hands on let players do whatever they want in a living, breathing world. Given how most players love inciting chaos in their games, it’s easy to see why certain sandbox games with a focus on combat end up being so much fun to play through as a result.
The greatest open-world games around know how to keep players engaged with organic gameplay that evolves with the player’s actions. As long as players have the resources to spare, they can completely upend the balance of the world and turn it into a chaotic mess with their actions.
Games will be ranked based on the level of chaos players can unleash in these worlds.
The Dragonborn is supposed to be a paragon of justice who strives to save the world from Alduin’s threat. However, the player may be tempted to go all-out cities and become a source of terrorinSkyrimas they slash and blast anything that gets in their way.
After gaining some levels, there’s nothing more cathartic than taking out an entire town’s worth of guards after being oppressed by them over and over again. If players want to go the extra mile, then they can download mods to make things more chaotic than ever before.
It’s a shame that modern gamers have no idea of the catharsis they could experience in the originalInfamous. Cole MacGrath’s adventures were quite dark, and his actions could match the game’s tone if they wanted to play an evil character.
Using his powers irresponsibly and taking out innocents for no reason becomes easier as players acquire more powers. Eventually, the city’s inhabitants will be terrified of Cole and run away from this supposed hero wherever he goes.
Cyberpunk 2077went through the wringer when it was launched, with the bulk of its systems criticized at launch. Now, with many groundbreaking updates changing the way this game is played, it’s easy to see why getting into this title is easier than ever before.
It helps that the open world has become more immersive than ever before, with the Wanted System being expanded to bring Max-Tac into the fray if V becomes too hot to handle. The arrival of this death squad is usually a death sentence for players unless they’ve leveled up considerably and are kitted out with some ofthe best weapons inCyberpunk 2077.
Fallout: New Vegasis one of the most impressive role-playing experiencesplayers can get their hands on. The fact that players have no restrictions and can kill anyone in sight can make for a chaotic narrative where the game must accomplish some narrative gymnastics to hold up the game’s story.
New Vegas' beauty stems from its immersive role-playing, with players being able to do almost anything they set their minds to as long as their build is compatible with their actions. Turning the city of New Vegas into a barren urban landscape may not sit right with many but can be accomplished by players who want to inject a healthy dose of chaos into their playthrough.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a title that needs no introduction, with Arthur Morgan’s adventures making for one of the most enjoyable narratives players can enjoy in a Rockstar game. In a world that is slowly leaving the age of outlaws behind, Dutch and his gang struggle to stay strong as rival gangs and law enforcement crackdown on them over and over again.
The Honor system is more meaningful than ever before, and Arthur can lower his Honor in no time by antagonizing and killing anyone he sees. As long as players pay off their bounty from time to time, nothing’s stopping them from being a trigger-happy murderer who will shoot through anyone’s skull if they even so much as look weirdly at Arthur.
Players love the visceral combat and powers ofPrototype, turning Alex Mercer into an antihero who must make sense of his experiments and the powers he received against his will. Combat inPrototypeis a blast as players shapeshift to conjure everything from massive blades to dual hammers that can obliterate most humans to bits.
The open-world can serve as the backdrop for Mercer’s chaos as players start killing anything and everything in sight. It’s fun to see how long they can last before law enforcement eventually gets the best of them after a protracted battle.
Players who thought that things couldn’t get wilder afterSaints Row: The Thirdwould sing a different tune when its sequel came out. The addition of a simulation of Steelport coupled with aliens and superpowers meant that all bets were off.
The Playa can turn into a source of constant chaos inSaints Row 4as they use their superpowers to wreak havoc in this simulation. The unhinged story itself is so chaotic that players can be on their best behavior and still enjoy one of the most cathartic and enjoyable video games ever made.
Grand Theft Auto 5is a technical achievement that needed to shift to a new console generation to let players enjoy the depth of Rockstar’s new engine. With three protagonists joining the fray andGTA Onlineturning into a phenomenon, it’s easy to see why the opportunities to be as chaotic as possible in the open world are limitless.
If players want to be as wild as possible in the game world, then playing as Trevor and using his powers to shoot down law enforcement and complete Rampages is a great way tomake one’s playthrough ofGrand Theft Auto 5as chaoticas can be. Along with this,GTA Onlinegives players ample opportunity to go completely berserk in the game world too.
