6 Near-Perfect Open-World Games That Deserve Sequels, Ranked

Although it’s true that open-world games have come a long way, that doesn’t mean that newer titles are always better. In fact, I could say that there are some older games that are still fully capable of competing with their modern competitors.

Sure, I agree that the sheer size of today’s open-world games, combined with the ridiculous amount of activities they hold, is certainly impressive, but sometimes it’s the smaller details that make a title truly special. And it makes sense that no game is completely flawless, but there are a few open-world games that got so many things right that it’s genuinely surprising that they don’t have a sequel.

1

Mad Max

Vehicular Combat That Makes Every Chase Exciting

If you have played Mad Max at least one time, you know that driving isn’t something that simply gets you from one objective to another. In fact, I’d even argue that the game’s vehicular combat is way better than what we’re used to seeing in many other open-world titles. Mad Max makes the vehicle itself a weapon, as you can use the harpoon to tear off enemy armor and wheels, ram vehicles to do damage, and even target specific components to disable your opponents.

This also gives the game an additional layer of complexity because it actually requires players to think about positioning, timing, and generally choosing the best way to dismantle rival cars. Another aspect of Mad Max that is truly impressive is how much importance it puts on upgrades. Progressing doesn’t mean just unlocking faster cars but gradually transforming the same vehicle into a more powerful machine with an upgraded engine, armor, and weapons.

So, generally, the car is an essential part of progression, and it’s not just some optional customization feature or simply a faster means of transportation. You know, the game has an excellent foundation for vehicular combat. Sure, I agree that its missions tend to be repetitive, but if it had gotten a sequel, the devs could have introduced more varied objectives and enemy encounters to build upon what made the original so great.

Mad Max

7/10

Released

September 1, 2015

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2

Days Gone

Zombie Hordes That Are Genuinely Terrifying

I am no stranger to open-world zombie games, but if I have to be honest, fighting the undead is not the most original concept anymore. However, games like Days Gone manage to make their zombie encounters feel genuinely dangerous. The first time I saw its massive Freaker hordes, I was actually terrified. Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite fun to fight so many enemies at the same time, but I think what really got me about this game is how much preparation these encounters usually require.

For example, you can place explosives near narrow passages and lure Freakers towards them later, or you can also plan an escape route before attacking. In any case, the game is so unpredictable that even the perfect strategy can sometimes fall apart, and this is because the Freaker hordes are just so huge that there’s no way to predict everything. Moreover, it’s important to mention that Freaker hordes don’t just stand around waiting for you to attack them.

They actually have their own routines; they have places where they sleep and where they feed, so you can actually encounter them unexpectedly while exploring as well. So the open world can be quite dangerous even when you’re not looking for a fight. Its mechanics are some of the most impressive ones I’ve seen in a zombie game, and considering how many new features a sequel could have introduced, it’s just a shame that we never got one.

3

L.A. Noire

Investigations That Actually Make Players Think

I have played so many open-world games where I’m the one breaking the law that it’s just so refreshing to have one where you are the one responsible for catching the criminals. L.A. Noire does exactly that, and it puts you into the shoes of detective Cole Phelps, who must investigate crime scenes, question witnesses, and figure out what exactly happened. However, unlike many other games, here you have to do a lot more than follow objective markers and wait for the next cutscene. For starters, you have to pay attention to the evidence you’re collecting and compare it with the information you’re getting from the suspects.

But there’s a twist, though, because the game’s facial animation technology allows the characters to display subtle expressions that you have to examine as well. Considering that the game is quite old now, many would say that the interrogation system could be better, but that’s exactly what sequels are for. I would have loved to see what a newer release could accomplish with modern technology. Just imagine the detailed facial expressions that could be included; it could turn into a very thrilling psychological game.

4

Sunset Overdrive

5

Movement That’s More Entertaining Than Fast Travel

One of my biggest complaints about some open-world games has been traveling between objectives. It can become a chore easily, especially when nothing interesting is happening along the way, but Sunset Overdrive has taken care of this problem for me. It has absolutely no intention of making players walk around like normal people, and it allows you to bounce off cars, run across walls, and do all kinds of tricks. Moreover, it’s important to note that the movement system is also included in combat.

In fact, the game encourages players to keep moving while fighting enemies, which, trust me, makes encounters way more chaotic than what you’re probably used to seeing in traditional cover-based shootouts. And although this entire idea is quite simple, Sunset City actually accommodates the mechanics extremely well, and every street offers enough opportunities to maintain your momentum. This is something that larger open-world games struggle with, and a sequel wouldn’t even need a ridiculously enormous map to build on these mechanics.

Last but not least, Sunset Overdrive has a huge arsenal of weapons, each one of them having a different effect, which encourages players to experiment a lot as well. I have said this before, but I’m one of those people who sticks to one weapon, so when a game forces me to experiment, I actually enjoy it because it provides a nice break from routine.

6

Sleeping Dogs

Martial Arts Combat That Puts Gunfights to Shame

Let’s face it, it’s hard to talk about Sleeping Dogs without mentioning Grand Theft Auto, but if I have to be honest, I think this comparison does the former a disservice. Sure, both games allow players to explore a large city and get involved in some criminal activities, but Sleeping Dogs has way better combat. Unlike GTA, it focuses heavily on martial arts instead of making firearms the center of every encounter, and I can confidently say that the result is some of the most satisfying hand-to-hand fighting that I have ever experienced.

Moreover, you don’t just repeatedly punch enemies until they are done for; you also have to counter incoming attacks, face groups of opponents, and even take advantage of nearby objects. I personally think that having the opportunity to slam your enemy into a nearby object is a lot more entertaining than just standing behind cover and exchanging bullets until one of you gets killed. All of this, combined with its excellent recreation of Hong Kong, means it’s just begging for a sequel.

7

Bully

A Small Open World That Feels Surprisingly Alive

No matter what anyone else says, I think Rockstar has created some of the most impressive open worlds out there, and I genuinely believe that Bully deserves a lot more recognition for what it has managed to accomplish. Grand Theft Auto uses huge cities, a lot of cars and weapons, criminal organizations, and whatnot that can keep players entertained for hours. However, what makes Bully impressive is that it takes something as ordinary as attending school and turns it into an extremely memorable open-world experience. Moreover, the game is just flawless when it comes to taking advantage of its setting.

For example, when you attend classes, you get rewarded with abilities, and when you skip lessons, you can attract unwanted attention. The different student cliques also make the school feel like a place with its own social hierarchy, and Jimmy’s actions affect his relationships with them. I absolutely agree that the game has aged in certain areas, especially when it comes to combat, but its world design is so impressive that, with the help of modern technology, a sequel to Bully could easily become one of the best Rockstar games out there.

Bully

Released

October 17, 2006