Open-world games have become a mainstay in modern gaming. Fans just can’t get enough of the freedom they offer. One of the most well-known open world games is Saints Row. Two weeks ago, the Saints Row reboot was released. It had a mixed reception and many were left disappointed by Volition’s reboot of the franchise. If you were also disappointed with the game or have already finished it, here are 7 open-world games that are similar to Saints Row.
Sleeping Dogs
Originally the next game in the True Crime series, Sleeping Dogs brings players into the Hong King criminal underworld. Players take on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer trying to take down a gang. What makes it different than a lot of open-world games is the emphasis on melee combat. You’ll be able to take down enemies with martial arts moves learned from upgrades and training. Guns only appear during certain story missions. The game’s unique premise and cinematic storytelling make it a game worth playing even ten years later. You can pick up the remaster of the game on PC or any PlayStation or Xbox console.
Mafia 3
Mafia 3 is the most recent entry in the Mafia series but it’s also the most ambitious. Instead of playing as an Italian mobster, you play as Lincoln Clay, a black army veteran on a quest for revenge against the mafia. The game takes place in the 1960s in a town called New Bordeaux, a fictional version of New Orleans. Like other open-world games, there are plenty of areas to conquer and take over. Players will work to take down Sal Marcano’s organization by building their own crime family and dividing up territory between lieutenants. If you’re not careful, you can upset a lieutenant and make them an enemy. On top of all this, you’ll cross paths with the Dixie Mafia, police, and a hate group. With the next Mafia game now in development, now is the perfect time to get your hands on this underrated, open-world game.
Red Dead Redemption 2
When Red Dead Redemption 2 was announced as a prequel, fans were confused. By the time the credits rolled, it all made sense. The game brought players back into an open world set during the days of the Wild West only this time during its heyday. The story focuses on the Van Der Linde gang. John Marston, the first game’s protagonist, appears with his family but the main character is actually Arthur Morgan, a member of the gang who struggles with morality. As the gang looks to find that next big score, you’ll explore the open world and experience the game’s realistic physics which make it different from most open world games. The physics can drastically change how you ride a horse, shoot a gun, or even dress. In certain weather conditions, you’ll have to wear either more or less clothing. This is the most recent release from Rockstar Games and if they can maintain this level of quality, then GTA 6 will be worth the wait.
Cyberpunk 2077
One of the biggest open-world games in recent memory is Cyberpunk 2077. The game features not only an open-world but RPG mechanics as well. You’ll find loot, level up and choose perks, and make dialogue choices. The story follows V, a mercenary racing against the clock to remove a chip from their head that is slowly killing them. You’ll find yourself immersed in the game thanks to its first-person camera which makes conversations with NPCs more intimate than usual. There are tons of mysteries and side missions to discover in the game’s setting of Night City, a dangerous city located in Southern California. Earlier this year, the long-awaited next-gen version of the game was released. Just this week, a new update for the game added new content in anticipation of the upcoming Cyberpunk Netflix series. It was also announced that an expansion will be released next year as well. If you’re interested in the game, you’ll have plenty of content between now and next year.
Yakuza 0
The Yakuza series remained a niche series among gamers until these past few years. Yakuza 0 can be pointed to as the moment the series stopped being so niche and became a beloved open-world game. It acts as a prequel to the rest of the games and lets players control both Kiryu Kazuma and Goro Majima, two rivals from different Yakuza families. You’ll explore a 1980s version of Tokyo as you beat down random street thugs, play arcade games, and complete strange sidequests. One of the best parts of the game, and the Yakuza series as a whole, is the combat. You have multiple fighting styles to choose from with each one changing your movement speed or attack damage. There are also interactive objects in the environment that can be used to make fights easier. If you’ve ever wanted to knock someone unconscious with a stack of money, then this is the game for you. Yakuza 0 is one of those open-world games that should not be skipped.
Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs 2 does everything a video game sequel should do: It takes the foundation built by the first game and expands upon it while also adding new ideas to the mix. For instance, Watch Dogs 2 puts a heavy emphasis on the hacking mechanics of the first game which only seemed to exist to help make gunfights slightly easier for you. Now you can complete entire missions without physically entering an area by using your phone to hack. There are also new parkour mechanics making it possible to climb buildings when combined with hacking abilities. The game’s plot follows a hacker named Marcus Holloway as he joins the hacker group Dedsec and helps them destroy San Francisco’s mass surveillance system. Marcus and the other members of Dedsec are a breath of fresh air compared to the dark, edginess of Watch Dogs 1 protagonist Aiden Pierce. Unlike Aiden, Marcus can go the entire game without killing any enemies which makes subsequent playthroughs much more interesting. You should definitely get your hands on Watch Dogs 2 if you can. It’s one of the best open-world games that always goes on sale
Saints Row The Third
This is an obvious one but if you’re interested in Saints Row, you need to play Saints Row The Third. The biggest reason why is because it’s one of those open-world games that knows how to have fun. Saints Row The Third embraces the wackiness the series was always known for and tosses anything serious out the window. Now, the Saints have gone from a criminal street gang to international celebrities. The game gives you an arsenal of weapons to choose from. There are pistols and rifles along with laser guns, bee cannons, and even sex toys. In addition to weapons, the missions you’ll play are just as outrageous. You’ll rob a bank, fight zombies, and fall out of and back into a crashing airplane. The entire game constantly raises the stakes and makes sure to always let the players have fun. Currently, there’s a remaster of the game that includes all of the DLC so that’s the version you’ll want to buy if you’re interested.
