The 50 Best Open World Games for PC in 2017: Page 3 of 10

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11. Ghost Recon Wildlands

In Bolivia is the Santa Blanca drug cartel, which is the world’s largest producer of cocaine.  Concerned, the United States Army dispatches an elite group called “the Ghosts” to destroy the cartel and reveal the connection between Santa Blanca and the Bolivian government.

This tactical shooter utilizes a third person perspective. Play as members of the Ghosts, modern day soldiers equipped with weapons and gear used by today’s soldiers.  Drones can be used to tag and highlight enemies and objectives.  An open world first to the series, the game features mountains forests, deserts, salt pans and also introduces a dynamic weather system and day-night cycle.  Taking on missions during daylight increases the chance of being spotted by enemies, while night provides a tactical advantage.  A wide variety of vehicles allow for quick exploration around the open places.

When off missions, players can interact, and build relationships with the non-playable characters, such as citizens, officials, or even rebels.  Interactions need strategy and can impact the game world in either good or bad ways.  Players gain experience points to level up allowing for their characters and gear to be upgraded.

The game also features a four-player co-op multiplayer which players can be joined by others to explore or complete campaign missions together.

Use your team to storm the enemy

12. Fallout 4

The Resource War, the battle over depleting natural resources, ended in a nuclear holocaust.  As the bombs are dropped, the player takes shelter in Vault 111, and emerges exactly 210 years later.

Roam across the map in this desolate wasteland.  Players gain the ability to roam anywhere about the map and have the ability to customize weaponry.  With over 50 base guns, all of which can be crafted, there are over 700 possible modifications available for each weapon.  Power Armor has been redesigned to be more for travelling with modified parts like a jetpack.  Customize the armor, selecting separate types for each part of the suit.  Players can freely build their own settlements with working electricity and non-playable characters as citizens.  But players must go out and explore to find food and water to sustain their little village.

The Pip-Boy, a personal computer that allows access of data, makes a return in this next installment.  Coming along with it is the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System which allows for real-time combat to be slowed down.  Action is played out from various camera angels that allows to target specific body parts to inflict maximum damage.  The game system is represented in seven statistics: strength, perception, endurance, charisma, intelligence, agility, and luck.  Gaining enough experience points allows to increase these stats and unlock a new ability.  These abilities can further be upgraded to boost efficiency.  With no level cap and 275 perks available, the game does not end once the main story is complete.

This bear is far from cuddly

13. Witcher 3

Gerald of Rivia is in search of his lover, the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg with Vesemir, a senior witcher.  Yennefer had tried to get in contact with Geralt, but she was forced to flee to avoid fighting between the warring powers of Nilfgaard and Redania.

A game that is thirty times larger than its predecessors, requiring the players to sail across seas and ride on horseback.  It has been said that it is “20% bigger than Skyrim”.  Every action the player performs impacts the world, with many quests having different options and different methods of completing them.  The way they are completed results in different outcomes for the world.

Combat now revolves around an action role-playing system coupled with magic.  New mechanics involved with the system include the ability to sense nearby objects, people, or resources known as the “witcher sense”.  Now ride down your enemies upon your trusted speed with new combat on horseback.  An in depth crafting system allows for item creation and brewing of potions.  Changing environments, like the day and night cycle influences the monsters that are found in the wild.  Under a full moon will the feral werewolf be at its strongest.

Use real firepower to take down the foes

14. Sleeping Dogs

Wei Shen is arrested when a drug deal goes south.  In jail, he is introduced to the Triad and is offered to enter their ranks upon his release.  In actuality, Shen is an informant, and his arrest was staged to help infiltrate the Sun On Yee’ Triad.

The player controls Wei Shen, a Chinese American policeman that goes undercover to infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad.  Following the linear tutorial, players can navigate the open world by running, or obtaining a vehicle to explore.  During the game, whenever the “Face Meter” becomes filled, upgrades become unlocked like the ability to regenerate health and improved combat skills.  The meter can be filled through three different types of experience points.  The Triad is obtained through violent actions.  Face grows through civilian missions.  Lastly Police experience is gained by lowering civilian casualties and completing police missions.

The combat system has been compared to the Arkham Asylum game.  It is made up of grapples and countermoves that can be chained together with movement to execute a flurry of attacks.  Similar to the “GTA” series, there is a five-star wanted level called the “heat meter”.  Some areas in the world will remain inaccessible until parts of the story is completed.  The player may choose to wander the open world and participate in activities like karaoke, carjacking, and street racing.  As the game progresses, players can obtain safe houses to save progress.

The Deluxe Edition is available with all 24 downloadable content, including additional story like “Year of the Snake” and the horror-themed “Nightmare in Northpoint”.

Use the combo system to bring the beat down on the enemies.

15. World of Warcraft: Legion

Upon the defeat of Archimonde at Hellfire Citadel, Gul’dan is pushed through a portal to Azeroth in order to open a way for the Burning Legion to invade in far greater numbers.  Together with shunned demon hunters, the Horde and Alliance must master artifact weapons and relics of the Titans to stop the Legion.

The new expansion allows players to reach a new level cap of 110 while exploring the Broken Isles, ten levels up from the previous installment.  New items called Artifact Weapons will be the main weapon available for the players.  Choose between thirty-six new variants of the Artifact Weapons, each designed to fit a specific class including the new Demon Hunter The second “hero class” in the game, the Demon Hunter operates under the concept of demonic magic to fuel melee attacks, and harness the power of the fiends for their own.

In the World of Warcraft, the expansive world has immersed many a man into its depths for months or years on end.  The game focuses on the continent of Azeroth, but stretches out to the realm of Outland, Northrend, and the Mists of Pandaria.  With this expansion, the Broken Isles appear in the lands of Azeroth.  Each land is home to towering mountains, stretching plains, and deep blue seas.  When not exploring, players can stop into many of the towns and villages scattered throughout the game.  For example, there is the Twilight Base Camp that is built near strange crystals that boosts the arcane arts. 

And while most of the game world remains a constant from day to day, the developers do make small cosmetic changes during the seasonal events.  Holidays like Oktoberfest, Halloween, and Christmas make their way into the game as fictional holidays with their own quests and changes to the world.  Weather can also change during the gameplay, like sudden rain, snow, and even dust storms to given areas, just like in the real world.

Warcraft: Legion marks the sixth expansion to the series.  In the weeks before the release, the Burning Legion invaded Azeroth, allowing players to defend against a new evil.

The legion is coming.

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Gamer Since: 1995
Favorite Genre: RPG
Top 3 Favorite Games:Outlast, Rocket League, Five Nights at Freddys


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