Top 10 Upcoming Open World Video Games
#10: “State of Decay 3” (TBA)
Although it was only recently announced during an Xbox Series X Games Showcase, Undead Labs’ zombie survival horror series is more than worthy of the excitement. The first title was able to stand out in the crowded genre thanks to its focus on strategic elements like supply scavenging and defending bases to keep your companions alive. The sequel, while not as beloved, did bring the always-welcome inclusion of co-op multiplayer. The cinematic teaser for Part 3 set in a frozen tundra was chilling in more ways than one. This will be the first game in the series since Undead Labs was acquired as part of Microsoft Studios in 2018. And it’ll be interesting to see how the team uses those extra resources.
#9: “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” (2020)
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After exploring Ancient Egypt and Greece, the Viking age will be a welcome excursion for Ubisoft’s popular action-adventure franchise. Players will control Eivor, a raider leading their people in an invasion against Britain in the 9th century. But they’ll also be caught in the middle of the conflict between the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Templar Order. We can expect familiar mechanics with some exciting new ones, such as leading surprise raids against fortresses via longship. It won’t all be violence and bloodshed, however. Players will form alliances across Britain to enhance their power as well as customize their settlement to make a new home for their people. That is, if they aren’t distracted by the variety of other activities, like Viking rap battles.
#8: “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” (2022)
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Warner Bros. hit us with a one-two punch of gaming hype at DC FanDome with the reveal of “Gotham Knights” and “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.” But for our money, we have to give the spot to the return of Rocksteady. The “Batman: Arkham” developers haven’t released anything since the 2016 VR experience and they have certainly been missed. Their next title will be set in an open world Metropolis following an invasion by Brainiac that sees the Justice League mind-controlled. Players can choose between Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang. And each one looks to have vastly different playstyles and abilities. While it can be played solo, it will also feature drop-in-drop-out multiplayer co-op. 2022 can’t come fast enough.
#7: “Starfield” (TBA)
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Bethesda has more than one big title in development; the other being the next installment in “The Elder Scrolls” (xref). But as “Starfield” is the studio’s first wholly original RPG in 25 years, we can’t help but be intrigued. The studio hasn’t been at the top of its game these past few years with “Fallout 76” being mired by a plethora of problems. But everything we’ve heard about “Starfield” sounds incredibly enticing. For the team’s first game set in Space, director Todd Howard toured Elon Musk’s SpaceX for research. He has also stated that the game has been talked about internally for a decade and entered active development after “Fallout 4” was released in 2015. Hopefully, we’ll get a real look at the project soon.
#6: “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales”
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Miles Morales has been growing in popularity in recent years and it doesn’t seem like that will change anytime soon. This follow-up to 2018’s “Spider-Man” from Insomniac will focus on the hero a year after gaining his powers. Although smaller in scope, it will focus on Miles in the middle of a war between an energy corporation and a high-tech criminal army in his home of Harlem. Insomniac’s original game featured incredibly smooth traversal and combat mechanics. But Miles also has the unique abilities of electric shocks and invisibility. Insomniac has promised it will take full advantage of the PS5’s next-gen power, including near-instant loading and the capabilities of the DualSense controller. It’s definitely a must-play when it launches alongside the console this holiday season.
#5: “Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2”
It’s always nice to see a cult classic series get another opportunity to gain new fans. The 2004 original, while flawed, received a ton of love and support from the PC community. The next title will be set in an open world Seattle. But in this world, vampires, werewolves, and demons are influential political forces. Players will control a newly made vampire following an illegal attack on humans, which kickstarts a civil war between various factions. Player choice is a heavy focus, from different vampiric Disciplines to making alliances among the clans that run the city. Each clan has different ideologies and traits, so you better choose wisely. It’s a dangerous world that calls to be explored with a conspiracy that begs to be unraveled.
#4: “Fable” (TBA)
The “Fable” series went through a rather rough patch in the 2010s. The last real entry was 2012’s Kinect title, “Fable: The Journey.” In 2016, longtime developer Lionhead Studios closed and the co-op “Fable Legends” was canceled. And the less said about the free-to-play digital collectible card game, 2017’s “Fable Fortune,” the better. Rumors began to spread in 2018 that Playground Games, known for the fantastic “Forza Horizon” series, was taking over the franchise. Thankfully, we now know that to be true. The fantasy RPGs, known for their humor and morality systems, never really got to reach their full potential. With Playground’s reputation, hopefully this reboot will be just what “Fable” needs.
#3: “Horizon Forbidden West” (2021)
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Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live in tribes and dangerous mechanical beasts roam, “Horizon Zero Dawn” became Sony’s most exciting new IP in a long time. Guerrilla Games proved itself a masterful developer with satisfying combat and impressive visuals. Naturally, we are foaming at the mouth in anticipation for a follow-up. “Forbidden West” will follow Aloy as she explores a new land, ravaged by dozens of machines old and new, as well as an infection that leads the biosphere to collapse. The new world will be bigger and wider, allowing players to explore deep bodies of water and encounter real-life landmarks. And with the formidable capabilities behind the PS5, it’s sure to be remarkable in more ways than we can count.
#2: “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2” (TBA)
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There are a lot of factors going into why “Breath of the Wild 2” deserves excitement. Its 2017 predecessor is one of the best open-world games ever made. Nintendo rarely makes direct sequels within the series. And while we only have a creepy cinematic teaser to go off of, it seems like the titular princess will play a much bigger role. Nintendo has been rather quiet since its reveal, though it promises the world will be impressive. Given that the open world in the first game beckoned players to uncover its seemingly endless amount of secrets, that’s saying something. We’ll likely be waiting a while before any new updates, but at least we’ll have “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity” to hold us over. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Far Cry 6” (2021)
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“Biomutant” (2020)
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“Halo Infinite” (2021)
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#1: “Cyberpunk 2077” (2020)
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We know we must sound like a broken record at this point, but there’s no way “Cyberpunk 2077” isn’t deserving of the top spot. CD Projekt Red is one of the most respected developers working today. And everything they’ve promised about their upcoming title is sure to blow us away. It’s set in the futuristic Night City, which is governed by its own rules and rampant with crime. Its citizens rely heavily on robotics in all aspects of life and the player character, a highly customizable mercenary named V, seeks a one-of-a-kind implant for immortality. The massive world will be ever-changing, as will V through various skills and cybernetics. We’ll be caught in this world’s engaging web for months on end and we can’t wait.
