5 Upcoming Open-World Games We Can’t Wait To Play

The current PC hardware and consoles have given game developers the chance to create some pretty spectacular open-worlds which are large, rich, and exciting to explore; so here’s 5 upcoming open-world adventures we cannot wait to dive into:

Mad Max

Release date: 1 September 2015 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

The original Mad Max movies (including the recently-released Fury Road) are jam-packed with vehicular carnage and massive explosions, and the forthcoming game is set to bring that to the table, along with a massive open world that we’re desperate to explore.

Avalanche Studios have crafted a massive map that will allow you to transition from on-foot combat to in-car destruction on-the-fly. Flipping cars, blowing up opponents and punching dudes in the face… what more could you want?

Just Cause 3

Release date: Late 2015 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

The adrenaline-inducing Just Cause 3 is one of the most exciting-looking games coming our way this year, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it. The open-world action sequel sees returning protagonist Rico Rodriguez battling an evil dictatorship in his home country.

Like previous games in the series, Rico’s best friends are a grapple mechanic that allows him to hook onto nearly any object, and a new wing suit that lets him free fall at extreme speed.

The title features a 400 square mile map covering three main areas, each of which will be explorable from the start. Rico can take command of Medici’s towns and use them to fast travel, hideout or save vehicles that can be called in as supply drops. Expect big explosions, big jumps, and lots of guns when Just Cause releases later this year.

The Division

Release date: 8 March 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Ubisoft Massive’s ambitious, persistent online shooter is an enormous undertaking. We’ve seen developer walkthroughs, but now we want to get our hands on some new details, or even the game, to see its visually impressive Snowdrop Engine and glorious post-apocalyptic open-world New York.

The Division’s massive world will also be greatly utilised, as you can team up with other Division players across the map via online play. Players can customise their character, backpack and level up weapons, gear, and skills. The game also features a dynamic, time based weather system in the winter-swept NY, which players can use for strategic advantage.

Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

Release date: 23 October 2015 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

The next instalment in the much-loved Assassin’s Creed series has piqued our interest. After the somewhat underwhelming Unity, the franchise is making a jump from Paris to Victorian-era London, which in the gameplay demos we’ve seen, looks alive and begging to be explored.

As with real-life London in those times, the world will have different dynamics to the multiple areas of the city. From poor, crime-ridden boroughs to upper-class cobblestone streets will pave the way for some exciting gameplay. Carriages fill the streets, the buildings are taller than ever, and dense crowds pack the sidewalks, meaning you’ll need some help getting around the city. That’s where the introduction of the rope launcher comes in. A new addition to the Assassin gauntlet, the rope launcher will propel you to new heights at a faster pace or even let you create a zipline between buildings and avoid the streets altogether.

Crackdown 3

Release date: 2016 (Xbox One)

The Crackdown series has produced a cult-like fan-base among Xbox gamers. The franchise follows The Agency, who deploy a cybernetic police-force in crime-ridden cities to take down the bad guys using some pretty nifty gadgets, guns and incredible superhuman abilities.

The third instalment was shown off at Gamescom this year, and it really came in with a bang. Fully destructible environments, multiplayer, and a massive city are only some of the incredible features that await us in Crackdown 3. The game will take advantage of the Xbox One’s cloud computing feature, to up the processing power of the console and capabilities of what can happen in the game.

Reader suggestion:

Fallout 4

Release date: 10 November 2015 (PC, Xbox One, PS4)

Fallout 4 is undoubtedly one of the first games on everyone’s list when talking about upcoming open-world adventures. The post-apocalyptic franchise is taking things to new heights, with Bethesda claiming they are out to reinvent the open world genre.

The colossal map will be around 48 square kilometres, allegedly, which is double that of Skyrim’s 23.5 square kilometres, and with a new engine under the hood, there’s going to be a lot more open terrain to explore, as opposed to some blocked-off areas.

Fallout 4’s custom-built shelter option also makes us excited to explore the subterranean world of the game, and of course, see what the community comes up with.

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