8 Best Open-World Games For An Over-The-Top Story, Ranked

Summary

• Far Cry 5 offers fun exploration in a rural American setting.
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon brings a fresh twist with turn-based combat.
• Cyberpunk 2077 has complex missions and improbable characters.

For many years, open-world games have been extremely popular among players, as they offer them several possibilities regarding how they get to play the games they love and what they get to do inside them. Most games of this genre feature a broad range of eerie environments, weapons and armor, giving players a lot of freedom.

In many cases, players can also create their own path and choose either kindness and good deeds or cruelty and revenge. Several titles also feature stories that contain extravagant elements and make them the centerpieces of the narrative, or just a fun part of the journey. Here are some of the best open-world games with over-the-top stories.

8

Far Cry 5

An Exaggerated Representation Of Rural America

• Hope County is based on Montana
• The game is fun and has tons of things to discover

The Far Cry franchise has always been known for choosing locations that are interesting and usually submerged in some kind of local conflict. This is not the exception for Far Cry 5, which is set in a rural town in the United States that takes inspiration from real-life Montana.

Although the game has a serious overall tone, there are some side quests and parts of the story that feel over-the-top in a good way, allowing players to have tons of fun as they explore.

7

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

An Exciting Story Full Of Action

• Kasuga is a well-crafted character
• The developers opted to switch things up in terms of combat mechanics

Yakuza: Like a Dragon follows the story of Ichiban Kasuga. One of the greatest things about this installment of the franchise is that it strayed from the classical real-time beat’ em up mechanics and instead opted for turn-based RPG combat. This gives Yakuza: Like a Dragon a breath of fresh air, and while it retains many of the elements that make the franchise so famous, it also allows players to get a completely new experience.

With a very interesting story, great overall mechanics, and a fair share of over-the-top moments, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is definitely one of the strongest installments in the franchise.

6

Saints Row 4

Mayhem Everywhere Players Look

• Players are elected President of the United States after frustrating a terrorist attack
• Lots of freedom to explore and play the game in any way players want

Saints Row 4 is set in the fictional city of Steelport, which harbors various NPCs and many main and side quests that will keep players entertained for hours. After thwarting a terrorist threat, players will be elected President of the United States, which, in and of itself, already makes the single-player story quite over-the-top, as the situation is quite unorthodox and wouldn’t ever happen in reality.

One of the greatest things that Saints Row 4 has to offer players, is a lot of freedom regarding how they want to explore the world and what they want to do, which is refreshing and fun.

5

Cyberpunk 2077

Some Missions Feature Unbelievably Complex Elements

• Some concepts are hard to grasp or are simply too elaborate
• Characters like Ozob Bozo or Adam Smasher are improbable

If analyzed from a global perspective, the story of Cyberpunk 2077 could not be considered to be over-the-top, as there are mostly serious moments, real threats, and even many outcomes that have made players shed a few tears here and there.

However, given how technologically advanced everything is in Night City, sometimes things can feel overwhelming. While some of the elements present in the game can be easily understood, others require diving deep into Cyberpunk 2077’s lore. Moreover, some characters, like Ozob Bozo are flat-out strange or improbable, as he has a grenade where his nose used to be. Players who want to explore the different outcomes in Cyberpunk 2077 should be careful not to make some common mistakes that can cost them the best ending.

4

Fallout 4

Enemies And Humor Can Sometimes Feel Over-The-Top, In A Good Way

• This game has many over-the-top characters, concepts, and NPCs
• There are thousands of things to discover in the Boston Commonwealth

Although the Fallout franchise has been around for more than two decades, it could be argued that Fallout 4 was the title that managed to take things to the next level. There are many interesting things about this title. Whether it is the massive super-mutant enemies, the lethal Deathclaws, the malfunctioning cyborgs, or the various ranged and melee weapons in the game, there’s always something to discover.

.

The premise of a wasteland existing as a result of a nuclear holocaust is already quite over-the-top. However, with romanceable characters like Gilda Broscoe, who’s basically a brain inside a robot body, things can get peculiar rather quickly.

3

The Witcher 3

Various Missions Go Above And Beyond What The Narrative Needs

• The game has some over-the-top moments, even though it manages to keep a serious overall tone
• Many optional side quests are very fun

The Witcher 3 is set in a fictional world where magic and dangerous creatures exist, so it should not be unexpected to find a few over-the-top elements as players progress through the story. Although the game has an overall serious tone most of the time, there are a few missions that are not only fun, but also quite strange.

Some of the best side quests in the game include “The Drunk of Oxenfurt”, which requires Geralt to consume various alcoholic drinks to attract a Katakan that only seems to be attacking those who are intoxicated.

2

Red Dead Redemption 2

Few Things Are As Fun As Searching For Lenny At The Saloon

• Outstanding narrative with a few funny moments
• Amazing game mechanics and likable characters

Similarly to The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a serious tone for most of the story. However, there are certain moments where Arthur will find himself in peculiar situations that, more often than not, feel over-the-top.

A great example of this happens during the early stages of the game, when Arthur and Lenny go to the Saloon at Valentine to have a few drinks. After having more drinks than any doctor would recommend, Arthur starts looking for Lenny, which gives way to what is, arguably, one of the funniest and weirdest sequences in the entire game. Along with the interesting side quests and amazing narrative, Red Dead Redemption 2 also features great outfits that players should try to unlock as quickly as possible.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

A Satirical Take On Los Angeles And Hollywood

• The game openly criticizes modern society
• Trevor and Michael have some of the weirdest interactions

Few games in history have managed to become as successful as Grand Theft Auto 5 with such an over-the-top story. Even when stripped down to the basics, the game is a clear criticism of modern society and offers a satirical take on Los Angeles and Hollywood that’s hilarious.

Although Trevor has the weirdest and most concerning stories to tell, many moments with Michael during side quests also feel over-the-top in the best possible way, adding another layer of entertainment to Grand Theft Auto 5 that’s not related to the exciting heists or each character’s personal struggles.