Best Licensed Open-World Games

Licensed games had a poor reputation for the longest time, but this reputation changed with titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum showing the promise of good licensed games that do justice to the source material. The video game industry got the memo, ensuring that any licensed game made in the future would be treated with a ton of love and care.

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As a result, players have enjoyed a wealth of amazing licensed games across a whole host of genres. Given how popular open-world games are, it’s easy to see why players would love the idea of checking out a licensed open-world that is authentic and enjoyable.

8

Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

The World Of Pandora Is Beautiful, Even If The Story Is Nothing To Write Home About

Systems

Released

December 7, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

While it’s true that Frontiers of Pandora did little to shake off the Far Cry DNA it had adopted, the game wowed players in other ways. One’s first steps in Pandora are simply magical, with the open world being full of color and life.

This overflowing vegetation and incredible vistas make up for a combat loop that isn’t innovative. However, players who don’t scrutinize Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora‘s uninspired gameplay will love taking out humans and liberating Pandora from outside influences.

7

Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor

The Nemesis System Breathes New Life Into A Tale That Takes Place In Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings Universe

Systems

Released

September 30, 2014

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Shadow of Mordor came in a year that was pretty lean when it came to solid video game experiences. Thankfully, its execution of classic open-world elements coupled with a brilliant Nemesis system ensured that fans would love this dark tale that makes the most of The Lord of the Rings and its rich world.

Subjugating orcs and taking out enemies with brutal finishers is something players can’t get enough of. Shadow of Mordor may be cliched, but it’s the immaculate execution of its concepts that helps it stand out as one of the best licensed open-world games of all time.

6

Hogwarts Legacy

Exploring The Past Of Harry Potter’s Delightful World Is A Blast

Hogwarts Legacy is a game that generated a ton of buzz before release for both positive and negative reasons. When it finally came out, fans were treated to an open-world game with an innovative combat system, even if the game felt a bit too cliched at times.

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However, that takes nothing away from Hogwarts Legacy‘s allure as one of the most captivating Harry Potter games players can get their hands on. Fans can only hope that a sequel improves upon some of the lackluster elements of this title to make for a truly magical experience that players can spend a ton of hours in with ease.

5

Metro Exodus

An Open-World Take On The Metro Formula That Pays Off

Systems

Released

February 15, 2019

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The news that a new Metro game would implement an open world didn’t sit right with many, who felt that the game’s tense atmosphere and surgical combat would be better suited for a linear experience. Thankfully, Metro Exodus was faithful to its source material and ensured that players would enjoy the best of both worlds.

The result is one of the scariest open-world games that players can get their hands on. The game features its fair share of linear levels to break things up, with the sandbox being expertly crafted and delighting players whenever they get a chance to explore every nook and cranny of this desolate world.

4

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The Best Video Game Featuring Everyone’s Favorite Webhead

Systems

Released

October 20, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

With the addition of Symbiote powers in a Spider-Man game that lets players control two versions of the titular webhead, it’s easy to see why Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 established itself as the best use of the Spider-Man IP in a video game.

Insomniac’s technical expertise can be seen in how smooth the game looks and feels, letting players swing at breakneck speeds and take out hostiles with a wealth of visually appealing moves. The story had its odd moments, but players who love everyone’s favorite neighborhood superhero will have a blast controlling both the Spider-Men in this title.

3

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red Does Justice To The Cyberpunk License Barring A Horrendous Launch

Cyberpunk 2077‘s horrid launch is a permanent blight on the game that it’ll never shake off. However, it’s also important to acknowledge the immense work CD Projekt Red did to patch out the bugs and improve the gameplay experience to address fan complaints and make Cyberpunk 2077 miles better than it was at launch.

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It’s clear to see why this studio was trusted with the Cyberpunk IP, letting them weave an intriguing tale that has everything from backstabbing characters to twisted moments where V slowly starts losing their identity. The narrative is in a class of its own and the side content is brilliant, letting players make the most of their time in and around Night City.

2

Batman: Arkham City

The Best Game In The Batman: Arkham Series With Incredible Combat And A Memorable Story

Batman: Arkham Asylum was a revolutionary superhero game, and fans wondered how Rocksteady would top this experience. They got their answer in the sequel, which is considered by many to be the best open-world superhero game ever made.

Arkham City‘s wonderful integration of an open world coupled with a tantalizing narrative ensures that players will have a blast controlling the Caped Crusader. It’s an open-world game without any filler (barring the Riddler trophies) where Batman’s suite of abilities slowly increases, letting him wipe the floor with hundreds of enemies and some challenging bosses.

1

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Game Single-Handedly Helped Sapkowski’s Works Enjoy International Fame

There aren’t many licensed video games that are more popular than the source material itself, but The Witcher 3 is an easy pick here. Without CD Projekt Red’s incredible efforts to adapt the source material into a worthy adaptation, The Witcher would’ve never enjoyed a ridiculous level of worldwide fame and popularity.

From the books being adapted in various languages to various Netflix shows and movies, The Witcher is more relevant than ever before. The third mainline entry is to thank for this, letting players enjoy one of the greatest open-world RPGs ever made.

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