5 Best Open-World Games Featuring Revolutionary War Settings, Ranked

Open-world games are among the most popular in the gaming community, and with good reason, as they offer tons of different options to players who are interested in them. Whether it is likable NPCs, a decent degree of humor, tons of weapons, armor sets and characters to try out, and even extensive main and side quests, there’s always something new to discover.

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Some open-world titles give players supernatural abilities, whereas others pit them against insurmountable odds during times of conflict, revolution, and the endless fight for freedom and the deposition of tyranny. Here are some of the best open-world games with a revolutionary war setting.

5

Assassin’s Creed Unity

The French Revolution Offers Tons Of Possibilities

Paris, 1789. The French Revolution turns a once-magnificent city into a place of terror and chaos. Its cobblestone streets run red with the blood of commoners who dared to rise up against the oppressive aristocracy. As the nation tears itself apart, a young man named Arno will embark on an extraordinary journey to expose the true powers behind the Revolution. His pursuit will throw him into the middle of a ruthless struggle for the fate of a nation, and transform him into a true Master Assassin.

Introducing Assassin’s Creed® Unity, the next-gen evolution of the blockbuster franchise powered by an all-new game engine. From the storming of the Bastille to the execution of King Louis XVI, experience the French Revolution as never before, and help the people of France carve an entirely new destiny.

Released

November 11, 2014

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

• Realistic buildings and tons of attention to detail.
• The streets of 18th-century France feel alive.

Assassin’s Creed Unity is full of interesting details that make it a great game. While it’s far from being the best installment in the franchise, it does offer players several things that make it entertaining. For starters, it’s set in the French Revolution, which took place in the final decades of the 18th century. All other Assassin’s Creed games feature historical periods, figures, and other elements, but Assassin’s Creed Unity was arguably the first that truly felt like every corner of France was crafted with enormous attention to detail.

The buildings feel realistic and fitting to the period, the combat and parkour mechanics are really fun, and Arno has a ton of weapons in his arsenal to remain undetected and perform any assassination without facing too many obstacles. The streets also feel realistic and alive, as many people are populating them—many of them with unique dialogue and complex reactions to their environment. The story isn’t the most compelling of the franchise, but it’s still quite enticing and will make players feel immersed at every turn. Assassin’s Creed Unity has one of the largest maps in the franchise, at least up until the point it was released.

4

Far Cry 6

An Arduous Fight Against Tyranny And Oppression

Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran and become a guerrilla fighter to liberate the nation. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. Far Cry 6 immerses players into the adrenaline-filled world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution. 

Join the revolution and push back against the oppressive regime of dictator Antón Castillo and his teenage son Diego, brought to life by Hollywood stars Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad) and Anthony Gonzalez (Coco).

Playing as Dani Rojas, immerse yourself in the journey of a military dropout turned guerrilla revolutionary. To even the odds against Antón’s military, you’ll have to adopt the Resolver philosophy, employing an arsenal of unique and surprising new weapons, vehicles and animal companions to ignite a revolutionary movement that will burn the tyrannical regime to the ground.

Released

October 6, 2021

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

• Anton Castillo rules over the island of Yara
• The game features many mechanics that have been present in the Far Cry franchise for a while

The story of Far Cry 6 takes place on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara, ruled by the merciless dictator Anton Castillo, also known as “El Presidente”. Players will take on the role of Dani Rojas, who becomes a guerrilla fighter after a series of unfortunate events take place. Like other Far Cry games, Far Cry 6 focuses on exploration, combat with firearms and other weapons, and stealth to get from point A to point B.

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The topic of revolutionary wars in the Caribbean and South America is nothing new, but Far Cry 6 manages to deliver an entertaining experience to players that feels fresh despite its somewhat cliché setting. Some of the greatest inspirations while crafting this game was the Cuban Revolution that took place between 1953 and 1959. The game also touches on topics like fascism, oppression, and tyranny under a ruthless ruler who seeks nothing but power at the expense of the people who should be under his wing. While the game is very interesting as it is, there are always many ways to shake up a Far Cry 6 playthrough for those looking into that.

3

Just Cause 3

Arguably, The Best Installment In The Franchise

The Mediterranean republic of Medici is suffering under the brutal control of General Di Ravello, a dictator with an insatiable appetite for power. Enter Rico Rodriguez, a man on a mission to destroy the General’s hold on power by any means necessary.

With over 400 square miles of complete freedom from sky to seabed and a huge arsenal of weaponry, gadgets and vehicles, prepare to unleash chaos in the most creative and explosive ways you can imagine.

Explore a Mediterranean island paradise with complete vertical freedom – skydive, BASE jump and free dive in an open world with virtually zero limits. Glide through the air and swoop across mountains with your Wingsuit giving a new way to rain death from above. Use your Grapple and Parachute to scale buildings, hijack vehicles, move quickly or tether objects together for creative new ways to cause Chaos.

Arm yourself with a wide range of explosive weaponry from shotguns and missile launchers to tank-busters and air-strikes. Choose from a huge variety of different vehicles to drive including speedboats, jets, helicopters, turbo-fuelled sports cars and super bikes. 

Get adventurous with dozens of challenge missions and collectibles to discover as you jump into Rico’s mission head first.

Open-World

Third-Person Shooter

Released

November 30, 2015

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language

• The parachute and grappling hook make a comeback
• Rico Rodriguez must free his homeland from tyranny

Out of all the Just Cause games, Just Cause 3 is considered by most fans of the franchise to be the best installment in the series. The game is set six years after the events of Just Cause 2 and follows protagonist Rico Rodriguez as he travels back to his homeland, Medici, set in the Mediterranean country.

The open-world mechanics and environment of this title are a bit controversial, as some players absolutely love them, whereas others are not as fond of them. Like other titles in the franchise, Just Cause 3 features action-adventure mechanics from a third-person perspective and lots of shooting and explosions in Rico’s fight for freedom. Elements like the grappling hook and the parachute, which were already present in this game’s predecessor, make a comeback with improved mechanics that make combat and exploration more fluid. Players can also use the grappling hook to latch onto various surfaces and even use it on unsuspecting NPCs to make combat more efficient.

2

Assassin’s Creed 3

The American Revolutionary War Makes For An Interesting Setting

The Abstergo Story video pack will also require a separate download, accessible via the Extra Content menu option within the game. You will be prompted for this download when it is required.The American Colonies, 1775. It’s a time of civil unrest and political upheaval in the Americas. As a Native American Assassin fights to protect his land and his people he will ignite the flames of a young nation’s revolution.

In Assassin’s Creed® III, eliminate your enemies with an array of new weapons including guns, bows, tomahawks, and trusty hidden blades. The game has been in development for over 3 years and features the new Ubisoft-AnvilNext engine, a stunning technology that will revolutionize gaming with powerful graphics, lifelike animations, immersive combat, and advanced physics.

With an all new setting, assassin and engine, Assassin’s Creed® III takes you back to the American Revolutionary War, but not the one you’ve read about in history books.

Released

October 30, 2012

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

• Players can explore the woodlands and eliminate enemies from trees
• Connor is the grandson of Assassin’s Creed 4‘s protagonist, Edward Kenway

Although almost everyone agrees that the Ezio trilogy is the highest point of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future, Assassin’s Creed 3 is also a great title that has a lot to offer players. Set during the years of the American Revolution, the game follows Connor, also known as Ratonhnhaké:ton, the son of a Native American woman and British expat, Haytham Kenway.

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One of the things that made Assassin’s Creed 3 popular among players was that it featured innovative game mechanics and exploration throughout woodland areas, as opposed to mainly focusing on urban travel via parkour like its predecessors did. Sure, Ezio could travel through the Roman Countryside, but the game mechanics at that point were mostly restricted to riding and walking through unpopulated areas that were mostly flat, as opposed to Assassin’s Creed 3, which allows players to take on their enemies silently from atop a tree branch. All that said, there are other games in the franchise that are a lot worse for newcomers due to their intricate mechanics and the fact that some are part of a trilogy and starting them in the middle can be confusing narrative-wise.

1

Ghost Of Tsushima

Not So Much A Revolutionary War, But Rather A Struggle To Free The Land From Invasion

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Systems

Released

July 17, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity

• Outstanding combat mechanics
• Beautiful open-world

Before diving deeper into Ghost of Tsushima, it’s important to clarify that the game is not exactly set in the middle of a revolutionary war, but rather a quest for the liberation of the Island of Tsushima. However, the fact that the inhabitants of the island often help Jin fight off Mongol hordes speaks of an organized resistance that is not restricted to those affiliated with the Sakai clan. This alone makes Ghost of Tsushima appropriate for this list.

The title’s open world is beautiful, to say the least, as it features large, open areas with tons of foliage that reacts to the wind in a very realistic way. The combat mechanics present are also outstanding, as they require players to learn the ropes quickly in order to survive the many violent encounters they’ll find along the way. Although there’s a ton of horseback riding involved while exploring the island of Tushisma, players will find that there’s no shortage of things to do and enemies to eliminate. Those struggling with combat can try some of the best builds to help them handle the Mongol hordes more easily.​​​​​​​

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