As good as it is, not every game can score 10/10, and in an open-world setting, if your project isn't a masterpiece, good luck avoiding a mixed reception. There are many great games that have been abandoned and review-bombed for various reasons, some related to performance, others related to gameplay, but when you really look behind the critical curtain, the existing experience is better.
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It's great to only focus on the best and brightest that a genre has to offer, but taking a step back and enjoying something a little less appreciated can actually lead you to find some pretty good games that would otherwise have gone completely unnoticed. At the end of the day, these games show that reviews only tell half the story, and maybe, a 6/10 can actually feel like an 8.
“Misunderstood” mainly refers to their relatively poor review scores; These games are better than 6 or lite 7.
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1
days passed
Time heals all
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Improved by improvements over time
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Some of the most impressive zombie mobs out there
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Open reviewer: 72
days passed The launch received a mixed critical reception due to technical issues and a delayed opening act. That initial shock tarnished the game's reputation forever, but even after years of updates and remakes, that warm start now feels like a distant memory.
At first looking like just another open-world zombie game, it slowly revealed itself as a surprisingly ambitious survival adventure. days passedIts standout feature is its massive crowd. These moments transform encounters into frantic battles where only the quick thinkers can make it out alive. With an emotional story that ties it all together, I'd argue that this game is one of the best games of its era and in the entire open-world genre.
2
State of Decay 2
A survival sandbox unlike any other
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Unique stories in every play
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Year of post-launch content
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Open Reviewer: 69
Critics often see State of Decay 2 As a repetitive sequel that struggled to break new ground, but looking at the product as it exists today, this couldn't be further from the truth. Instead of focusing on a scripted narrative, it creates emergent narratives through its community management systems, meaning that every living person, base, and resource decision contributes to an ever-evolving existential experience.
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The game has also benefited from substantial updates over the years introducing new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements that make it feel like a whole new game from the one on release. I went back after playing it several years ago and was amazed at how well it captured the feeling of leading an entire community through an apocalypse, and I, for one, am more than excited for the sequel to drop.
3
Mad Max
Wrecked Land carnage at its best
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Extraordinary vehicle combat
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perfectly captures the essence of the universe
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Open Reviewer: 69
Mad Max Launched in the shadow of many bigger releases and more importantly, received respectable but lackluster review scores. As a result, it was largely shored up in the following months. Lack of focus aside, many other players and I have come to appreciate how Avalanche Studios has translated the franchise into an open-world game, from the design of the ruins to the car combat that accompanies every moment of action.
Building and upgrading your vehicle creates an engaging progression loop that keeps exploration rewarding throughout the adventure and also fits the theme of the world without making things too arcadey. If it were released today, I really think it would top the charts and see very high scores, bringing a level of intensity to the genre that has otherwise been largely absent over the past decade.
4
Dragon's Doctrine
Way ahead of the curve
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An incredible fight, still involved today
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Exploration is organically encouraged
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Metacritic: 75 (base version)
Before open-world RPGs fully embraced player freedom, Dragon's Doctrine Already experimenting with systems that would later become genre staples. Its combat remains exceptional thanks to large-scale monster battles that allow you to climb and attack enemies in a creative way, which perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being a horror fantasy adventurer.
The world also contributes to that feeling, rewarding your curiosity with real discoveries rather than an outline of basic checklists. When talking about the best RPGs out there, names Like The The Witcher 3 Will always be brought up, but I think so Dragon's Doctrine Deserves more respect, or at least a lot more love, than ever before.
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Garnered very good reviews, but it is still considered a step below the absolute best open-world RPGs of its era.
5
Mafia 3
Served cold instead
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A strong story based with characters
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Compelling protagonist with believable motivation
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Open Reviewer: 66
of Mafia 3 Review scores were dragged down by the repetitive mission structures, and I agree that this was one of the weaker parts of the game, but many people often overlook the quality of the game's storytelling. Lincoln Clay's Quest for Revenge offers a darker and more emotionally driven story than many other games in the industry, and it does so on a scale that still maintains a grounded approach.
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I'd also like to say that the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting, being a perfect recreation of the 60s, with the soundtrack and atmosphere adding so much to an already immersive experience. Like any game, there are some flaws, but they are more than due to the dedication to the storytelling and the authenticity that goes into every scene.
6
Far Cry Primal
Uses sometimes pay
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Firearms replaced tribal warfare
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Immersive prehistoric world
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Open Reviewer: 77
Far Cry Primal Initially dismissed as a reskinned version by some players Far cry 4There isn't a huge amount of content or fresh ideas to really feel like a finished product. I, on the other hand, believe this is one of the best games in the franchise, as by abandoning modern weapons and setting the game in the Stone Age, Ubisoft fundamentally changed the original gameplay instead of something more interesting.
While surviving against hostile tribes, you spend most of your time hunting and taming animals, but the lack of modernity creates a completely different pace from other entries in the series. Additionally, the prehistoric setting remains one of the most unique environments Ubisoft has created, setting it apart from the competition and proving that experimentation can really pay off with the right amount of creativity.
7
Biomutant
Flawed yet creative
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Huge character flexibility
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A living world unlike any other
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Open Reviewer: 67
I bought Biomutant at launch and experienced several problems that were the focus of reviews at the time. There were technical flaws and inconsistent storytelling, but once the performance issues were out of the way, you were able to truly experience the game's greatest strength: the gameplay.
By combining martial arts, mutations, gadgets, and customizable weapons into a single combat loop, you have a lot of control over how engagements play out, no matter how many enemies there are or how big the opponents may be. The world also feels very specific, sending you into a colorful post-apocalyptic world that's both weird and beautiful at the same time, so if you're still looking for a unique kind of open-world game where you compete against the top dogs, I'd recommend skipping and giving Medium Scores a try. Biomutant an attempt.
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