The 5 best open-world games where you play as an outlaw, ranked

Key takeaways

• Open-world games offer vast environments and versatile gameplay options.
• Outlaw stories are popular open-world games with different settings and motivations.
• Games like Watch Dogs 2, Just Cause 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 offer unique outlaw experiences.

Open-world games offer players many different opportunities for playability, customization, and exploring different areas as they progress through the story. This genre is great for versatility, as it can accommodate FPS, RPGs, puzzle games and more.

One of the most popular premises around open-world games is the life of a gun, and it's completely understandable. After all, what's not exciting about the story of a man who lives outside the confines of the law and does what he wants, in a vast, open environment that players can explore however they like? Here are some The best open-world games to play as an outlaw.

5 See Dogs 2

A hacker's journey to clear his name

• An open world that allows players to interact with their environment
• Marcus is an outlaw more out of necessity than choice

Many open-world outlaw stories are set in the past or future. However, when they are set closer to home, in an era that many players are familiar with and can relate to in their daily lives, something very interesting is created. See Dogs 2 Follows the story of hacker Marcus Holloway, as he joins the notorious Deadsec hacker group in an attempt to clear his name after being framed by the San Francisco security system for a crime he didn't commit, known as ctOS 2.0.

While most outlaws in games like this usually defy the law out of personal choice and unwillingness to conform, Marcus does so out of necessity. See Dogs 2 Features a vast, open world that players can interact with to complete the various missions and side quests available.

4 Only reason 3

A story of liberation and freedom struggle

• Rico Rodriguez seeks to free his homeland from a terrible dictatorship
• A large variety of weapons for players to use

There are many ways to be found illegal, and not all of them involve being a criminal with bad intentions. in Only reason 3The main character, Rico Rodríguez, works outside the realm of the law not for personal gain, but for the freedom of his homeland, a Mediterranean island. Under the brutal rule of dictator Sebastiano di Ravello, the Medici have suffered terribly, forcing a group of rebels to unite in an attempt to take down di Ravello and restore freedom and democracy to the island.

Only reason 3 Features a vast open world with many possibilities, different weapons, and much more to explore as players progress through the story and reach every corner of the beautiful island of Medici.

3 Cyberpunk 2077

An outlaw story set in a dystopian futuristic society

• A wonderful take on a futuristic dystopia
• V lives outside the realm of the law, but is not a vicious criminal per se

Few titles present a futuristic setting as expertly crafted Cyberpunk 2077. While the game had a bumpy launch and many players were reportedly concerned that it wasn't polished enough, developer CD Projekt Red quickly corrected course, and the title is now considered one of the biggest releases of the last decade. Set the main character to “V”, which can be male or female based on player preference, Cyberpunk 2077 Explores the criminal underworld of a futuristic dystopia, where the government has given too much power to large corporations.

V, along with their partner Jackie, are out to make a name for themselves in the infamous Night City, participating in various jobs for crime bosses and other criminal organizations in an attempt to become famous and gain street cred.

2 Grand Theft Auto 5

One of the most complete and successful modern crime games in history

• Players can switch between Franklin, Trevor and Michael at any time
• The story mode is exciting and touches on themes like betrayal, being a family man, and the pursuit of fortune.

While Rockstar Games was already a very popular studio with big hits by 2013, none of the titles released by the company were successful. Grand Theft Auto 5. This monster of a game is still relevant and extremely popular among gamers more than a decade after it was initially released. And while its constant updates and massive multiplayer, gta online, Contributed to keeping it relevant, the story is so rich that even without them, the game would still be played by many today.

Following the three main characters: Franklin, Michael and Trevor, Grand Theft Auto 5 Players will be presented with an amazing story about betrayal, adrenaline-pumping heists, and one man's struggle to balance a life of crime with the needs of his family. Michael, Trevor, and Franklin are outlaws in every sense of the word, as they not only commit various crimes, but in most cases only for personal gain.

1 Red Dead Redemption 2

A classic Wild West outlaw story with stellar narrative elements

• Despite being outlaws, Arthur Morgan and the majority of the van der Linde gang aren't bad people.
• Players can explore the beautiful representation of the American Wild West on horseback in this vast open world

American Wild West period stories are almost always set around an outlaw or group of outlaws, and this one is no exception. Red Dead Redemption 2. Focusing on player character Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, the group travels through the American Wild West, running from the law and trying to set up camp on the outskirts of any town where there is no bounty on their head.

What makes this open-world outlaw story so great, is that Arthur and many of the other characters have extremely complex storylines that make them likable and feel like real people. As from V cyberpunk 2077, Arthur is not a bad person, just a person who has never known a life outside of crime. In fact, most of the members of the Van der Linde gang are good people who wouldn't hurt a fly except to shoot them first.

Red Dead Redemption 2 There are beautiful open areas for players to explore on horseback. On their journey, they can meet many NPCs that trigger different questlines, and the members also form opposing gangs and bounty hunters, whom they must kill to save their own lives.