Best Open-World Games Featuring Reluctant Heroes, Ranked

Open-world games allow players to explore vast areas, run into interesting NPCs, and do various missions without necessarily having to follow a specific order or path. Throughout the years, many open-world games have captivated players, building franchises, and expanding development studios.

In some titles, the main character is a textbook example of a hero from the start of the story. But in others, they're just regular people forced to overcome obstacles in order to save the world, the people they care about, and other small folk in the process. Here are the best open-world games featuring reluctant heroes.

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6 Mafia 2

Metascore: 74

• Tommy Angelo is a villain with the potential to become a reluctant hero.
• Great open world that transports players to the late 1940s.

A lot of people would say that there are no heroes in Mafia 2, and for the most part, they'd be right. After all, it's a game about vicious mobsters in the pinnacle years of American organized crime. However, even when it's impossible to find an actual "hero" in this title, there are some characters, like Tommy Angelo who, despite his terrible actions, appears to have a conscience and feels regret for some of his deeds.

What's more, this conscience, while buried deep, has played a part in the survival of many innocent bystanders involved in his many brushes with the law and rival mobsters. Ultimately, while Tommy Angelo can and will be remembered by history as a villain, he occasionally has glimpses of the reluctant hero he'd be had he been born in a different time under different circumstances.

5 Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Metascore: 84

• Great combat with chain combos.
• Tragic reluctant hero backstory.

Few reluctant heroes have such a tragic origin story as Talion from Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. After his family is murdered by Sauron's forces while reclaiming Mordor, he sets out on a quest for revenge to make those responsible for this tragedy pay. Talion is the perfect example of a reluctant hero because, before the events of the game, he was a simple Gondorian Ranger stationed at the Black Gate.

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Shadow of Mordor has a wonderful open-world concept with tons of explorable areas, items to discover and enemies to fight. The dynamic orc ranking system changes every time Talion either wins or is defeated, which makes the game's combat very interesting. The mechanics overall allow for powerful chain combos to unleash Talion's wrath.

4 Fallout 4

Metascore: 87

• Masterfully designed post-nuclear environment.
• The Sole Survivor is a family man/woman.

A post-apocalyptic setting with nuclear wasteland vibes is the perfect scenario for an open-world game, and Fallout 4 is a great example. With cat-sized cockroaches, hungry Super mutants, feral ghouls, and deranged robots, surviving the Boston Commonwealth is a challenging task. Fallout 4's story is set around the main character, known as the "Sole Survivor," who will have to traverse the wasteland looking for their kidnapped son, Shaun.

The Sole Survivor is a wonderful reluctant hero, as they had an ordinary life before the Great War. It wasn't until the bombs dropped worldwide that they had to rise up to the challenge and become the hero of the Boston Commonwealth. They kept themselves alive and saved the lives of others in their endless quest to be reunited with their last remaining family member.

3 The Witcher 3

Metascore: 92

• Geralt is a good person, but must limit his charitable deeds to make a living.
• The game has one of the most complete universes in any franchise.

The Witcher 3 is arguably one of the best open-world games created to date. Not only is its universe lore-rich and fantastic, but it's also full of interesting creatures, both friendly and lethal. A monster-hunting superhuman living in medieval times is an outstanding concept for an open-world video game. However, many players agree that it was only executed properly in the latest installment of the franchise, while earlier releases were hit or miss.

On the list of reluctant heroes in open-world video games, Geralt of Rivia is certainly a contender for the top spot. He is an overall good person who cares about his friends and romantic interests. However, the core of his profession is to be a sword for hire, so he often limits his involvement in charitable deeds to extreme situations.

2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Metascore: 96

• A rich open world with dozens of fantastic creatures.
• The Dragonborn evolves from a regular citizen to the savior of Tamriel.

The Elder Scrolls series has had a dedicated fanbase for years. Since the late 90s when Battlespire was released, thousands of players have been captured by the fantasy realms in this universe, and they keep coming back release after release. However, true mainstream success for The Elder Scrolls came in 2011 with Skyrim. Set on the fictional continent of Tamriel with an obvious background in Norse mythology, this game redefined RPGs and greatly improved on the genre.

The reluctant hero of this story is the Dragonborn, who, before the events of the game, was an ordinary individual trying to survive like everyone else. However, after their execution is interrupted in Helgen by the legendary dragon Alduin, the Dragonborn sets out on a path of adventure, discovering their true destiny and ultimately ridding Tamriel of the winged black dread.

1 Red Dead Redemption 2

Metascore: 97

• Arthur, while a gang member, has a strong moral compass.
• Massive open world with multiple NPCs and quests.

There's no denying that Rockstar Games know how to craft masterpieces, as they've been doing so for the last 20 years. With titles like the GTA series, Bully, and Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2, the studio has comfortably positioned itself as one of the best developers in the world. Their latest western release, Red Dead Redemption 2, follows the story of the Van der Linde gang, focusing specifically on member Arthur Morgan, during the final years of the 19th century.

Arthur is an amazing character to explore the open world with, and his development throughout the story is exceptional. Some players probably wouldn't include Arthur Morgan in the "reluctant hero" category, but he certainly belongs in it. Not only does he often help out those in need out of the kindness of his heart, but in the later stages of the game, his true moral compass is revealed, so much so, that he could even be considered noble at that point. Arthur's behavior towards the vulnerable, his love for animals, and his selfless demise earn him a well-deserved top spot on this list.

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By  Mark Smith