Open-world games come in many shapes and sizes. Some projects, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, seek realism, immersing you in a historical setting that does not bestow success quickly. Others are straight-up life sims, where the goal is casual escapism without much combat or tension. Finally, there are games that want you to feel powerful. They have one-man-army protagonists who blow through cities like a hurricane, leaving destroyed buildings and demoralized enemies in their wake.
Naturally, the latter games love their superheroes, casting players as beings gifted with abilities that go well beyond the norm. However, an open-world game does not need superpowers to make you feel superhuman; in fact, some of the best power fantasies feature protagonists with no magical or supernatural powers at all. Let's highlight these titles.
Here are some criteria:
- To qualify, the protagonist has to be human and, more importantly, not superpowered. The focus is on open-world games that make you feel powerful while using an "ordinary" human, or at least somebody who is not blessed with extraordinary abilities within the context of their universe. This eliminates Prototype, Infamous, and Saints Row 4; that said, these titles all make you feel like a god, so give them a try.
- Building on the last point, no superheroes with powers.
- Finally, only proper open-world games. No semi-open stuff.
7 Yakuza 0 (& Most Of The Series)
The Dragon Of Dojima Begins His Journey Of Superhuman Feats
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Considering he has probably punched into oblivion more than 100K thugs and gangsters over his lifespan, Kazuma Kiryu's status as a "normal" human can be quickly forgotten. Throughout his decades of hard-fought battles, the Dragon of Dojima has almost exclusively relied on his muscles (along with the occasional weapon), and that has been enough to demolish squads of experienced fighters at a time. Kiryu also does it in style.
The Mainline Yakuza/Like A Dragon Series, Ranked
The mainline Yakuza series has some truly awesome games. These are all of them, ranked.
Most of the games fit the bill, but Yakuza 0 is not only the best place for newcomers to start, but arguably the greatest entry in Sega's franchise. The dual protagonists, Kiryu and Majima, are reasonably strong from the start, and they just progressively get more powerful as they unlock new skills and expand their fighting styles. Unlike a few of the other entries, like Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza 0 balances its difficulty perfectly to provide a constant challenge that rarely becomes frustrating.
6 Far Cry 5 (& Most Of The Series)
Spreading Death Through Hope County
Far Cry 5
- Released
- March 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Toronto
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
Say what you want about Far Cry, but the games are satisfying power fantasies. While the stories do not typically feature larger-than-life protagonists, instead opting for relatively ordinary folks, the gameplay is another thing entirely. In nearly every entry after Far Cry 3, players are master marksmen who can survive numerous bullet wounds, drive all sorts of vehicles, swim a billion miles, and lead resistance forces against tyrannical rulers backed by thousands of trained warriors.
Far Cry 5 gets the nod here due to being the most recent "well-liked" entry in the series, but most of them should work. Personally, this game is my favorite, and I had an absolute blast tearing through Hope County and its resident cult. The game is pretty easy, too, which is not a criticism.
5 Cyberpunk 2077
Night City's Death God Comes In Many Builds
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
OK, this one feels like a bit of a cheat since Cyberpunk 2077's customization options allow for incredibly broken builds that transcend humanity. However, V is mostly using technology that is available to everyone else, and he is not narratively more powerful than the strongest enemies he goes up against.
Cyberpunk 2077 just accommodates for routes that transform V into a walking tank who can shred through enemies without breaking a sweat, making him the definition of a superhuman character. It is not even all that hard to break the game and end up OP, and you can pick what type of killer you want to be. Prefer to slash through enemies with a sword? Go for it. Want to be a gun-wielding god of destruction? You can do it.
4 Dead Rising 3
A Superhuman Mechanic Vs. All The Zombies
Dead Rising 3
- Released
- November 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Technically, the full Dead Rising series qualifies, as each game drops an average dude into a zombie apocalypse and then tells them to smash the undead using a wide assortment of weapons. However, the first two entries are relatively difficult and slow, which works for them but means they are not as great as superhuman romps. Dead Rising 4 is kind of undermined by featuring a cartoony version of Frank Castle, who barely feels like a real person.
Dead Rising: Every Playable Character, Ranked
The Dead Rising series is home to a collection of playable characters, but some are arguably a little more noteworthy than others.
That leaves Dead Rising 3, a slightly polarizing sequel that expanded the franchise's scope by stretching the playground to a full town and increasing the number of zombies significantly. Far easier than its predecessor, Dead Rising 3 is basically a Musou game with zombies, as players use makeshift weapons to reduce waves of the walking dead into mush. While lacking the tension of the original Dead Rising, the 2013 title offers cathartic fun, along with probably the most nondescript protagonist in the series.
3 Ghost Of Tsushima
More Than A Samurai
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
A game all about crowd control. Ghost of Tsushima is about as close to a full package as the open-world genre gets, in the sense that it gets nearly everything right. The game brings to life a refreshing setting that has barely been touched by the industry. A lull during the second act aside, the story is generally quite good and benefits from a top-notch presentation and stellar voice acting. The world is stunning; seriously, it is gorgeous. The combat is smooth, responsive, and fits the era well.
Finally, and most importantly for this article, Jin Sakai is a force of nature who comes across like a myth or a legend. Technically, he is a normal samurai (or ronin), but there is nothing "normal" about the way he weaves and dances while precisely slicing through dozens of trained enemies at a time.
2 Just Cause 3 (& Most Of The Series)
Go Berserk On A Whole Island
Just Cause 3
- Released
- November 30, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Who says that one person cannot change the world? Rico Rodriguez has brought down multiple island-based regimes, and he very much prefers to work alone rather than rely on assistance. Now that its broken launch is just part of history, Just Cause 3 is probably the most fun entry to play, especially if you are craving an explosion fest with a big sandbox as its playground.
5 Best Open-World Games Featuring Revolutionary War Settings, Ranked
Open-world games are lots of fun, especially when they have an interesting setting. Here are some that take place in revolutionary wars.
While having no powers whatsoever, Rico is essentially an '80s action hero in the style of Commando's John Matrix, which means he loves to blow things up using a varied assortment of trinkets, guns, and vehicles. He also spends so much time in the sky that he has effectively mastered flight, and the grappling hook and wingsuit are the definition of excessive.
1 Batman Arkham City
The Best Open-World Game With A Superhuman MC
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
I mean, it had to be this, right? Yes, Batman is a superhero, but he is also the most famous non-powered vigilante of all time. Even though Gotham is not filled with cosmic threats, Bruce is no stranger to going up against villains who, in theory, are either on his level or have abilities that venture into supernatural territory.
Yet, Arkham City does a great job of making Batman feel larger-than-life, a nightmare who haunts perpetrators of injustice through fear (and a lot of expensive gadgets). While boss fights are usually quite even, Arkham City's "ordinary" battles typically find Batman juggling a dozen grunts at any given moment, demolishing them through physical and tactical domination rather than superpowers. Bruce Wayne's humanity is his greatest selling point, but Batman is superhuman.
5 Best Soulslike Games For Feeling Like A God, Ranked
Soulslikes are usually very difficult, but some games do allow you to destroy everyone, if you wish.