Best Open-World Games for Being a Gangster

Given how video games let players fulfill their wildest fantasies, it's easy to see why some titles let players step into the shoes of an unscrupulous protagonist who isn't afraid to operate on the wrong side of the law. It's a simple way to justify the atrocities players can commit, especially when it comes to open-world games where dishing out as much destruction as possible is a huge part of what makes these games so engaging to play through.

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By  Harry Ted Sprinks

Some of the best sandbox games players can get their hands on let them take on the role of a gangster who works for the underworld, stealing, killing, and threatening to make a living. It's satisfying to see characters down of their luck eventually earn enough money to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, even if this comes at the cost of their moral compass.

5 Mafia 2

Protagonist: Vito Scaletta, A Mobster In The Clemente Crime Family

The first Mafia game was an excellent story-driven title that did a lot to distance itself from the poor reputation most GTA clones had at the time. So, it was easy to see why fans were hyped to the moon and back for the second game in the series, which turned out to be an excellent addition to the series with a riveting plot and fun sandbox gameplay, even if the city felt rather empty at times. This was a forgivable offense in the eyes of many, especially since the narrative was a joy to experience from start to end.

Players control Vito Scaletta, a war veteran down on his luck who's roped into a life of crime and witnesses the impact his violent lifestyle has on his relationships. Instead of glorifying a life of crime, Mafia 2 shows the reality of being a mobster, with Vito losing the ties to his family and friends as they delve deeper into the underworld. It's a riveting game with an amazing presentation that's a joy to play through and shows why Mafia 2 is hailed by many as the best game in the series.

4 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Protagonist: Carl 'CJ' Johnson, A Gang Member In The Grove Street Family

The 3D Universe of Grand Theft Auto was graced with many titles that established Rockstar Games as one of the greatest developers of open-world games, and the studio decided that the final game in this universe needed to be grander than ever. They certainly achieved this goal with San Andreas, which boasted the biggest open world in a GTA game to date before the fifth mainline title blew everyone's minds. The protagonist of this tale was Carl Johnson, more commonly known as CJ, a man who tried to lead a straight life only to be roped back in after the death of his mother.

As CJ slowly gets integrated into a life of crime once again, he becomes a loyal member of the Grove Street Families, uncovering a betrayal that breaks his heart and changes the entire dynamic of the series for good. Players are whisked on an epic adventure where they're banned from entering Los Santos, only to slowly worm their way back in and take out Ryder, Big Smoke, Pulaski, Tenpenny, and anyone else who stands in their way.

3 Sleeping Dogs

Protagonist: Wei Shen, An Undercover Cop Moonlighting As A Member Of The Sun On Yee Triad Organization

While Wei Shen may technically be a police officer, his undercover operation leads him to sink deep into a life of crime and technically qualifies him as a gangster who must undertake numerous missions as a member of the Triads. The shining jewel of Sleeping Dogs is the melee combat, which takes several cues from the Arkham games while adding several brutal environmental takedowns and the like to ensure that players have a great time whooping any enemy that stands in their way.

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The game takes a ton of inspiration from Hong Kong action flicks, adding to the title's spectacle with high-speed car chases where Shen can jump from one car to another by accomplishing an Action Hijack that feels great to pull off despite the janky animation snapping into place. While the shooting mechanics may not be all that fleshed out, triggering slow-motion by jumping from cover to cover is still fun and adds to the spectacle of this crime-fuelled sandbox title.

2 Yakuza 0

Protagonists: Kiryu Kazuma & Majima Goro, Members Of The Dojima Crime Family

The Yakuza games are known for featuring smaller open worlds that feel more intimate and let players form a connection with the cities that players explore, with this prequel being a great example of the same. In a bid to attract new fans to the series, Sega greenlit a game that takes place before the main story, with both Kiryu and Majima getting their time to shine in one of the best games in the series that's a joy to play through. Seeing the evolution of both characters and the events that led to them becoming the Dragon of Dojima and Mad Dog of Shimano respectively is a joy to experience.

The districts of Kamurocho and Sotenbori will be ingrained in the minds of players as they explore these small yet dense areas, with the combat being one of the best parts of the experience by a country mile. Players must generate Heat with regular attacks before unleashing their might in cinematic Heat Moves that pummel regular enemies to the ground and take out their health bars in a flash. With goofy sub-stories and side activities serving as a much-needed break from the ultra-serious main story, it's easy to see why Yakuza 0 is the best introduction to this beloved series for players who want to experience why so many people love this franchise to Kingdom Come.

1 Saints Row: The Third

Protagonist: Playa, The Leader Of The 3rd Street Saints

While the first two Saints Row games had their funny moments, these titles were pretty serious and couldn't beat the allegations of being GTA clones through and through. Things changed with the advent of Saints Row: The Third, a game that leaned heavily into the goofy nature of Saints Row and established the tone that fans would love and expect from this series ever since. Controlling Playa as they led the 3rd Street Saints to become the biggest gang in Steelport.

The sheer number of crazy things players could accomplish in this game was a blast, with players pulling off ludicrous wrestling moves and using suspicious toys to humiliate their enemies. Being a gangster has never been more fun in a video game, and Saints Row 4 upped the craziness of the series with superpowers and alien invasions.

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