by John Cunningham & Mark Sammut
With its high-stakes action and strategy, military espionage or full-blown warfare seems tailor-made for open-world games, but we don't actually have all that many projects that fit the bill. However, the few that we do have are absolutely brilliant, as they deliver expansive sandbox-type settings that allow players to more fully immerse themselves in the action of modern warfare gameplay.
With richly detailed, often unpredictable environments to travel through, players get to enjoy more authentic and spontaneous recreations of armed conflict. Of the many games out there that blend military action and storytelling with open-world exploration, a select few stand out from the rest. The following military open-world games are listed based on their effective use of both genres to create a memorable, cohesive military gaming experience. While we will focus a bit on realistic games, those are just a subsection of the overall subgenre; consequently, we will include a few titles that go for over-the-top action as well.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
A Polarizing, High-Tech Action Experience.
This 2019 installment in the popular Ghost Recon series takes players to the land of Auroa. A series of Pacific islands, Auroa is owned by a tech billionaire selling advanced wares to the US government.
The action kicks off when a sinister former Ghost Lieutenant Colonel forcibly takes over the island. Needless to say, it’s up to the Ghost Recon team to take him down and save the day. Criticized for its glum plot and eclectic approach to action compared to its predecessors, Breakpoint still has a lot to offer players. Regardless, the game has many appealing features, including an intriguing new setting, an entertaining antagonist played by Jon Bernthal, and a wild DLC that crosses over with The Terminator. For Ghost Recon fans, this open-world military experience is worth the effort.
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
A Chaotic, Colorful Tour Through A War-Torn North Korea.
This underrated Noughties hit provides a fun, often hectic take on open-world gaming. Players take the reins of a deadly mercenary sent in to deal with North Korean military aggression following a military coup in the country.
In charge of destabilizing the new regime, players can pursue their dangerous objectives as they see fit. The result is a variety of strategies to consider, from safety-conscious stealth and infiltration to all-guns-blazing catastrophe out in the open. Between its wild, over-the-top action and cutting-edge (for the time), sandbox-style gameplay, Mercenaries is an offbeat, effective open-world military experience.
Just Cause 3
An Action Extravaganza All About Taking Down A Military Dictatorship
Just Cause is definitely not a franchise that will strike a chord with somebody craving a realistic military open-world game, but it is absolutely perfect for anybody who wants to single-handedly bring down a dictatorship while eliminating an army's worth of soldiers. All the games incorporate this element to an extent, but Just Cause 3 is the most military-coded, and the dictator is specifically a General. As Rico Rodriguez, you get to blow up bases from up high or destroy buildings from down low, while also taking in the beautiful Mediterranean scenery represented by Medici Island.
Rico, himself, is a mercenary rather than an official military guy, and he works for an organization that has its own ulterior motives. However, Just Cause 3 has him straight-up facing off against a country's military, and he has personal stakes in the matter since he comes from Medici. Most military shooters go down the tactical route, but Just Cause 3 is basically a Hollywood blockbuster, and that can be an awesome change of pace.
Far Cry 4
An Explosive Civil War Game With A Memorable Villain.
The always action-packed first-person shooter series lands in the fictional country of Kyrat for its fourth outing. Nestled in the Himalayas, players are introduced to a Kyrat getting torn apart by civil war.
The conflict is between the nation’s Royal Army, fronted by diabolical dictator Pagan Min, and a rebellion known simply as the Golden Path. Needless to say, the civil war setup ensures players get caught up in all kinds of military encounters and battles as the game wears on. With colorful characters, bloody action, and a thought-provoking plot inspired by the infamous Nepalese Civil War, this imaginative entry in the Far Cry series is a fascinating change of pace for military gaming fans.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
An Atmospheric, Post-Apocalyptic Experience.
The high-stakes follow-up to The Division drops players into a dangerous, anarchic Washington D.C. The deadly Green Poison virus has caused chaos, leading to a bleak setting and a storyline of conspiracy and war for players to unravel.
The game’s remarkable gunfighting mechanics keep the tension levels high, as players tangle with a variety of militant threats in the area. The exploration of a rundown, war-torn Washington D.C. also makes for compelling fare, as players experience a grim, dark look at how quickly society can collapse in times of extreme crisis. Overall, with its slick action, dangerous missions, and compelling setting, The Division 2 is a masterful open-world military gaming experience.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
