Yeah, so where was I? Nowhere, I still have to start. So let’s. Sandbox games have become a major section of the gaming industry. Some of the best known franchises these days, like Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed, Saint’s Row, Mafia, Crackdown and many others are sandbox games, and almost all games these days that strive to strike perfection between replayability and innovation opt for the sandbox style of games. Recently, we have seen this specific section of the games develop.
As an ode to all the great games this sub-genre has given us, GamingBolt presents to you, Top 7 Sandbox Games Of All Time. Remember, this list is the opinion of the author, and does not represent what is the fact. Before getting angry and burning down our HQ if you don’t agree, please realize that this list is a personal opinion. Your feedback will be appreciated though. You can comment in the comments section below.
So without further ado, let’s begin!
7. Fable II
Platform: Xbox 360 | Developer: Lionhead Studios | Publisher: Microsoft | Release Date: October, 2008
Fable- probably one of the most ambitious, grandest, the most passionate names in the industry of ganes, yet probably the one that has given us two of the most flawed games of all time. Building up on the successful yet inperfect formula that was introduced in the original Fable, Fable II added several new mechanics, such as the lovable dog and the very useful golden trail. Fable II allowed players to wander the entire world, and gave us such an immense sense of freedom, that one could completely ditch the main story missions and delve deeper into the world of Albion from the very beginning of the game. From stealing stuff, buying houses and buildings, killing people and guards, marrying the citizens, having children with them, to exploring towns, doing jobs, buying stuff from shops and having- uh, sexual relationships with people, you can do just about everything in Fable II. Oh, of course you can’t sell milk shake, but that’s just one thing.
(Stay Tuned, We Will Have Our Fable III Preview Up Soon)
6. Spider-Man 2
Platform: GCN, Xbox, Mac OS, PC, PS2, PSP, GBA, DS, N-Gage | Developer: Treyarch | Publisher: Activision | Release Date: June, 2004
I’m sure you cringed when you saw that name. But those of you who have played it will realize that the game actually deserves a spot here. The life-like, gargantuan city, the whole of which was open to exploration and sandbox style action to players from the very beginning, along with the spectacular new mechanics, like the 6th Sense, or Wall Running, and the realistic web swinging mechanic, in which we have to swing webs at solid things, like buildings or even airborne choppers, all came together in more ways than one, and made this a complete package, one that would stand out in the genre as a benchmark title for other superhero sandbox games to come.
5. The Godfather: The Game
Platform: PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, Xbox, PC | Developer: EA Redwood Shores | Publisher: EA | Release Date: March, 2006
“Oh wow, another movie tie-in? This list sucks!” is what you must be thinking right now, right? But I just love The Godfather, and anything to do with it. I loved the book, I loved the movie, and when the game was about to be released, I had very high expectations, despite my apprehension. While the game did have a few flaws of its own, it managed to do everything it tried to nearly perfectly. Not only did it keep the story completely true to that of the movie’s without putting us in the shoes of any of the characters seen in The Godfather universe, it also provided us with great missions, and an open, living breathing world, which offered unimaginable freedom- you could bribe cops, take over rackets, extort shokeepers, kill members of other gangs to take over the city and do just about anything one would expect from a mafiaso based free-roaming game. I don’t know about you people, but The Godfather: The Game will always hold a very special place in my heart.
4. inFamous
Platform: PS3 | Developer: Sucker Punch | Publisher: SCEA | Release Date: March, 2009
inFamous is probably the best superhero game I have ever played, better even than the highly acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game offers us a thrlling story, an exciting gameplay system, cool fighting styles, and spectacular sandbox gameplay, with abilities of all kinds allowing us to take to the skies, waters, land or any part of the city. The amount of freedom offered within inFamous is simply brilliant, and one can spend countless hours on the game, not concentrating at all on the main story mission, and doing nothing but roaming through the city, scaling the buildings, destroying all cars, or randomly killing people. inFamous 2 promises even more freedom, but I doubt any game will ever displace inFamous as the best superhero game ever created.
(HD Video Comparision: inFamous VS inFamous 2)
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC | Developer: Rockstar North | Publisher: Rockstar | Release Date: April, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV- the most controversial, the most critically acclaimed, yet the most hated GTA title amongst fans. Yes, it does let go of all the freedom that it’s spin-off predecessor, San Andreas wowed us with. Yes, even its cheats are not as varied and imaginative- but look at all the good things the game does. It has the best story in a GTA game ever, the most likable protagonist, superb new gameplay mechanism, like the cell phone, that add realism and freedom to the game in a different way. Tiny little things, like people sneezing, pedestrians dropping stuff on the roads, drivers stepping out of their cars in fury after an accident, or even the way Niko opens doors- it all feels so authentic, so real, so damn… there are no words for it. But I can say, GTA IV is the most beautiful GTA game I’ve ever played, and I doubt any other game will ever outdo it in terms of the realism and thrill it offered. GTA IV is here to stay as the best GTA game ever created, period.
(GTA V In 2012?)
2. Red Dead Redemption
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3 | Developer: Rockstar North | Publisher: Rockstar Games | Release Date: May, 2010
Red Dead Redemption- probably one of the best, if not the best, games to have been released this year. Having met with raver reviews all over the board, and selling like crazy, outselling the likes of even Super Mario Galaxy 2 and God of War III, Red Dead Redemption is this year’s most successful video game. And with good reason- having successfully recreated the fabled Wild West, the revolutionary and extremely dun horse riding, and an immensely open world, Red Dead Redemption is everything a fan would expect from a Rockstar game- it is the perfect re-imagining of the GTA series, even though it is not that at all, and does everything GTA does a hundred times better, and more. With over 50 hours of gameplay, and immense replay value, Red Dead Redemption is this year’s best game.
1. Assassin’s Creed II
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Mac OS | Developer: Ubi Montreal | Publisher: Ubisoft | Release Date: November, 2009
There it is. The best sandbox, or probably even the best action game ever created. It wasn’t as if Assassin’s Creed sandbox had left any stone unturned. Even though it had its own limitations, the sheer fun one would get from just scaling buildings and jumping from one rooftop to the other to escape from the city guards was unimaginable. Assassin’s Creed II came and built upon that formula, improving upon it and making it a hundred times better. Not only do players this time have the ability to swim in water, they can also row boats, ride carriages, and even fly using Leonardo DaVinci’s helicopter designs. One can spend over 100 hours of gameplay while playing Assassin’s Creed II, and I’m not even counting the story missions. Saving citizens, scaling view points, collecting flags, and randomly roaming through the city is immensely fun, and it is these very mechanics that make Assassin’s Creed II so enjoyable, and the best sandbox game ever created.
