Top 5 Best Open World Games of 2014 for PC, PS3, And Xbox

Open world games are one of the most well-known and most popular kinds of video games, equal to adventure and sports games. In these games, players can roam freely in a virtual world, and have lots of flexibility in choosing how and when to complete the missions necessary to win the game. Grand Theft Auto is the best known — and most notorious — example of open world games for PC.

Out of the many open world games on the market, I have selected the five best games for inclusion on this list. This list includes the best open world games for PC released in 2014. I know some of my choices might be controversial, so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Bully is an open world game released by Rockstar Games, the developers of Grand Theft Auto. Though released all the way back in 2006, this game still ranks in the top five because of its well-designed gameplay and excellent graphics. In 2008, a “Scholarship” edition was released, which allows for multiplayer options.

In this game, a player takes on the role of Jimmy Hopkins, a student at Bullworth Academy in New England. He quickly discovers that Bullworth is filled with, well, bullies and is determined to make the school safe and gain respect from all the school’s cliques. At the beginning of the game, Jimmy can only roam the school premises, but as the game goes on, Jimmy has access to more and more territory in the surrounding towns and cities. There are also a number of mini games throughout that help Jimmy earn money, develop a skill, and pass his classes. If you happen to cause trouble while exploring the surrounding towns — by, say, killing a pedestrian — then the city police will chase you and throw you back in the Bullworth Academy. All in all, one of the best open world games for PC.

Released by Bethesda Game Studios in 2011, Skyrim is the fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series. An action role-playing game, the main plot revolves around a mission to defeat a dragon, Alduin, prophesied to destroy the world. The player is free to explore the lands of Skyrim, which contain some abandoned cities, towns, and villages.

The gameplay is mission-based, with the player completing objectives in order to develop his character and acquire new skills. The game’s system of character development is one of its highlights and was singled out for praise by critics, who also expressed appreciation for the game’s elegant design, user interface, and highly detailed and beautifully rendered artwork.

Developed by Deep Silver Studios, this comedy-adventure was released in 2011 and is one of the best open world games for PC , PS3 or Xbox. This installment picks up where the third left off: with the player controlling the head of the gang Third Street Saints, who has now become President of the United States. The voice acting makes this game a pleasure to play, by adding a dose of humor missing from other games.

Taking place in a computer simulation of Steelport, the fictional setting of the previous three editions, the player must fight off an alien invasion and simulated versions of their previous rival gangs.

Developed by Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto is the most popular open world game series in the history of video games, making more money than even some Hollywood blockbusters. It made $1 billion in its first three days of sale and a whopping $800 million on the first day alone! It has also won several awards including “Game of the Year” from several gaming magazines.

This game has the same plot as all GTA games, but includes multiple protagonists rather than the typical single one. The game follows three criminals in the fictional state of San Andreas as they try to commit heists while evading government authorities. Most of the story is centered on completing a sequence of heists, which can increase characters' power and unlock new lands. It was universally acclaimed when released, with critics singling out the game’s mission design, multi-protagonist story lines, and art for praise. While GTA would likely to top most people's lists, the next game's gameplay and graphics help it thrash GTA.

Released on May 27, 2014 by Ubisoft, Watch Dogs is currently the best open world game for PC. It follows a Chicago-based computer hacker as he seeks revenge after the accidental death of his niece. Its hacking elements, variety of missions, and excellent graphics make this the best game on the market.

This game is played from a third person perspective in which the player can wander all over Chicago and also has the capacity to hack the “ctOS,” a centralized operating system that controls the city. Available on PC, PS3, and Xbox, Watch Dogs is the best open world game for PC