Summary
There are many types of open-world games, from strategy games toaction-adventure gamesand everything in between. Many of these games require the player to take on the role of some heroic figure, usually fighting against some sort of villain, to achieve specific goals in a game based on black-and-white morality.
However, some open-world gamessee morality as varying shades of gray, and put the player in the shoes of a mercenary, with the freedom to shift their moral viewpoint to match the most profitable employment opportunities. Many of these make the player the leader of a group of mercenaries and ply them with morally ambiguous choices that have a direct impact on the game world.
7Elex
Post-Apocalyptic RPG
With a blend of medieval-style combat and sci-fi technology,Elexis a roleplaying game set in apost-apocalyptic world, that has much to offer. The open world map is huge, featuring a range of different biomes from large cities to a burned-out wasteland.
The player takes on the role of Jax, a mercenary with a military history. Jax can choose to align and interact with the many factions in the game, taking on and completing mercenary contracts for them. This means that the player has a direct impact on the politics of the game world as well.
Assassin’s Creed Odysseytakes place during the conflict between Athens and Sparta, known as the Peloponnesian War, although all of the gameplay takes place on an open-world map that is based on Ancient Greece.
The combat system is one of the best around, allowing the player to fully customize their fighting style The mercenary system lets the player move up through the ranks of the mercenary organization, as well as take on and defeat other mercenaries.Assassin’s Creed Odysseyis all about player choice and freedom, and it fully deserves its place on this list.
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
Anything goes in this Playground of Destruction. You are a lethal Mercenary. Your mission is to topple a sinister military regime by any means necessary. If it drives or flies, you can hijack it. If it shoots or explodes, you can use it as a weapon. You are free to go anywhere, destroy anything and blow the crap out of everything. In this playground of destruction, there are no limits, no barriers and no mercy.
This classic open-world game puts the player in the shoes of one of three mercenaries that complete various contracts for one or more of the political factions in the game. How the player completes these contracts is entirely up to them, as the game features asandbox style of gameplay.
With a full range of weapons and vehicles available, and fully destructible scenery and environments, the combat in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction can be fun and frantic. As mercenary games go,Mercenaries: Playground Of Destructionis one of the best. It doesn’t try to be anything overly complex, it simply delivers some excellent gameplay.
Taking on the role of V,Cyberpunk 2077players have the freedom to roam and explore the open-world map of Night City as they please. The over-arcing plot is immersive, with some fantastic full-motion video featuring Keanu Reeves playing the role of Johnny Silverhand.
The player is free to customize their skills as they wish, and can plumb for a straight-up combat build using melee or ranged weapons, or a more stealthy, hacking style build. Alongside the main plot, the player can take on mercenary contracts for fixers, which are termed gigs. The game had something of a rocky launch, but is now renowned as one of, if not the best cyberpunk-themed games ever.
The gameplay inMount & Blade: Warbandrevolves around the player becoming the leader of a band of mercenary troops. These troops are recruited from various locations on theopen-world map. Managing a Warband is a complex challenge in and of itself in this game.
With its sandbox-style gameplay, the game allows players to pick and choose which faction they work for to earn gold, which is used to maintain the Warband. Combat is in real-time, but there is a strategy layer on top of this. Overall, the game does a fantastic job of simulating not just mercenary combat, but the day-to-day management of a mercenary brigade.
Playing as the mercenary Rico Rodriguez, the player has to embark on a quest to earn freedom for the Mediterranean island of Medici inJust Cause 3. This means overthrowing or bringing down the dictator of the island who, quite frankly, is a bit of a fool.
Set in a sprawling open world, the game allows the player to approach completing goals and challenges from any angle, in true sandbox style. Combat is fast-paced, and the player has certain other tools available to them, such as grappling hooks and parachutes which simply add to the fun.
No other game could have taken the top place on this list, as playing the role of the legendary mercenary, Big Boss, is one of the most satisfying gaming experiences in the Metal Gear franchise.Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painsees the player leading their private army across Africa and Afghanistan.
Different mercenary missions need different approaches. Somecall for stealthand patience, while others rely on the element of surprise and overwhelming firepower. The main campaign and storyline are excellent, and the persona of Big Boss, sometimes over the top, makes a fantastic archetype for what a mercenary commander should be.
