7 Open-World Games About Revenge (2024)

Key Takeaways

Revenge-driven plots offer game developers moral ambiguity for storytelling.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Far Cry 3, and Ghost of Tsushima use the revenge trope.
Mad Max, Watch Dogs, and Prototype also incorporate revenge narratives in open-world gameplay.

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There are certain well-known tropes that many games leverage, including open-world games. Tropes such as setting off to free a princess, or embarking on a quest to find hidden treasure. One of the most commonly exploited tropes is setting off to seek revenge for some harm done to the protagonists, their family, or their friends.

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A revenge-driven plot for a game opens up some great options for game developers, as the often violent nature of fulfilling a righteous quest opens up questions of morality. This allows game designers to craft a story that sits within the gray area between right and wrong.

7 Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Defeat The Dark Forces Of Mordor

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9/10

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Action

Adventure

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:85/100 Critics Recommend:90%

Platform(s): PS3 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , Linux , macOS
Released: September 30, 2014
Developer(s): Monolith
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

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When J.R.R. Tolkien first came up with his ideas for the fantastical setting of Middle-earth, it is unlikely that he ever imagined that decades later, people would be playing games based on it. Few fantasy lands have been as influential as Middle-earth, spawning movies, TV shows, and numerous games that leverage the lore of the realm.

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In Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor, the player takes on the role of a young ranger named Talion. His family has been brutally murdered by Suaron’s forces, and he is out for revenge. But there is a twist. Talion was also killed at the time, but he is brought back to life, and finds he has powers similar to those of the Wring Wraith.

6 Far Cry 3

Avenge The Murder Of A Brother

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Far Cry 3

FPS

Open-World

Platform(s): PS4 , PS3 , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC
Released: November 29, 2012
Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal

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Taking on the role of Jason Brody, Far Cry 3 players find themselves stranded on a tropical island alone, after his brother has been murdered, and his friends kidnapped. Thus begins an often brutal quest for revenge.

The villain in the game is named Vaas, a local Warlord. The player must seek out Vaas and dish out some retribution. The open-world map is stunning, and populated by many hazards. This includes pirates and mercenaries, as well as wild animals. The story is compelling, as Jason slowly loses the plot and his grip on reality.

5 Ghost Of Tsushima

Set In 13th Century Japan

9/10

Ghost of Tsushima

Action

Adventure

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:88%

Platform(s): PC , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5
Released: July 17, 2020
Developer(s): Sucker Punch
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

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In Ghost of Tsushima, the player is put in the shoes of Jin Sakai, who is a Samurai during the Mongol invasion of Japan in the 13th century. His family and home are destroyed by a group of raiders, and Jin sets out to get some revenge on them.

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The open-world game map is exquisitely crafted, with biomes running from villages destroyed by way, through dense forests, to desolate mountains. Stealth and strategy are a large part of this game. Jin’s morality is questioned during the compelling story, and players will need to think carefully about their decisions.

4 Prototype

Become A Shape Shifter

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Prototype

Action

Open-World

Platform(s): PC , PS3 , PS4 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
Released: June 9, 2009
Developer(s): Radical Entertainment

Prototype is set in an open-world rendition of the city of New York. It follows the journey of Alex Mercer, as he sets off on a journey to find the people that infected him with a strange virus. This virus has left Alex with superhuman powers, and the ability to shapeshift.

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The open-world map is huge, and makes a fantastic backdrop for Alex to exploit his special powers to the max. He can run up buildings and glide between them, and engage in frantic combat with a range of enemies. Overall, this is a great addition to this list, as it is a little different.

3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Linear Open World

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Action RPG

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:96%

Platform(s): PS4 , PC , Xbox One
Released: March 22, 2019
Developer(s): From Software
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice does open-world map design a little differently. The game features a number of maps, that must be completed in a linear fashion, but each of these maps is fully open-world. Each map has secrets and multiple paths the player can take to complete them.

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The game follows the adventures of Wold, a shinobi, who is looking for some payback on a clan of samurai that left him at the brink of death whilst kidnapping his lord. The combat in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can be brutal at times, and requires the player to learn the combat mechanics fully, in order to tackle the toughest battles.

2 Mad Max

A Post-Apocalyptic Open World

7/10

Mad Max

Action-Adventure

Open-World

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:69/100 Critics Recommend:28%

Platform(s): PC , PS4 , Xbox One
Released: September 1, 2015
Developer(s): Avalanche Studios
OpenCritic Rating: Fair

Many open-world games are set in a post-apocalyptical landscape, but few of them are based on such iconic lore as Mad Max. Playing as the road warrior himself, players embark on a journey seeking revenge on Scabrous Scrotus, who left Max for dead. Max hopes to get his revenge, and then find his peace by reaching the Plains of Silence.

Much of the gameplay revolves around building and upgrading Max’s iconic vehicle, the Magnum Opus. Unsurprisingly, vehicle warfare also forms a large part of the gameplay. The action is fast-paced, as Max tries to find a place in the world, dealing with his grief and trauma.

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1 Watch Dogs

Hack The Planet

8/10

Watch Dogs

Open-World

Action

Adventure

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:79/100 Critics Recommend:68%

Platform(s): PS4 , PS3 , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , Nintendo Wii U , PC , Stadia
Released: May 26, 2014
Developer(s): Ubisoft Montreal
OpenCritic Rating: Strong

Aiden Pearce is a hacker, too skilled. He becomes the target of an assassination attempt, during which, his niece is accidentally killed. Understandably, Aiden is rather upset by this, and heads out to find out who ordered the assassination and take his revenge in Watch Dogs.

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