12 Hugely Underrated Open-World Games You Totally Missed

2. The Yakuza Series

Played any of the Yakuza games? No? Didn't think so. Until Sony finally got behind the fifth instalment and announced they'd be releasing it in the west, Yakuza's initial PR spin was a bit of a mess, ending with the public thinking it was essentially what Sleeping Dogs would later be in 2013. The games themselves are actually way more brawler-focussed, putting you in the shoes of various characters interacting in accurately modelled sections of Tokyo, Osaka, Naha and more. You'll quickly develop a love for the irreverent and occasionally quirky eastern humour that makes them and their stories engaging, and it's twinned with some RPG-lite ability-unlocks and stat boosts to ensure each fight goes your way. The overarching story is brilliant, paved with twists, turns and "They're not dead?!" character-reveals that make even Metal Gear Solid look subtle, and it's all done for the sake of taking you on the most enjoyable ride possible. The upcoming (in the west anyway, Japan's had it since 2012) instalment has a whopping five characters to flesh out and master, and being Sega's dedicated development team have been nurturing it every step of the way, it's one of the best gaming franchises of all time that simply needs more exposure to be truly recognised as such.