15 Best Open-World Video Games Of All Time

4. Grand Theft Auto III

The game that started the open-world phenomenon as it is now known, Grand Theft Auto III is one of the most legendary games ever made and holds a permanent place in the industry. It was a true game-changer, ushering in an entirely new style of game design and turning the industry on its head.

So many of the games on this list owe a debt to GTA 3, as it pioneered many of the aspects that made them successful. There are certainly games that pre-date it, but GTA 3 changed the face of 3D open-world gaming forever. There's a simplicity to GTA 3's Liberty City that you just don't find in other games, a certain subtle sense of movement that helps it feel so unique from any other virtual city. Liberty is full of insane people, and all of them have probably cursed at you more than once.

It's split up into three distinct sections, each with their own feel; the scummy side of Portland is outstanding contrast to the big city feel of Staunton Island, which feels tremendously different from the more suburban style of Shoreside Vale, and all of them serve as your gateway to mass carnage.