20 Best Open-World Video Games Of All Time

12. Burnout Paradise

It continues to be a crying shame that we've not seen a newer instalment in the Burnout series, but Paradise was one mighty fine closing note to end on.

Comprising an open-world purpose-built for sheer octane-induced thrills, you could go from slamming an opponent onto the harbour, burning past the opposition and firing off a ramp into victory all within the same few minutes.

Developers Criterion were operating on a career high when this came out; a sensation that factors into how you play. Burnout: Paradise rolls together all of your skills assembled from every past instalment, before tasking you to tear off around a large environment as fast as possible - all against your fellow players.

Literally, it was paradise.