Open world games that should have failed but didn't

Video games have become more ambitious over time as developers try new things and technology allows new ideas to become reality. But sometimes that ambition can be a game's downfall, whether it's due to a larger scale than the developers are able to do, a mismatch in what players want, or a large technical investment that requires far more resources than expected.

However, some games manage to defy expectations and overcome challenges, providing an exceptional experience despite the premise of failure. These games show that with enough effort and a good enough idea, anything can be brought back from the brink of death.

No Man's Sky

Ambitious Beyond Belief

Details:

• It promised an open universe unlike any other

• It managed to survive a troubled launch and is now a widely popular exploration game

No Man's Sky it was barely announced before people began to doubt it. The promise of an almost infinite open universe seemed far out of reach, and the first launch met those expectations of failure, as the game was riddled with bugs and missed many of the marks the developers were aiming for.

But over time, the DNA of the original vision began to fit in as more content was added and many of the rougher edges were ironed out. Now this game is one of the most impressive open world games ever made and a truly unique space travel experience.

Death Stranding

More than a walking simulator

Details:

• A strange new IP with a completely different play style

• Famous for its unique aesthetic and breathtaking storytelling

Death Stranding was a bold step into a completely different world for a seasoned developer. Kojima was already known for pushing boundaries, but the pitch of a sprawling open-world game where players would walk between locations and realistically rendered character models seemed a little out of reach.

In fact, the final product managed to surpass even the most positive skeptics in almost every way. The gameplay loop proved to be fun and satisfying, the graphics were even better than the trailer showed, and the narrative felt more like a big-budget film production than a video game, cementing it as a breakthrough success in the industry.

Cyberpunk 2077

Almost stumbling before it could run

Details:

• The teasers showed absurd visuals that many thought were unattainable

• The long wait allowed the game to be released and polished into an exceptional experience

Cyberpunk 2077 is an interesting game that got a lot of attention when it was first announced. The first reveal trailer showed a level of fidelity that many saw as a marketing campaign that didn't reflect the actual game, and despite their expertise in the open-world space, CD Projekt RED had a lot of ground to cover.

After a long wait, the game was released and was immediately written off as an unfinished mess that forced many players to move on before they could even dig into the story. Still, after countless fixes, the game now stands among the best in the genre, redeeming its name and proving that time really does heal all wounds.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Would realism really sell?

Details:

• Aim for an authenticity that many thought would fall flat

• A true medieval simulator in practically every possible way

KC:D was announced as an ambitious open-world medieval simulation experience where players can venture across the land and engage with the world however they choose. While it sounded good on paper, many people thought the actual result would be pretty boring even if they could pull it off.

In fact, the gameplay and story managed to surpass any previous notions of the game and position it as a classic that will be remembered for years. The success allowed the game to receive a sequel with the same praise, only this time people believed in the developers that their vision would come to life.

Horizon Zero Dawn

A different direction than expected

Details:

• Killzone developers have taken a new bold step

• Successfully launched a new IP into the mainstream light

Horizon Zero Dawn he initially showed his face after the developers at Guerrilla Games announced that they were moving away from him Killzone and to a completely new IP. The initial images and trailers showed a large world filled with mechanical animals, which was certainly a compelling idea, but many thought the game wouldn't be nearly as fun as some of the other big names in the universe.

Unfortunately, doubters had to eat their words because not only was the world full of activities and places to see, but the gameplay loop was just as fun as the trailers suggested. It's an example of a game whose trailers actually managed to match the final result, rather than being another marketing blunder.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Almost killed by art

Details:

• A completely different art direction than expected

• Now a fan favorite in the franchise

The Wind Waker launched at the time when Zelda had already become a household name and many players expected more realistic worlds to explore in space. When this cartoonish aesthetic was first seen, many fans hated it and expected the game to flop once it hit the shelves.

But right away, the game captured the hearts of many and quickly became a fan favorite in a franchise full of so many iconic titles. While the change in art direction was a bold move, it is now celebrated for changing the way a single IP can be presented in many different lights.

Assassin's Creed Origins

Definition of franchise fatigue

Details:

• An open world RPG that sounded less than desirable to longtime fans

• He quickly became a fan favorite

Assassin's Creed Origins proved to be an open world experience at a time when many players were tired of constantly releasing within the same series. There have already been so many similar games in the franchise that the idea of ​​another one with an even bigger world was hardly attractive to fans.

Now, the game is truly remembered for ushering in a new golden era for the franchise, demonstrating a higher level of quality and immersion that allowed it to rank among the best in the series. Although players initially showed little interest, the game managed to draw people in with its compelling story and satisfying exploration that managed to attract Assassin's Creed from his slump.

Dying light

A last ditch effort in the zombie apocalypse

Details:

• Gross development after Dead island

• He created a new franchise for a struggling developer

Dying light was positioned as another open-world zombie apocalypse that looked set to take things in a whole new direction. After Dead islandthe developers wanted to create something new, but many players had doubts about the game's success or whether it would even see the light of day after delays and internal changes.

When it finally launched, the game got off to a rocky start with bugs and performance issues that led many to assume their theories were correct. It took some time to work out the issues, but in the end, the game managed to reach a pretty solid state, which allowed it to receive the praise that the developers had been waiting for for many years.

Sleeping dogs

What started as a true crime turned into a secret adventure

Details:

Sleeping dogs it had a rather troubled development cycle, which meant that many people, both internally and externally, thought the game might never launch. At one point the game was even canceled during development because the vision of a True crime the game just didn't fit the way the developers wanted it to in Hong Kong.

Over time, the game evolved into more of an action-adventure experience, and when players finally got their hands on it, they were quick to praise it. The narrative showed multiple sides of the same reality, the exploration was meaningful, and the action transcended cinematics, giving players a different kind of modern open world that was very different from the first pitch.

Yakuza 0

Unexpected success in the West

Details:

• The series has struggled to find a mainstream Western audience in the past

• It managed to bring the franchise to the masses around the world.

Yakuza 0 was created as another title in a long series that mostly failed to make it to the West. A lot of people just didn't get the humor or the gameplay and wrote it off as another game that just wasn't meant for them.

In fact, the game not only popularized the series globally, but is also arguably one of the best in the entire franchise. The sheer amount of content allowed people to fully immerse themselves in the world and story, regardless of whether they followed the main path or engaged in some silly mini-games, and after years of fighting Yakuza has finally gone global.