Summary
Taking over an entire open-world map, one territory at a time, is a surefire way to tickle the brain’s dopamine receptors. And what better way to do it than alongside a lovable crime family? Sandbox games seem tailor-made for this kind of premise, yet, surprisingly, they remain few and far between.
The 2000s, however, were this type of game’s heyday. Every developer wanted apiece of that tastyGrand Theft Autopie, feeding the audience’s insatiable hunger for open-world mayhem. While many clones strayed away from gangster fiction, some embraced the crime-laden chaos wholeheartedly, and without a shred of remorse.
While it never quite lived up to its legendary namesake,The Godfather 2video game still delivers some solid thrills. Especially when it comes to building amafia empire.
Players control Dominic as he sets his sights on becoming the Don of the Corleone family in New York City. To achieve this, they’ll compete with rival families, recruit gang members, conquer territories, and extort store owners in classic protection rackets. A standout feature allows players to command a crew of made men, assigning roles and promoting them from soldato to underboss. Another neat addition is the “Don’s View,” an interactive map that lets players survey their growing criminal empire in all its glory.
Continuing the long-held traditions of previousSaints Rowgames, this installment once again sees players eliminating rival gangs and seizing their turf. This time, the gangs in the player’s crosshairs are the Morningstar, Luchadores, and Deckers, collectively known as the Syndicate, in the new city of Steelport.
Players can purchase cribs and businesses to generate passive income, gradually expanding their control over territories. As their empire grows, they’ll take over entire neighborhoods and, ultimately, the city itself. While this entry may not reach the heights of its predecessors, it still stands far taller than the 2022 reboot.
Managing a hard-earned criminal empire as Tommy Vercetti in theneon-drenched paradise of Vice Cityis one of gaming’s best experiences. While not overly complex or taxing, this feature is something fans would welcome back to the series with open arms.
Players can purchase properties across the city to manage, including a nightclub, a taxi company, and even an adult film studio. Complete enough side missions at these upstanding establishments, and Tommy will generate a steady income, fueling his rise to the top and funding even more chaos.
Here players have the bestSaints Rowgame, the one that perfected the formula it so lovingly borrowed fromGrand Theft Auto. Players can recruit gang members and call on them in a jam, complete missions, and wipe out enemy strongholds (San Andreasflashbacks, anyone?). Of course, there’s also the usualproperty buyingand discounted items, but this time, players can even see their custom character appear on billboards, which is a nice touch.
That said, these games take a more straightforward approach to building a criminal empire. Becoming top dog simply means gaining control of the city’s neighborhoods through story missions and side quests. But that doesn’t make it any less satisfying to watch the map slowly turn purple as players take back Stilwater for themselves.
Despite having fewer features, the originalGodfathergame remains the superior experience. It treats the source material with the respect one would give a Don on the day of his daughter’s wedding.
Like its successor, players extort protection money from businesses acrosspost-war NYC, strong-arming their way up the ranks. This time, the story is told through the eyes of original character Aldo Trapani, a rising enforcer with a personal vendetta, seeking vengeance for his father’s murder while carving out his own place in the Corleone family.
Kenshiis the most unique entry on this list, blending open-world RPG and RTS mechanics against a cold,post-apocalyptic backdrop. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. And out of all that player freedom emerges one surprising feature: empire building.
In the game, players can recruit NPCs from the world’s various factions and species into their squad. After thieving, smuggling, and selling nefarious goods in the wasteland, a ragtag group can grow into a full-blown settlement. Sure, crime doesn’t really exist in a lawless, post-apocalyptic world—but it’s close enough…
Scarface: The World is Yoursis a video game adaptation that completely goes against the core themes of the film it’s based on. While the original told a tragic story of hubris and greed, the game sequel tosses all that out the window and instead asks: What if Tony survived the climactic shootout? And not only that, what if he rebuilt his criminal empire with a triumphant, almost happy ending?
Besides telling people to “say hello to my little friend,” players will spend a large chunk of their time taking over rival gang territories, slanging yayo, and building up their reputation through brutal, high-stakes missions. All of this to get Tonyback to the heights of powerfans saw in the film—minus the downfall.
