As both a publisher and a developer,Ubisofthas had its hands in the process of making some of players' favorite games for multiple console generations. Among those titles, it’s often the open world titles, from theAssassin’s Creedseriesto theFar Cryfranchise. that often make for some of the most memorable experiences with narratives that guides players through a massive play area.
The following games are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to some ofUbisoft’s best titles, but absolutely represent the highest points that the company has reached as both a developer and publisher. However, while these titles do represent some of the best games in the company’s catalogue, they are in no particular order, and any one of the following titles could easily compete for the top spot among them.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Fans would be hard pressed to find a title in the series that better achieves at capturing the magic of being a parkouring assassin as well asAssassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. AsEzio Auditore’s second installment, this game released as the series was still improving on previous titles, and is the peak of the early titles in the franchise as the following two titles would show a slight dip in quality. However, that isn’t to say that Ubisoft never bounced back, as many titles since, such asValhallaandBlack Flag, have tried to compete, but none are able to topple the mammoth of a game that stands on top.
It’s not the most traditional definition of an open-world game, but the world it creates was perfect for Ezio’s skills.
Watch Dogs 2
There is a lot to say about what has gone wrong with theWatch Dogsfranchise, from the initial disappointment of the first game in the series to the “try-hard” nature of the sequel. However, when it comes to planting the player into a real-life city and letting them run wild with fancy technology and fantastical weapons, it’s hard to do better thanWatch Dogs 2’s San Francisco. Though otherUbisoft titles overshadowWatch Dogsand its sequels, the series has some solid open worlds to explore, with unique combat that similar third-person shooters struggle to match.
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Far Cry 3
There’s plenty of reasons why some players would putFar Cry 2in place here instead ofFar Cry 3,but it can be boiled down to a simple fact. In the case of which one makes for a better experience,Far Cry 3is a masterful open-world, with a much wider accessibility and the most iconic villain of the series. On the note of villains, the writing that brings Vaas Montenegro to life alone could be enough to consider the entire game one of the most successful in Ubisoft’s entire catalogue.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
A more recent entry, thestill evolvingImmortals Fenyx Risinghas become a contender for Ubisoft’s best release of 2020, which says quite a bit when considering thatAssassin’s Creed ValhallaandWatch Dogs Legionlaunched in the same year. What puts this new IP so high among the company’s other titles is the way that it seemingly abandons the previous methods that the developer has built open worlds. It’s true thatImmortalstakes a lot of notes fromBreath of the Wild, but many of the ways that the game shines is how it breaks off from its inspirations to deliver a unique experience.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Ubisoft had quite a few hurdles to clear withTom Clancy’s The Division, especially if the developer was expecting to make theDestiny-killer that fans had been expecting. In a few ways, the original game succeeded, and in other ways it didn’t quite live up to the hype that fans had set up for it. ThenThe Division 2droppedand brought players to a whole new world that continues to meet up to those expectations and stands as a strong competitor in the looter-shooter genre almost two years down the road. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but divisive nature aside, its world comes to life in unique ways.
