The Best Open-World Games Still Stuck on Older Systems

Open world games have risen to such popularity these days that they form a whole sub-genre in their own right. However, it wasn't so long ago that vast open worlds were a rarity rather than the norm.

Pioneering titles such as the GTA series series really pushed the boundaries of what was possible on older hardware, all the while retaining high narrative and gameplay quality.

Though some classic titles have been remastered or brought to current gen technology through the use of various backwards compatibility services, the ones mentioned here, have been relegated to older consoles and are only possible to play on newer consoles with a lot of difficulty, if at all.

8 GTA: Chinatown Wars

Topview Camera Returns

GTA: Chinatown Wars is really an experimental game that is nothing like anything else in the series. Rather than a typical third-person game, Chinatown Wars was a top-down and story-heavy entry into the series that largely went under the radar considering it was released around the same time as the vastly more popular GTA 4.

The game also takes place in Liberty City but centers around the TRIAD mafias and the protagonist, Huang Lee, as he embarks on a revenge quest against the rival gangs in the area. The solid story and gameplay easily hold up to the GTA standard even if its format is slightly different compared to what fans are used to. Unfortunately, the game is still only available on older systems such as the PSP and Nintendo DS.

7 Driver 3

Three Cities, One Game

It's hard to imagine these days, but the old school Driver series was actually a rival to Grand Theft Auto many years ago. Coupling interesting open worlds with an engaging story and seemingly limitless player freedom, Driver 3 gave players not one but three expansive open worlds to explore.

Starting out in Miami before traveling to Nice, France and Istanbul, Turkey, this game really took you on an unforgettable journey. While it has inarguably not aged very well in comparison to GTA and even the Saints Row series, Driver 3 is one of those games that can be fun to play just for old times sake. Unfortunately, not many players can do that as it remains stuck on PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. It's not the easiest to get on PC, either, since it isn't available on any of the major game platforms.

6 Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

Setting The Bar High

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix is a largely forgotten and supremely underrated gem which takes players right to the heart of Harry's adventures in Hogwarts. Despite not being a huge Potter-head myself, I am still British, so I have, by dint of being raised here, seen all the movies and most certainly played this brilliantly immersive entry into the video game series.

The game largely follows the same events and characters as the eponymous movie, but that would've vastly underselling what is a comprehensive experience complete with exploration, minigames and a well-told story. In fact, this game set the bar so high for the series that some fans were actually disappointed by the comparatively lifeless rendition of the Wizarding school in Hogwarts: Legacy. Time hasn't exactly been kind to the clunky animations or gormless character models, but that's okay considering the game is still on PS2 era hardware. Even PC players may struggle to find a playable version without tracking down a battered old physical copy.

5 The Simpsons: Hit & Run

GTA For Kids, Sort Of...

The Simpsons: Hit & Run was a game that many of us played due to being too young to be allowed to play GTA yet. However, this Springfield special was every bit as chaotic as an open world game could get and provided unparalleled immersion in the iconic animated world we were all so used to seeing. Not only did it include intense driving missions, but there was plenty of freedom to go around kicking local citizens, blowing things up and running from the law.

While the driving itself certainly wasn't the best in an open world game, it's hard to give this game too much criticism considering just how good it was for the time. Sadly, it's largely pointless to see how well this game holds up by modern standards considering it is still stuck on the PlayStation 2.

4 Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble

Japan's Answer To "Bully"

Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble is essentially the Japanese version of Rockstar's Bully, and it's exactly the kind of thing you're picturing in your mind right now. Hilarious, action-packed and yet somehow deeply human, Kenka Bancho takes place on a school trip to Kyoto and you play as the disgruntled, nonchalant protagonist Takashi Sakamoto.

Not only is your school and class on a trip to Kyoto, but so is every other school in Japan, setting up a competitive battle royale scenario in which you must "conquer Japan" by beating up the other delinquent Banchos from rival districts. In addition to its cool martial arts upgrades, weapon combat and specialist abilities, the game also features a very funny and relatively well-written story which is presented in almost a visual novel-type presentation. Sadly, the game is only available on PSP and PS Vita, leaving it as a forgotten cult classic.

3 Test Drive Unlimited

Forever Replicated, Never Replaced

There are plenty of open world racing and driving games out there these days, but that certainly wasn't the case back in 2006. This revolutionary title is fondly remembered as one of the best of its era - mainly due to the extensive customization options and broader focus on lifestyle and exploration rather than just pure racing.

While later iterations such as Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown have attempted to revive the franchise, they haven't managed to capture the magic of the original. It's a shame for Xbox players in particular, the title is not playable on modern consoles and is stuck on the Xbox 360 for the forseeable future.

2 GTA: Vice City Stories

The Forgotten Chapters

GTA: Vice City Stories is one of those classic gems which introduced many younger players, for better or worse, to the Grand Theft Auto series. The kind of chaotic freedom and comedic storytelling on offer were really unlike anything else in the genre at the time, and the variety of vehicles, weapons and high-stakes missions were also revolutionary compared to the series' rivals.

While Vice City Stories and its counterpart, Liberty City Stories, were technically just spin-offs, they are easily good enough to merit their own separate places in the history of the franchise. Vice City Stories is generally considered the better of the pair, perhaps due to the fact that Vice City is a more interesting location to explore than the original rendition of Liberty City. Unfortunately, both games are stuck on PlayStation 3 and PSP.

1 Midnight Club: Los Angeles

A Very Popular Pastime

Midnight Club: LA is a cult classic which is fondly remembered as one of the best racing games of the late 2000s. Combining intense racing action with a vast open world and cutting-edge visuals at the time really was a match made in heaven and a great alternative to the likes of Need For Speed or the DiRT series.

Sadly, this classic of a game remains relegated to the PlayStation 3 for most players. Xbox players can still play the original version of the game via backwards compatibility, while PC players will not be able to experience it without the use of an emulator. The Midnight Club series has been quiet for some time now, but many fans are hoping that another entry may be in the works for modern hardware.