Summary
Most video games do a great job of letting players enjoy a cathartic gameplay loop where they do everything from solving puzzles, exploring to their heart’s content, and engaging in great combat encounters. It’s the idea of being able to fulfill their wildest power fantasies that makes gaming such a popular industry, and this is especially true in the case of titles where players commit numerous crimes without a care in the world.
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While there’s no denying that going on the wrong side of the law is a heinous act that no one should perform, there’s nothing long with players getting lost in games where committing crimes is encouraged and rewarded. Some of the most successful gaming franchises of all time play loose with the law in their titles, making for unforgettable and satisfying experiences that fans can’t get enough of.
6Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto 5is one of the greatest video games ever made and is one of the few titles to be released across three different generations of consoles because of how popular it is. Of course, a huge part of what makes this game so popular isGTA Online, but the main story of this title is what helpedGTA 5become such a household name in the first place.
The open-world sandbox is one of the most detailed in the history of video games, allowing players to wreak havoc in the areas around Los Santos.Grand Theft Auto 5continues to be one of the best open-world gamesthat fans can check out, with its scintillating story missions, evolved wanted system, and pulse-pounding heists really elevating the title’s quality to new heights.
5Payday 2
The co-op gameplay ofPayday 2is some of the best FPS action that players can enjoy. Players have to coordinate their actions and complete all the objectives in a heist while avoiding cops and any other forces that stand in their way. It may sound simple, but the sheer adrenaline rush that players can enjoy in this game is what makes it so special.
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Payday 2features a wealth of content and has remained one of the most popular co-op shooters around. WithPayday 3right around the corner, there’s no better time for players toburn through the excellent heists in this titlebefore jumping into the third game.
4Saints Row 3
Saints Rowis a franchise that has gone through its fair share of ups and downs. The first game was written off by many as nothing more thana shoddyGrand Theft Autoclonebefore the franchise developed an identity of its own that many people still love to this day. The recent reboot has been lambasted by fans and critics like, but no one has given up hope on the series, yet.
After all, these fans still remember the masterpiece that isSaints Row 3. The game’s goofiness arguably started from this game, with the adventures of Playa and the rest of the gang being extremely iconic in their own right. The sheer level of chaos that players can inflict on the open world ofSaints Row 3is what makes it such a special title, as long as committing a string of heinous crimes doesn’t sound all that bad.
3Cyberpunk 2077
The redemption story ofCyberpunk 2077has been fascinating to witness. After being criticized by fans and critics alike for not delivering on their promises and shipping the game in a broken state, CD Projekt Red put their heads down and worked hard on this game to make it live up to the hype that its marketing had generated.
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The bug fixes and content additions coupled with the launch ofCyberpunk: Edgerunnersallowed players toenjoy a truly great open-world gamethat is full to the brim with unique characters, an excellent story, and lots of action. Breaking the law time and time again to become a legend of Night City makes for a great time, and fans can only wonder how much stronger the police will get afterPhantom Libertyis released.
2Watch Dogs 2
ThefirstWatch Dogsgamewas hyped to the moon and beyond, which is what made the final release extremely poor. The hacking in this game was far from fleshed out, and the generic protagonist and open-world activities ended up being rather grating after a point. So, fans were glad to see that Ubisoft fixed these issues in the sequel.
Featuring a more light-hearted story that was more in line with the counterculture nature of hacking,Watch Dogs 2made for a great time that fans would enjoy. Players could tackle objectives with non-lethal combat options and the hacking itself had improved considerably. Fighting against the system as rebels makes for a great time, even if the player’s hacker group is operating against the law.
1Mafia 2
Given that players are part of an organized crime unit inMafia 2, it’s easy to see why crime is rewarded here. The protagonist, Vito Scaletta, is an army vet who gets wrapped up in a life of crime after seeing just how rewarding it really is. Over time, he ends up making a name for himself in the mafia, with his status increasing over time.
Of course, the life of a man in the mafia is anything but safe, and Vito has his fair share of close shaves with rival families and cops alike. This game wasa huge step in the right direction for theMafiaseries, which is why the third game’s failures ended up feeling all the more painful for the series' long-time fans.
