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Consequently, many fans have begun daydreaming about their favorite linear games from the past being given the open-world treatment. Although the ten entries on this list were all fantastic linear games, they would almost certainly sell tons of copies if they were remade with a modern open-world.
10 The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Requesting a remake for The Simpsons: Hit & Run is far from being an outlandish opinion, as fans have been asking for it since the seventh generation of home console. The game offered players the chance to explore a wonderful rendition of Springfield while competing in tough but enjoyable street races.
Unfortunately, the game’s multiple areas had to be split into individual levels due to hardware constraints at the time. A studio getting the green light to remake the game won’t be easy due to licensing issues, though it’s almost guaranteed to be a commercial success, so there’s always a possibility.
9 Bioshock
The opening of 2K’s Bioshock remains one of the greatest introductions to a game of all time. After being involved in a devastating plane crash, players need to swim to a nearby lighthouse, where they will descend into the underwater city of Rapture.
The city of Rapture is one of gaming’s most memorable and most immersive locations. Therefore, an open-world game set in the original Bioshock’s rapture would be a dream come true for many fans, who feel that the city still has many stories to tell.
8 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Like most games on this list, many people believe that Ocarina of Time is still fantastic to play today and consequently doesn’t need a remake. However, the recent release of Breath of the Wild, which many fans believe is the best Legend of Zelda game since the N64 classic, has provided an idea for a remake.
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The game could use the same map as Breath of the Wild but show what the game’s version of Hyrule looked like when it was thriving. This would also make an interesting dynamic when Link turns into an adult, changing the world’s setting once more.
7 Tomb Raider (1996)
The recent rebooted Tomb Raider trilogy did a fantastic job of bringing the iconic franchise into the modern-day. It was clear that the games took inspiration from the critically acclaimed Uncharted series, which is ironic as Uncharted was presumably inspired by the Tomb Raider franchise along with Indiana Jones.
The recent three Tomb Raider games allowed players to free roam, though none of them made the extra step to implement a fully open world. Now that Shadow of the Tomb Raider has concluded Lara’s origin story, there is an opportunity for a new direction in the series, and an open-world remake of the original game could be a great place to start.
6 The Lord of the Rings - Movie Tie-In Games
Lord of the Rings fans had been crying out for an open-world game set in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth since the genre of gaming was popularised. Thankfully, fans got their wish in 2014 with Shadow of Mordor, followed by Shadow of War.
Although the games have been well received by fans and critics, many people still want to see an open-world game that ties into the three films, letting them follow the journey of Frodo and Sam, possibly as well as the other leading characters. Electronic Arts’ The Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers and Return of the King games were both excellent hack and slash titles that people remember fondly, though a tie-in open-world game is far too tantalizing to ignore.
5 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Considered by some to be the best Metal Gear Solid game of all time, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was released in 2004 and amazed gamers with its ingenious survival mechanics and action-pact set pieces such as the memorable motorbike chase.
The rainforest where most of the game is set was incredibly well designed, though its limited space leaves a lot to be desired. The stealth franchise has been proven to be compatible with an open-world thanks to the award-winning Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, so a Snake Eater remake with similar mechanics would almost certainly be a hit.
4 Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is on this list for slightly different reasons than the entries before it, as a remake is allegedly in the works already. However, some fans haven’t taken too kindly to the news, believing that the iconic game still holds up today and doesn’t need changing.
With many believing the linear game is fine how it is, implementing an open-world would be a good way to reinvent the game, as it would change enough it to make any fan of the Resident Evil franchise interested.
3 The Last of Us
The Last of Us is on this list for a very similar reason to Resident Evil 4, as there is talk of a remake being released in the future, much to some fans’ dismay. Much like Resident Evil 4, an open-world may be a great way to remake the game in a way that fans will be genuinely interested in.
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Creating an open world in The Last of Us would be tricky, as the game’s story has very meticulous pacing. On the other hand, an open-world could answer the criticisms that the gameplay was too action-heavy in relation to its story by focusing more on the post-apocalyptic world’s survival aspects.
2 Crash Twinsanity
A Crash Bandicoot game may seem like an odd choice for this list, as the platforming genre tends to be better suited to a contained level design rather than an open-world.
However, in hopes of reinventing the Crash series and responding to criticisms that Wrath of Cortex was too similar to Warped, Traveller’s Tales decided to create a more open game with free-roaming opportunities back in 2004 with Crash Twinsanity. The idea was extremely well-received by fans, though the execution was lacking due to Traveller’s Tales being constrained to a tight development schedule. Therefore, a Crash Twinsanity remake with a small but well-crafted open-world that connects all of the game’s areas could see comparable commercial success to the N. Sane Trilogy.
1 Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum was flooded with praise upon release for its free-flowing combat, immersive setting, and range of memorable moments. However, the game was somewhat overshadowed by its successor, as Arkham City took the Asylum formula and improved upon it by implementing an open world. Remaking the first Arkham game with an enormous asylum spanning multiple areas would be hugely appealing to most superhero fans, and the concept wouldn’t be too hard to believe given the wide range of villains in the Batman universe.
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