The open-world genre is an ever-expanding landscape with developers seemingly trying to outdo one another. X game is ten times bigger than Y game and so on. Developers like Rockstar Games even endeavour to outdo themselves with each new release. Ane could argue that their games are perhaps too big.

That'south the catchy party about creating an open-earth. Some companies could make the biggest in the earth, but if said world is desolate and without much to practice, then ane may wonder why a game is open up-world in the first place. Is that the kind of trouble these ten games ran into? Let'southward find out.

x The Simpsons: Hit & Run 2

Did You Know Gaming on YouTube recently uncovered Radical Entertainment had plans for a sequel to The Simpsons: Hit & Run. For those who don't think, this is widely considered 1 of the best games based on the belongings.

It apes One thousand Theft Auto in a big way. Even though the team definitely had ideas on ways to expand in a sequel, the license went to EA and Rebellion Developments createdThe Simpsons Gamein 2007. Everyone lost out on that deal.

9 Buzz Monkey's Open-World Southward Park

Also uncovered by Did You Know Gaming, they were able to find out details about a canceled open-world South Park game literally in the aforementioned vein as The Simpsons: Hitting & Run.

It was being published past Ubisoft and developed past Buzz Monkey Software around 2004 for PS2, GameCube, and Xbox. The game would follow the kids through town on various missions. In the video, Cartman tin can be seen trying to infiltrate a infirmary in club to get a straitjacket.

8 Star Wars Orca

EA hired Amy Hennig from Naughty Dog in order to make a Star Wars title with Visceral Games. Star Wars Orcawas canceled in 2017 forth with the studio's closing. EA Vancouver took over the project and seemingly rebooted information technology from a linear construct to one with an open up-world chemical element.

How much remained is unclear, but what is clear is that this project was also canceled two years later on as of 2019. In Kotaku's investigation, it was discovered that players would assume the function of a bounty hunter exploring mini open-worlds via a variety of planets.

7 Mercenaries 3: No Limits

Speaking of Star Wars, Pandemic Studios can exist thanked for developing the original two Battlefront games. Another great shooter in their repertoire was Mercenaries, with the showtime being released in 2005 and a sequel in 2008.

Afterward the release of their last game, The Saboteur, the developer had to close up shop, canceling not but Mercenaries 3, simply a game based on The Dark Knight and an unnamed Wii racing championship. There are a few screenshots, a gameplay video, along with a promotional poster left up for this canceled PS3 and Xbox 360 game on Unseen64.

6 The Lord of the Rings: The White Council

EA strikes over again, this time with another beloved franchise: The Lord of the Rings. Nether EA'south publishing rights, they helped brand a lot of great games using this iconic license. Unfortunately, The White Councildidn't brand the cut.

Information technology was beingness handled past the EA Redwood Shores studio. It would have been an open-globe RPG set in The Lord of the Rings universe, merely not about any item chief character. Unseen64 has a host of videos and concept art on their website. Announced in 2006 for PS3 and Xbox 360, it was canceled only a twelvemonth later.

v Steambot Chronicles 2

Steambot Chronicles is a very niche RPG started by Irem. The first game was released for the PS2 in 2006, with a spin-off for the PSP following in 2008. The full sequel was actually announced in 2006 at the Tokyo Game Show with a piddling teaser trailer.

Apparently, it would accept been more open and activity-oriented. The sequel was planned for PS3 and wouldn't get officially canceled until 2011. Unseen64 has compiled what lilliputian assets there are of Steambot Chronicles 2.

4 The Getaway 3

The Getaway was i of many Grand Theft Machine clones in the PS2 era. Released in 2002 past one of Sony'due south internal companies, Team Soho, a sequel would soon follow in 2004. The Getaway iii was never fully shown off.

In 2005, a tech demo was revealed at E3 but it was never exactly called The Getaway iii. This demonstration was gear up in London'south Piccadilly Circus. Yet, this might take actually been a teaser for another game, Eight Days, which was also canceled. Hither is the trailer in question, making information technology announced as though both projects shared like visions and or assets.

3 Red Skies iii

Expect, where is Crimson Skies 2? So, this property began as a board game in 1998, which was followed by an arcade and PC port in 2000. To those that don't follow the PC scene, the 2003 Xbox game, Carmine Skies: High Road to Revenge, might have been construed as the first entry.

Piece of work for a 3rd game by the second entry' southward developer, FASA Studio, began soon later its launch for Xbox 360. For whatever reason, Crimson Skies three was canceled without any avails ever being publicly shown.

2 Pirates of the Caribbean area: Armada of the Damned

Along with each release of the films, there was a booty of Pirates of the Caribbean games. As was the case for most licensed based movie necktie-ins at the fourth dimension, these Piratesgames mostly stunk. Armada of the Damned, like The White Council, would have been its own thing prepare in the same universe.

Sail around, explore islands, look for treasure, and level up in this massive open up-world RPG. It sounds like a better version of (launch day) Body of water of Thieves; unfortunately, this PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 title was canceled in 2010. On the plus side, Unseen64 has archived a ton of its content.

i Strider

Earlier Grin closed its doors in 2009, the programmer was hard at work on several promising titles. Ane was a complete reboot, or more than similar an open-globe spin-off, to Final Fantasy that appeared to be more than in the Dark Souls realm of games.

Along with that was aStrider reboot planned for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. This would have been the series' beginning new game since Strider 2 in 1999. No gameplay exits, simply Unseen64 does have some concept art. The franchise was eventually revived in 2014 by Double Helix Games.

NEXT: 10 Best Koei Tecmo Games, According To Metacritic

The Dragon Ball Fan Theory That Might Explain Why Fights Seem And so Long

Read Adjacent

About The Writer

Tristan Jurkovich (797 Manufactures Published)

Tristan Jurkovich began his career equally a journalist in 2011. His childhood dear of video games and writing fuel his passion for archiving this bully medium's history. He dabbles in every genre, just he'south particularly fond of RPGs and portable consoles. Aside from writing, Tristan too produces a plethora of videos on his YouTube Channel, ReActionExaminer. Check it out!

More From Tristan Jurkovich