Triple A games have multi-million dollar budgets, but that doesn’t make them all worth the customer’s money. Here are some of Steam’s best Triple A games that we deem worthy!
Triple A games are an informal title labeled upon any video games made by major development companies, usually having massive budgets for both development and marketing. One would assume that with these massive budgets, triple A games would be able to take advantage of the money at their disposal and create ground-breaking games unlike any other, right? Well, sometimes!
Some triple A games do utilize their enormous budgets well to both market it towards their target audience while spending enough money on actual development to ensure they have made a polished game. Others spend most of their money on marketing, without putting the time and dedication into the game to make it feel quality, or as if there was a sense of pride within the development team towards the game. This is the main stigma based around games of this nature, instead of caring about the game and its player base, massive corporations have budgets to meet and will cut corners in the name of profit. This typically is not true for indie games or smaller development teams as the product they deliver is their main marketing standpoint. Within this list, we’ve found some of the triple A games that had everything at their disposal, but still put the time and effort to give the impression they actually cared about the game itself, not just profit margins.
As a final caveat, the four games listed on this list are mainly story-based single player games. Obviously, many triple A games such as Call of Duty or Battlefield are massive multiplayer games and certainly make an argument to be put on this list. However, we thought it would be more useful to list out the more niche single player games that give every user a more individual experience.
After all, if you like Call of Duty games, we probably do not have to give you a whole review as you typically know what you are getting into before you even make the purchase. With that out of the way, here is our refined list of some of the best triple A games available for purchase on the Steam marketplace:
The Assassin’s Creed franchise dates all the way back to November of 2007 when the original Assassin’s Creed game was released. Since then, there have been many other games made in the series, coming to a total of twelve main games. Needless to say, the game has evolved dramatically since its inception. So much so, in fact, that Origins has even taken a slightly different genre take on the game, transforming into more of an RPG rather than single player playthrough.
Within Origins, there is a new leveling system out along with the classic looting system seen in many RPG’s. This allows the player to progress to harder fights, deal more damage, and collect unique weapons. It also lets the player feel like they are making some individual progress on their character rather than just progressing through the story like many other Assassin’s Creed games.
Just like any other Assassin’s Creed game, Origins has an absolutely stellar storyline. Taking place in Ancient Egypt, the player will get to see the overarching storyline’s humble beginning and how it is connected with history. Without getting into too much detail to avoid spoiling the plot, the player certainly gets to experience what it was like in Ancient Egypt while learning about the area’s history, culture, and people at the same time.
For the collector/grindy type of player out there, the new looting system also added in legendary items used to give their character an advantage, as well as adding in a new combat system that makes certain types of weapons deal more damage against certain enemies. This mechanic allows the collectors to try and gather every legendary weapon available to make their assassin as strong as possible. The new combat system also adds a new sense of strategy to combat rather than brute force or stealth, which were typically the only two options available in previous Assassin’s Creed games.
Oakshield gives his/her review on the Steam page saying:
“This is insanely good. Story. Characters. Setting. Gameplay. They revamped the formula of the AC games. It is still the open world parkour game we know and love, but now it has a twist: It's now more gameplay-focused, instead of being cinematic. it also has many new RPG elements.”
There is something just so fitting about having a game revolved around outlaws that allows you to do just about whatever you want (fitting for an outlaw). Red Dead Redemption 2 spent nearly eight years in the making to release an absolute BEHEMOTH of an open world for the player to experience. With so much to do, it is tough to even know where to start.
For those who have never played a Red Dead Redemption game, the typical gameplay is comparable to that of other open world games like GTA or Skyrim. There is a main storyline to follow that the player could solely focus on, or there is the rest of the open world full of side quests and minor missions that add to the lore of the world without actually impacting the main storyline in a significant way. This gives the best of both worlds. Those who just want to experience the main campaign and Arthur’s adventures can simply focus on the main objective. Those who are playing to get away from life and be transported to another world for a couple of hours can simply run around and experience this 19th century world full of outlaws, gangs, and a ton of horses.
A major aspect to the open world featured in Red Dead Redemption 2 is how teeming with life it is. Nearly everywhere you go, there is wildlife everywhere to be hunted, observed, or even interacted with (pet the puppies!). On top of that, there are a ton of interactable ‘NPCs’ that almost feel real. Their interesting backstories or unique problems almost makes it feel like you are interacting with someone from the 19th century, not just another bot in an online game.
The gunplay within RDR2 is also extremely realistic for the time. Bolt action rifles need to be cocked every single time, and single shot pistols need to be loaded and cocked before firing. This adds an element of realism to a game set all the way back in 1899. Too many games nowadays compromise a realistic gunplay mechanic for a more ‘mechanically pleasing’ system that completely takes out any sense of realism and detracts from the overall vibe of the game. RDR2 thankfully did not make that mistake.
While the outlaw life may not be for everyone, RDR2 certainly deserves the praise it receives. With such an expansive open world for the player to explore, there is endless hours of fun to be had in this outlaw riddled world.
Noob from Goa on Steam writes of RDR2 saying:
“So after 90 hours on this game and completing all the 6 Chapters and 2 Epilogue in the single-player mode it's a *Masterpiece*. Perhaps the greatest video game I have played...a game everyone should play.”
Imagine a game in which Dark Souls took place in Japan in the 16th century. Now stop imagining, because that concept has brilliantly culminated into Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice. With a combat system similar to Dark Souls (with their own unique twists), Sekiro combines the addictively frustrating difficulty of facing massive ‘David versus Goliath’ bosses with a vivid expression of Sengoku Japan nearly 500 years ago.
While the game has some similar traits to the Dark Souls series, it is certainly no replica. Namely, the Shinobi Prosthetic featured on the main character adds a completely new element to the typical combat system. It allows for better sneaking, massive jumps, and even as a weapon itself. The prosthetic adds a completely new element of verticality to the game that Dark Souls has never seen.
This game is perfect for those who love the style of Dark Souls type games, but want to experience a completely new storyline and theme. The inherent beauty of ancient Japanese architecture sets up for an aesthetically pleasing playthrough with countless hours of bloody gameplay.
Cyanscar on Steam writes of Sekiro saying:
“This game is beautiful and the combat is one of the greatest in any game ever played. Going through new game plus for the second ending currently. 10/10 would recommend.”
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the third installment of the Witcher series. As with the other games, the storyline follows Geralt and his journey across the land as a powerful witcher, able to harness inhuman combat abilities as well as magical powers. In this installment, you will follow Geralt’s mission to find his beloved Yennefer.
One of the main appeals of any Witcher game is the dramatic storyline, and the third Witcher game is no different. With well over 100 hours of main storyline to play through, the player will get attached to the characters, experience pain, love, and laughter, and find a satisfying completion after the playthrough. That being said, there is much more to the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt than just the main storyline.
With one of the most massive in-game worlds recorded for a single player game, the player will get to experience many meaningful sidequests whilst exploring the land. In fact, many reviews state that the open-worldness of the game is its shining quality. With so much to do, there is plenty of space to rack up gameplay to fill out the forty dollar price tag.
As with all of the Witcher games, monster slaying is a key aspect to the game. Many monster bounties that can be done on the side reveal interesting lore facts about the land. These quests and choices you have to make even end up having an interesting impact on the main storyline, despite the fact that they are not required for the main story.
With a beautiful in-game world and countless quests to fill out the gameplay, the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has something for everyone. Whether you enjoy slaying countless boss monsters, fighting human enemies as a powerful witcher, or the romantic storyline of Geralt’s quest for love, you will find something to love in this third installment of the Witcher story.
Alwaysmorelmn writes about the Witcher 3 saying:
“One of those games that's so immersive, it will leave you profoundly sad once you've reached the end.”
Triple A games get a lot of flak for the resources they have available and how they get utilized, but sometimes development teams are able to live up to the enormous standards set in place and create absolute masterpieces. Sure, the cost of creating these masterpieces are much higher than the average Steam game, but they allow development teams to push the boundaries around what is possible. Many of the unique features and approaches massive teams put into games later trickle down to smaller development teams and have an overall positive effect on the gaming world. If you are willing to put some money down for a quality video game, it is definitely worth checking out some of these titles!
Image courtesy of microsoft.com
