London is a hugely diverse city with infamous monuments and well-known locations, making it a great choice as a setting for video games. Despite this potential,Londonisn’t quite as popular in gaming when compared to other real-world places. However, there are still some games that make use of the city in an engaging and entertaining way.
With this in mind, here’s a look at six particularly noteworthy open-world games that are set in London, ideal for players searching for a game that offers an opportunity to explore the capital city of the United Kingdom.
To expand the scope of the topic, some games that have partially open-world environments have been included.
Though not one of the best-received games in the infamousGrand Theft Autoseries,Grand Theft Auto: Londonearns a spot on this list thanks to the attention to detail when it comes to its 1960s London setting.Grand Theft Auto: Londonwas originally an expansion for the very firstGrand Theft Autogame, released in 1997. The first expansion—Grand Theft Auto: London 1969—was released in April 1999, while a second expansion,Grand Theft Auto Mission Pack #2: London 1961, came out in July 1999.
Maintaining the top-down style of the originalGTA,GTA Londoncaptures the hippie vibes of London in the 60s while allowing for open-world exploration and missions associated with various crime factions. Players who don’t enjoy the original top-down style of the firstGTAgames will likely not find much to enjoy here, but those willing to give it a try andGTAenthusiasts are sure to have fun with this take on 60s London.
Vampyrisn’t a completely open-world game, but the map can be described as a semi-open world thanks to the exploration that can be done, even if it is more limited than some of the other options on this list. Taking on the role of the recently turned vampire Dr. Jonathan Reid, players navigate through four London districts during the Spanish Flu era (from 1918 to 1920).
The game revolves around the player deciding whether they are going to give in to their vampiric urges and feed from innocents, though the game can be completed without any civilians being harmed. The various neighborhoods spread throughout the four London districts available are well-designed. Though they aren’t as open as some would like, the dark vampire fantasy themes of the game makeVampyrwell worth a try if players are looking for an open-world London game.
Though often described as aGTAclone,The Getawayis very much its own open-world London adventure that can still be enjoyed today. The main difference between the two franchises is thatThe Getawayutilizes licensed vehicles and firearms that the player can use in-game. However, the major feature that makes this one of the bestopen-worldLondon games is free-roaming.
The free roaming inThe Getawayallows the player to drive around London in a cinematic style, thanks to the lack of a map or HUD when driving. This feature is implemented when players are engaging in missions too, as the hazard lights and indicators on their car will direct them rather than via a map. It’s a particularly noteworthy feature for those looking to do some exploring of the capital city in a game, as London has been excellently recreated.
Zombiwas originally released for the unsuccessful Wii U console with the nameZombiU, but it was surprisingly a pretty good game in itself (if the janky WiiU controls are taken out of the question). London inZombiisn’t a huge or sprawling city, but it does offer some fun exploration of familiar places, such as Buckingham Palace and the various tube stations in the underground system. Exploration is also highly encouraged, with new routes back to the safe house, new weapons, and other items unlocking as players come across them while scavenging.
Zombiis a game that received negative attention for its control system, heavily making use of the clunky Wii U GamePad. However, if players look past this and can grab a version of the game on another platform, they are sure to find an enjoyable, thrilling, and often frightening open-world, London-based game.
One of the best open-world London games out there isWatch Dogs: Legion,which puts the player in the middle of a dystopian and futuristic take on the UK’s capital city. The game may have scored mixed reviews on release, but it still holds a hefty dose of potential.
There is a lot of opportunity for exploration inLegion, especially if players decide to engage in the various side missions and activities available alongside the main campaign. Although this vision of London is more fictional than realistic, it’s still cool to see so many familiar locations recreated in the dystopian London ofWatch Dogs: Legion.
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicateis arguably the best open-world game set in London, as well as one of the best mainline installments in theAssassin’s Creedseries. InSyndicate, players can switch between twin assassins, Jacob and Evie Frye, as they bring the fight to the Templars, who have taken complete control of London.
Syndicateis set in Victorian England and players will encounter various historical British figures, such as Alexander Graham Bell, Florence Nightingale, and even Queen Victoria. There are also all sorts of exploration possibilities, even if it is in London from times past rather than the present day. The links to British history along with the hugely impressive and detailed London map makeAssassin’s Creed: Syndicatethe best open-world game set in London.
