Man, let's be real for a sec – Ubisoft basically wrote the bible for modern open-world games. Towers? Map markers? Gear grinds? We've all climbed those virtual ladders for years. But here's the kicker: while Ubisoft invented the recipe, other chefs are now cooking tastier dishes. Especially after playing Assassin's Creed Shadows – decent, sure, but still kinda... paint-by-numbers, y'know? So grab your controller, 'cause I'm counting down seven games that took Ubisoft's blueprint and absolutely ran with it.
7️⃣ Hogwarts Legacy
It's Wingardium Levio-sa 😉
Look, I’ll level with ya – this sits at number seven 'cause it’s barely edging out AC Shadows. Same ol' gear treadmill, same checklist vibes. BUT! The magic (pun intended) happens in:
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✨ Fan Service Galore: Exploring Hogwarts feels like coming home for Potterheads
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🧩 Bolder Gameplay: Puzzles and spell combos actually require brain cells
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⏳ Delayed Grind: Map doesn’t drown you in chores until 20+ hours in
Yeah, both games fizzle out after the honeymoon phase. But soaring on a Hippogriff? That beats climbing yet another tower.
6️⃣ Dying Light
Goodnight, Good Luck 💀
Zombies + parkour? Sign me up! This gem nails what AC Shadows attempts:
| Feature | Dying Light | AC Shadows |
|---|---|---|
| Parkour | Buttery-smooth | Clunky automation |
| World Design | Vertical & varied | Pretty but flat |
| Core Hook | THRILLING day/night cycle | Stealth takedowns #473 |
That heart-pounding panic when the sun dips? Chef’s kiss. Crafting and combat? Miles ahead. Story’s a mess in both – but at least here, the gameplay’s the star.
5️⃣ Days Gone
The Oregon Trail... with Zombies 🏍️💨
Okay, Deacon St. John’s a total lemon as a protagonist. And the story? Oof. BUT! Where it shines:
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🧟 Horde Physics: Fighting 500 freakers feels like a Michael Bay scene – chaotic genius!
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🔧 Survival Mechanics: Scavenging fuel and ammo adds real tension
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🗺️ Activities That Matter: Clearing nests changes the world, not just fills a progress bar
It’s the anti-Ubisoft: janky but ambitious. And honestly? More memorable than Shadows' polished predictability.
4️⃣ Marvel's Spider-Man 2
NYC's Finest 🕷️
Don’t @ me – this is a Ubisoft formula game. Towers? Map icons? Check. But Insomniac’s wizardry makes it sing:
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🕸️ Traversal Heaven: Web-swinging > any horse or hidden blade
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🥊 Arkham-Style Combat: Fluid, flashy, and fiercely satisfying
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❤️ Heartfelt Story: Makes you care about Peter and Miles
AC Shadows wishes it had this much soul. Swinging through Manhattan? Pure joy.
3️⃣ Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Lord of the Creeds ⚔️
I joke that this is my favorite Assassin’s Creed game – but it’s low-key true! It takes the Ubi blueprint and drops a mic with:
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🤯 The Nemesis System: Orcs remember you! They evolve! Still unmatched in 2025.
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🔮 Wraith Powers: Mixing stealth and supernatural combat
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🏔️ Tolkien’s World: More atmospheric than Feudal Japan
Patents killed this innovation’s spread (sigh), but it schooled Ubi on dynamic storytelling.
2️⃣ Horizon Zero Dawn
A New Kind of Dino Crisis 🤖🦖
Robotic dinosaurs. Tribal futurism. Aloy’s sass. Horizon took "open-world fatigue" and nuked it from orbit:
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🏹 Archery Combat: Hitting weak points on a Thunderjaw? Heaven.
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🌍 World-Building: Unraveling the apocalypse is peak sci-fi
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👑 Aloy: A heroine who outshines every Assassin since Ezio
Shadows has better parkour, sure. But Horizon? It’s got soul.
1️⃣ Ghost of Tsushima
Every Original Has a Cheap Copy 🍃
Let’s not tiptoe: AC Shadows wants so badly to be this game. But Ghost? It’s masterclass:
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⚔️ Progression Freedom: No level-gating! Skill > stats
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🎋 Activities with Depth: Haikus, duels, and fox dens > "clear camp #42"
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🖼️ Visual Poetry: Every frame’s a painting (sorry, Shadows)
People Also Ask:
❓ "Why do devs still copy Ubisoft's formula?"
Because it works! But the best games (cough Ghost cough) evolve it.
❓ "Is AC Shadows worth playing?"
Sure – it’s polished! But it’s like eating store-brand cereal after tasting Froot Loops.
My Hot Take? 🔮
By 2027, AI-generated Nemesis systems will make Ubi’s worlds feel alive finally. Imagine orcs or templars with ChatGPT-level personalities! Until then? We’ve got these seven gems – and honestly? They’ve already raised the bar.
What’s your top Ubisoft-style game? Hit me up 👇