Summary
The vast majority ofopen-world gamesthat players can get their hands on feature a fun progression system that satisfies those who want to become as powerful as possible in these games. The simplest way to ensure this is by integrating a leveling system that provides palpable rewards for everything the player does.
While these leveling systems may not seem all that complex at times, some open-world games do a great job of balancing the player’s growth to ensure that they can become stronger to tackle any threat, develop their character however they want, and take out tough enemies in style, while also never feeling like they’ve grown too strong for the task at hand.
The progressioninThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntis measured immaculately to ensure that players aren’t too under or over-leveled to deal with any challenge after a point. Quests give the usual amount of experience until players reach a certain level, after which Geralt will get a paltry amount of experience for any work below his current level.
Players who find this system somewhat disappointing will love how the DLC handles experience gain, either lowering it or increasing it based on the difference between the recommended level of a quest and Geralt’s level. Either way,The Witcher 3ensures that players can feel Geralt getting stronger with a great leveling system that doesn’t cause an imbalance in the game.
Gothichas one of the most immersive leveling systems inan open-world RPG. At the start of the game, the player has no combat skills to speak of and can potentially die if two of the weakest enemies in the game gang up on them.
However, after reaching a camp and speaking to a master, players can increase their stats and learn combat tips that can help them tackle tougher enemies more effectively. This leads to a great leveling system where the Nameless Hero becomes competent enough to take out the game’s strongest enemies without breaking a sweat.
Most people would argue thatBreath of the Wildhas no leveling system to speak of, but things are more complicated than that. Instead of outright levels and experience,Breath of the Wildand its sequel havea hidden points systemthat gauges how strong Link is.
Based on the enemies Link kills, his armor upgrades, and the bonuses to his health & stamina, the World Level increases with every point accumulated. This ensures that Link has access to great equipment that can help him deal with the high-level enemies he is bound to encounter during his journey, while also ensuring that he never grows too strong for the enemies scattered around the game world.
FromSoftware’s action RPG template was a perfect fit for the open-world genre, a sentiment proven by the successful launch ofElden Ring.At a glance, it may seem like a simple stat-increasing leveling system, but there’smore toElden Ring’s progressionthan meets the eye.
Based on the build that players want to pursue, some stats need to be prioritized over others. With each level, the Tarnished also becomes hardier, making it all the more satisfying when players manage to hold on to a bunch of Runes which they can invest after finding a Site of Grace.
Fallout: New Vegas’stellar open-world designand fun character progression ensure that role-playing fanatics will have a blast with this title. Each level-up feels meaningful as players develop the Courier in whatever manner they see fit.
Players should be mindful about investing stats, especially if they use mods that balance the game’s leveling system. The Courier can’t master everything, and players must be wary of the build they want to pursue if they don’t want to hit the level cap moments before attaining perfection in a particular skill.
Yakuza 0is one of the most enjoyable open-world action games players can get their hands on. Instead of the regular experience mechanic present in most games in the series, this title uses its unique setting to help the game’s progression systems stand out.
Everything inYakuza 0is governed by money, given how this title takes place during Japan’s bubble era. Players must invest in themselves using cash to increase Kiryu and Majima’s skills, helping them acquire new abilities to flatten any foe standing in their way.
No one expected the blend of anisometric open world with zombiesand the gameplay loop ofThe Simsto be a winning combination, but that’s precisely what makesProject Zomboidso special. Survival is a chore every single day, and players must ensure that they level up the appropriate skills to ensure that they can tackle the undead.
Over time, players will figure out the best ways to increase their experience in a particular skill, slowly getting better before they eventually become masters of that particular ability. This is a simple yet satisfying way to level up, even if this means that players will feel a palpable sense of loss when a survivor who fought so hard to survive is eventually taken out by zombies.
While it’s true thatSkyrimperfected theElder Scrollsseries' level scaling and made leveling up more painless than ever before, players who want to play a deeper role-playing game where their build matters should make it a point tocheck outMorrowind. One should have a clear idea of their character’s build early on and choose appropriate Major and Minor Skills if they want to survive in this cutthroat world.
After players level up these chosen stats, they must go to sleep to enjoy the benefit of a level-up, helping the Nerevarine become stronger in a natural manner. It’s a classic way to level up and helpsMorrowindstand out as one of the best games in the series.
