Summary
Open-world gamestypically feature a heavy dose of combat to keep fans engaged for the long haul. While some combat-heavy sandbox titles focus on real-life weapons and moves, others let players channel mystical powers to enhance the diversity of the powers that they have in their arsenal.
Players love the idea ofspending hours upon hoursexploring these combat systems to see what they can achieve. In some instances, the spells and abilities players use can be upgraded to make them even more potent. The following games do a great job of letting players feel more powerful as they progress.
Given Geralt’s status as a witcher with enhanced mutations, it’s easy to see why he has his fair share of unique abilities and Signs that can be used in combat. These attacks can be improved in the game as Geralt levels up and gains skill points. Players can unlock alternate Sign casts and useful combat abilities that are a ton of fun to whip out. The Next-Gen Update forThe Witcher 3also reworked the progression system to feel like less of a grind, giving players more options than ever before to experiment with in combat.
It was only natural that the sequel toFinal Fantasy 7 Remakewould shift to an open world. Despite the clichéd integration of this sandbox,Rebirthstands out in the eyes of many as a fun game with a ton of charm and heart. The materia system is back, allowing players to level up their precious crystallized make andunlock powerful moves. It can be a bit of a grind, but the combat system is so entertaining that most players won’t mind maxing out the AP of their materia to master various forms of magic.
The Elder Scrollsgames let players improve their abilities by using them constantly. WhileSkyrimdidn’t restrict leveling as long as an attribute became stronger, Oblivion was a bit more stringent in this regard.
Thankfully, the remaster made some crucial changes to make leveling less frustrating for players. Unlike the original game, both Minor and Major Skills contribute to a player’s leveling up, giving the Hero of Kvatch more leeway to improve the spells and abilities that align with their build.
While there aren’t traditional level-ups per se inGhost of Tsushima,Jin does become stronger as he progresses through the world. His strength is dictated by the legend of the Ghost, which slowly increases and gives him skill points that can bolster his moveset. Players are also encouraged to take out captains and gain access to other stances in combat. Players can invest skill points in these stances to give Jin more options in combat against the many enemy types that come his way.
Players love controlling Miles and Peter in what is easily the bestSpider-Mangame ever made. This must-have PlayStation title features light RPG mechanics where players acquire experience, level up, and gain skill points to invest in both Spider-Men. Along with this, players can use certain materials to strengthen the gadgets that these heroes wield in battle. All of this combines to giveMarvel’s Spider-Man 2a healthy sense of progression as players getstronger with each missionand completed side activity.
Gothicis one of the most immersive open-world RPGs ever made. The game is brutal at the beginning, encouraging the Nameless Hero to head to a camp and become a memberbefore they can brave the dangers of the world.
Eventually, players will come across experts where they can invest valuable experience to become stronger. This can range from basic stat improvements to better combat skills that let players finally whip out combos and take on tougher enemies other than the weak Scavengers.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2needed a contrived excuse to make players start from scratch, but this isn’t the worst thing in the world. After all, Warhorse Studios knowshow satisfying its progression curve is, with Henry’s transformation from a weakling into a valiant soldier in the first game being pretty riveting.
This applies to the second game as well, where players must focus on the actions Henry takes so that his abilities can be improved. The game may lack any form of spells, but learning powerful Master Strikes and overpowering numerous opponents at once makes up for the lack of fantasy elements inKingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Yakuza 0takes place during Japan’s bubble economy period, reflecting this by replacing the usual experience points with wads of cash. Players can become loaded in no time, but they’ll soon realize that no amount of money is enough after improving Kiryu and Majima’s abilities.
As players acquire more funds, they canimprove all the styles that Majima and Kiryu can use in the game. The repertoire of moves in their arsenal is also increased, allowing players to whip out some increasingly powerful moves at the drop of a hat.
