Summary
- Open-world games like The Witcher 3 allow players to upgrade spells and abilities for more powerful combat.
- Games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered offer players ways to enhance magical abilities.
- Titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Yakuza 0 allow players to unlock and invest in combat stances and attacks for varied skills.
Open-world games typically 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 of spending hours upon hours exploring 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.
Best Open-World Games With Complex Decision-Making
Making important, complex decisions in open-world games can often be a lot of fun. These are some of the games that do it the best.
8 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt Has A Litany Of Attacks And Spells To Improve
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
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 for The Witcher 3 also reworked the progression system to feel like less of a grind, giving players more options than ever before to experiment with in combat.
7 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Using Materia And Improving Its Levels Never Gets Old
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
It was only natural that the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake would shift to an open world. Despite the clichéd integration of this sandbox, Rebirth stands 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 and unlock 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.
6 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Players Can Improve Their Spells And Make Their Attacks More Potent
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Released
- April 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
The Elder Scrolls games let players improve their abilities by using them constantly. While Skyrim didn't restrict leveling as long as an attribute became stronger, Oblivion was a bit more stringent in this regard.
8 Hardest Open-World Games, Ranked
These open-world games don't hold players' hands, but triumphing over their challenges can be immensely satisfying.
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.
5 Ghost Of Tsushima
As Jin's Legend Expands, He Can Unlock And Improve Stances
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
While there aren't traditional level-ups per se in Ghost 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.
4 Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Both Miles And Peter Can Invest Points In Their Abilities
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
Players love controlling Miles and Peter in what is easily the best Spider-Man game 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 give Marvel's Spider-Man 2 a healthy sense of progression as players get stronger with each mission and completed side activity.
3 Gothic
Find Specialists And Invest Experience To Improve Abilities
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Gothic is 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 member before they can brave the dangers of the world.
8 Best Open-World Games Where You Play As An Animal
These charming open-world video games give players the unique opportunity to explore their open worlds as an animal.
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.
2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Henry Must Perform Certain Actions To Improve Them
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 needed a contrived excuse to make players start from scratch, but this isn't the worst thing in the world. After all, Warhorse Studios knows how 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 in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
1 Yakuza 0
Invest In Attacks To Make Them Stronger And More Varied
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
Yakuza 0 takes 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 can improve 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.
7 Best Open-World Maps In Singleplayer Games, Ranked
It's no easy task to design an amazing, immersive open-world map, but these singleplayer games have done a fine job of it.