Best Open-World Games To Play If You Love Experimenting With Builds

Open world titles can offer an unprecedented level of nuance and design, for players willing to go the extra mile and truly immerse themselves in the setting. While light and casual play can be incredibly enjoyable, getting an intimate understanding of the game's mechanics and functions can lead to incredible immersion.

One way that mastering a game's mechanics leads to a greater level of immersion is through the understanding of how builds work. The precise metrics affecting each stat and how they all come together can be just as gratifying to sort through as any gameplay loop, or any graphical fidelity, offered by an open world title. For players wanting their open worlds to be a bit more build centric, here are some games to try.

5 V Rising

A Vampiric Blend Of Steel And Spells

V Rising has skyrocketed to popularity recently, with players celebrating the incredible mix of fast-paced combat and the grim, Gothic setting that allows players to fulfill their vampiric dreams to the fullest. The PvP focus of the game comes through its online connectivity, as at any given moment, players will be sharing the world with other vampires who are similarly hungry and looking for ways to expand their influence. There is also a very strong PvE element for players looking to display their prowess and take down hordes of enemies.

V Rising has an incredible array of build options thanks to the plethora of magic schools open to the player and no shortage of weapon types that synergize with these schools to make for an incredibly versatile gameplay experience. These schools and weapons are also all incredibly well-balanced, and with enough time to figure out how the game functions, almost any build can be viable for both PvP and PvE in V Rising.

4 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

Spellcraft and Weapon Types Make For A Powerful Mix

Part of the unprecedented level of freedom that has made The Elder Scrolls such a popular series to this day is the freedom in creating and compiling character builds to help take on the various dangers of Tamriel. While Skyrim remains the most popular of the series, it has to be said that the fifth entry in this series did come with a few drawbacks in terms of character builds. There is no better example of this than when running through Skyrim's predecessor, Oblivion, and seeing the host of builds players are able to experiment with.

Engaging in the Mage's Guild to get the most out of this title is one of Oblivion's unwritten rules, as it grants access to the spell crafting table, but beyond this, there are a number of things that make builds in this game so versatile. Unlike in Skyrim, players don't need a free hand to cast spells, and so war-mages can wield shields, weapons, and cast spells. Diversifying a build with the selection of major skills ensures that no two characters will ever play the same in Oblivion.

3 Cyberpunk 2077

Night CIty Allows Incredible Experimentation With Builds

Exploring Night City has been one of the most fascinating and fulfilling experiences in open world gaming, period. While getting off to a rocky start, Cyberpunk 2077 has bloomed like a holographic Arasaka cherry blossom into one of the deepest open world RPGs to be released by an AAA studio. The slick and the grimy parts of Night City come together like some beautiful chrome patchwork, and it's here that players can experiment with a great degree of build flexibility.

Utilizing the cybernetic implants V can purchase, players can turn themselves into walking artillery guns, mantis-blade wielding assassins, lethal tech wizards, or anything else that makes use of the available tools in Night City.

2 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

This Massive CRPG Has Incredible Build Variety

This seafaring choices-matter CRPG is among one of the deepest and best titles in the market today. The hype for Obsidian's upcoming Avowed cannot be understated, and with fans eager to jump back into an Obsidian RPG, the Pillars of Eternity series, it needs to be said, is one of the most satisfying games available. Part of what makes this title so interesting is the freedom to experiment with builds that this open world setting offers.

There are multiple classes that can be assigned to the player and their companions, and a deeply complex set of specialist abilities for players who focus on any one path. It's a satisfying, complex but easy to master system for RPG aficionados to sink their teeth into.

1 Elden Ring

Almost Every Weapon Can Be Attuned To A Playstyle

Elden Ring, in typical Dark Souls fashion, offers a truly staggering amount of builds for the player to tweak and enjoy. Almost every weapon in the game can find its place in a particular collection of character stats and philosophies, especially in PvP, where the expanding meta still has room for more unique builds to take over.

Characters focusing on spells, miracles, debuffs, raw weapon output, or even themes such as dragon worship or necromancy can find a satisfying, modular build experience that will take them far in this masterfully created open world.

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By  Will Buckley