Leveling up has become common in video games that want to let players enjoy a rewarding progression loop. The idea of slowly getting stronger and dealing with more imposing threats is something that fans love, and levels ensure that players can tangibly track their progression.
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Skyrim will always be a beloved open-world RPG, but other games such as The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition have improved on certain aspects.
That being said, leveling up has become so popular in video games that they've slowly lost their meaning. This is why players will love video games where every level means something and feels very rewarding to achieve every single time.
Baldur's Gate 3
Levels Are Measured And Paced Brilliantly
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Western RPGs ensure that their levels aren't plentiful and provide tangible upgrades. Baldur's Gate 3 personifies this in spades, ensuring that players will covet every level up they get.
With every level, classes can unlock numerous abilities and bonuses that make it easier to try out new combat strategies. The difference of a level or two is what separates humiliating losses from dominant victories, which is why the game is paced in such a manner that players are never too strong or weak throughout a magical experience.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Experience Is Mostly Attained Via Quests And Helps Geralt Become Just Strong Enough
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest video games ever made, which lets players enjoy an open-world RPG for the ages. While killing monsters does lead to a minor XP gain, players will mostly gain levels from quests that give them a set amount of experience.
However, players who complete quests at a significantly higher level than recommended will earn nothing, ensuring that they can't get too overpowered for the challenges that come their way. The Witcher 3's build depth ensures that every skill point feels meaningful to invest in and contributes to the player's overall strength.
Gothic
Players Invest Experience To Level Up Stats And Skills
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Gothic is one of the best open-world RPGs that more people need to get their hands on. The game is brutally punishing at the start, with a simple gang of Scavengers being able to decimate a player's health bar in no time.
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They must slowly farm experience and join a camp as quickly as they can. This gives them access to camp trainers, where players invest their experience points to improve their stats or enhance their combat aptitude, letting players enjoy tangible bonuses as their characters boast different movesets in battle that are pretty impactful.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
The Freeform Leveling Ensures That Players Can Experiment With Multiple Builds
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Skyrim is one of the greatest video games of all time, carving its legacy as an open-world RPG for the ages that fans would never get bored with. Players love how rewarding it feels to explore the open world and complete quests, letting them form a story for their version of the Dragonborn that is as riveting as can be.
Unlike previous Elder Scrolls entries, Skyrim didn't force players to choose five Major and Minor skills to specialize in. Instead, every skill improvement counts towards a level up, ensuring that players can pursue whatever build they desire without feeling like they're limited in any capacity.
Disco Elysium
Quests And Certain Actions Help Players Gain Skill Points To Enhance Their Capabilities
Disco Elysium
- Released
- October 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Disco Elysium is one of the best CRPGs players can get their hands on. Despite lacking any combat, the incredible writing and story-driven approach ensure that pursuing every lead in this CRPG and leveling up feels rewarding.
Players can invest in Harry's multiple personalities, ensuring that he becomes a competent detective who impresses Kim despite his eccentricities. All of this ensures that Disco Elysium will leave its mark as a CRPG for the ages with one of the greatest protagonists in gaming history.
Deus Ex
Leveling Up Stats Feels Very Meaningful
Deus Ex
- Released
- June 23, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS, Stealth
Deus Ex is the only game that emphasizes role-playing the most as a part of the action RPG genre. Depending on where players invest their skill points, JC Denton can be incompetent at firing weapons but a master of hacking & lockpicking.
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Training skills leads to improvements that can be felt almost instantly. Seeing JC holding a sniper steady after struggling to aim for hours is incredibly rewarding and ensures that players can pursue whatever build they desire as they level up this iconic agent's skills.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Every Action Improves Henry's Skills And Make Him More Competent
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
- Released
- February 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Given its emphasis on realism, it's easy to see why players who take on the role of a blacksmith's son will feel so underpowered and useless at the start of Kingdom Come: Deliverance. A single fight will leave them clinging to dear life, and that's to say nothing of the game's insistence on ambushing players and forcing Henry into encounters against multiple enemies.
In a similar vein to Skyrim, players level up skills by using them. This also allows them to use perks, further improving their chances of surviving in brutal Medieval times.
System Shock 2
An ARPG With Meaningful Progression
System Shock 2
- Released
- August 11, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
System Shock 2 is a chilling and captivating survival horror RPG where players explore the Von Braun as a nameless soldier. Depending on the immersive and meaningful choices they make in the tutorial, they start with varying stats that govern their expertise over everything from weapons to Psi powers.
Along with this, players can upgrade other stats to help them become more competent at the game, with the meaningful RPG elements ensuring that players can pursue whatever build they wish. Going for pure strength is recommended for beginners, while experts can join the O.S.A. To check out the Psi powers they ignored the first time around.
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