Summary
- NPCs react differently to players based on their achievements & skill levels, offering praise or scorn.
- Advancing in reputation in games like Cyberpunk 2077 or The Elder Scrolls 4 can affect outcomes.
- Completing quests, fighting enemies, and improving reputation gradually influence how NPCs interact with players.
Given the mad, epic, and often nigh-impossible feats that most RPG protagonists are expected to pull off during their adventures, it is somewhat bewildering to find non-playable characters, who demonstrate realistic animations, dialogue, and behavior, utterly oblivious to the greatness of the hero (or antihero) standing before them.
8 Open-World Games With The Most Hostile NPCs
Some open-world games are beautiful, but they are filled with hostile NPCs that might have some players keep their weapons at the ready.
It's nice to be appreciated, whether for saving the world or being the fasted gun-slash-spell-slash-bow slinger in the land. While they may stay quiet in the early stages of the player's zero-to-hero journey, NPCs in these games will eventually call out to players and call out their achievements, status, skills, or notoriety in interesting or amusing ways once they have attained them.
6 Cyberpunk 2077
Making A Name On The Street Is Everything
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Random NPCs will make comments if V has high enough Street Cred and certain missions will offer more options for V to take
Raising Street Cred in Cyberpunk 2077 doesn't just get a raised eyebrow or admiration from pedestrian NPCs. After grinding Street Cred to a high enough level, it can affect the outcomes of quests and even combat encounters. When people know that V is the real deal, they are more willing to put their trust in a mover and shaker with a good reputation and offer a leg up as a result.
Street Cred is improved by pulling off gigs, sick moves, and advancing through the story and Night City's high society. If V is famous enough, vendors will even offer discounts and access to their "back room stuff," or in other words, special gear.
5 Gothic
From The Worm To The Wyvrn Of The Colony
Gothic
- Released
- November 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- While hostile to start, NPCs progressively accept the player character as they advance through skill levels and the story
At the beginning of Gothic, the player is a lowly prisoner with no connections or renown. By the end of their adventure, they will have crossed just about every faction and defeated every enemy (not without great difficulty) and will have become a figure of legend in the prison. Hearing the player character being referred to as "brother" is a hard-won honor.
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When the player is first locked up in prison, certain NPCs have no problem slapping the player character aside if they get in their way. By the end, they will think twice and certain NPCs will even run away when the player draws their weapon, knowing that they don't stand a chance.
4 The Witcher 3
From Reviled And Revered (And Occasionally Still Reviled)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- May 19, 2015
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- CD Projekt Red
WHERE TO PLAY
- Local NPCs will make harsh or kind comments depending on Geralt's actions, loyalties, and monster kills
By the time of The Witcher 3, Geralt of Riveria has already become a figure of legend (despite the mistrust most folk might have for witchers), but that doesn't mean that peasants in the outskirts will necessarily show favor unless they directly benefit from his monster-slaying abilities.
As the player completes quests (with some of The Witcher 3's quest choices being harder than others), they may notice villagers and city folk gossiping about his exploits. Of course, while Geralt can receive praise for his deeds, he can also receive scorn. If he goes against a faction, NPCs will remind him of it when he walks or rides by. If Geralt squeezes his clients for coins, they will remember his greed. If not, they will welcome their hero with open arms.
3 Fallout: New Vegas
The Courier That Changed The Fate Of Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Both random NPCs and major NPCs will react differently depending on the build and story steps the player has made and completed for their courier
Fallout: New Vegas is famous for its branching storylines and reactivity. NPCs react to the player in several ways, from barks in the street commenting on how deep the player is in with a faction, random encounters with thugs who are trying to rob the wrong courier, and even story beats where a major NPC will directly recall all the achievements the player has made thus far.
Meetings with Mr House, Benny, or Caesar can go very differently depending on how much work the player's courier has put in depending on how many quests they have completed or how they completed them. Skipping steps can earn mockery, but even enemy NPCs will begrudgingly acknowledge the player's accolades if they have enough of them.
2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The Smallfolk Always Respect A Knight In Shining Armor
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
- Peasants and lords react differently toward those in different classes, and Henry's station is acknowledged both high and low
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a game known for its striving for historical accuracy, but one bit of unrealism it indulges in is Henry's journey from lowly peasant to a knight of acclaim. As Henry moves through the ranks after performing exceptional deeds, he will begin to hear NPCs respond to him as "sir knight," especially after attaining the shiny sets of armor that make his station more obvious.
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Unlike fantasy games, where ultra-expensive suits of armor were just lying around in chests, Henry has to actually earn them by currying favor with his betters. While less dramatic, doing favors for certain NPCs and factions will garner their affection for Henry, which will also spread to the wider community.
1 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
From Prison Escapee To A Much-Admired Citizen Of The Empire
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Released
- March 20, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- NPCs will comment on the player's skills, attributes, and faction reputation, and after certain quest story steps
Starting out in Oblivion can be rough. The Hero of Kvatch starts out at the bottom, and with no prophecy written about them, must earn respect from people around them. This can be done by accruing skill levels, advancing through guilds, or saving Tamriel from otherworldly threats, all of which require tenacity and dedication.
For accomplishing any of these feats, NPCs will begin to pipe up as the player character passes them by in the street, admiring a strong shield arm, a prestigious member of the Mage's Guild, or thanking their savior for defending Cyrodiil against a Daedric prince. And who could forget everyone's favorite Elder Scrolls punching bag, the adoring fan, once the player becomes the Champion of the Arena?