Open-World Games Where Technology Changes As You Play

Games feature technological upgrades throughout their campaigns. This could mean improvements to the player character, their skills, or their gadgets and weapons. Sometimes, players will begin with primitive equipment and end up with advanced technology, making their character stronger, introducing new gameplay mechanics, or giving the player access to new areas in order to offer a sense of progression. This might mean enemies get stronger and the challenge level rises too.

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By  Will Buckley

Though not open-world, the Civilization series takes fans on a ride through history. As technology evolves, so does the gameplay. Similarly, sometimes in-game technology may also improve as a result of the story. There may even be time skips or time travel involved. The vast and immersive aspect of open world games is a good way to show changing technology. Here are some standout open-world titles that represent changing technology as players progress through the game.

7 Horizon Zero Dawn

Tribes Meet Technology

Horizon Zero Dawn series puts players in a post-apocalyptic open world where humanity's survivors have lost the ways of the past. This has led them to regress to primitive cultures and traditions, and form tribes that are at odds with each other.

The main character, Aloy, is an outcast in her tribe, and sets off on a quest to rediscover those lost ways. Initially armed with primitive equipment such as a spear, bow, and even some rocks to distract enemies, she finds new technological upgrades from the pre-apocalyptic world, such as an AR device called a Focus. These upgrades allow her to improve her chances of survival in the fight against the robotic animals that have taken over the world, even unlocking the ability to control and ride some of these machines.

6 Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Spartans Collide With An Advanced Ancient Civilization

The Assassin’s Creed series has always blended ancient history with advanced sci-fi elements, but Odyssey’s huge open world takes this one step further. Set in 431 BCE, during the Peloponnesian War, the lead Assassin, Alexios or Kassandra (depending on whom the player chooses), will travel across Greece, where they discover advanced technology via ancient relics.

These ancient relics were created by an advanced race known as the Isu, and cause the gameplay to progress from the swords and shields expected of Spartans to enhanced, futuristic combat skills.

5 Cyberpunk 2077

New Abilities In The Form Of Body Modifications

The entire theme of Cyberpunk 2077 is the use of technological advancements, often in the form of integrated enhancements to the human body, which are installed into characters’ bodies via a type of surgeon known as a “Ripperdoc”. This implanted technology enables the player character, as well as both supporting characters and enemies alike, to run faster, jump higher (including double jumps), deal more damage, and take more damage, as well as improve their hacking skills (another key mechanic of the game).

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With evolving technology playing such a key part in both the gameplay and the overall narrative, players will have to make many choices in order to survive the dystopia of Night City.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Link To The Future

Though The Legend of Zelda series has often featured time travel in one way or another, it has always kept to its medieval fantasy setting. Breath of the Wild’s opening has Link awakening in a chamber, having been put to sleep for 100 years after becoming gravely injured during the Calamity War. While this 100-year time skip could have opened up the opportunity for a futuristic world to explore, Link instead awakens to find his world has not advanced much, and is instead in ruin, and still feeling the effects of the war.

Though he starts out in his underwear and is only armed with a stick, Link also has access to the Sheikah Slate, an advanced Nintendo Switch-like device that allows players to teleport and unlock shrines. It’s within these shrines — and other corners of the huge world of Hyrule — that players discover advanced ancient technology and weapons that improve Link’s chances of survival throughout the course of the game.

3 Palworld

Open-World Survival Meets Monsters With Guns

As an open-world survival game, Palworld is probably one of the best recent examples of technology changing as gamers play. Blending elements from games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, ARK: Survival Evolved, and most controversially, Pokemon, the player character starts out washed up on a beach in nothing but a loincloth. However, with a little help from friends in the form of captured monsters called Pals, players will soon unlock advanced weapons, armor, gadgets, and more.

By utilizing both crafting mechanics and the unique abilities of captured Pals, players will graduate from primitive tools to futuristic items, including guns and other gadgets, for their Pals to use.

2 ARK: Survival Evolved

From Prehistoric To Futuristic

Before Palworld, there was 2017's ARK: Survival Evolved, which features a more realistic art style compared to Palworld’s cartoonish creatures. After having some fun with the character creation, ARK drops players onto an island filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

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As the game progresses, technology evolves, and with a bit of time spent crafting, players will eventually be able to create hi-tech armor and advanced weapons such as assault rifles and tranquilizing ammo in order to tame and ride some of these dinos.

1 Far Cry Primal

Putting The Pre(historic) Into Prequel

The Far Cry series has taken players to many exotic locations, and Primal may be one of the most interesting examples. Set during the Stone Age, and like many games that use a prehistoric setting, Far Cry Primal emphasizes the development of early technology and made the brave choice to remove many of the more modern features that players had grown accustomed to.

In a complete switch up from the guns and vehicles featured in other Far Cry games, players start off with clubs and spears, going on to craft more advanced (yet still primitive) weapons that will make their character more lethal. Though the technological evolution may be subtle compared to other titles, this game reflects the slow but steady advancement that humans made during this era. There are even references to gadgets used in other games in the series, such as a primitive version of the wingsuit.