Games That Perfected The Art Of Leveling Up

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I love how most games these days let you level up! It’s just so satisfying to slowly become more powerful and take on bigger challenges. Levels are a great way to actually *see* how much you’re improving, which is a huge part of what keeps me playing.

Video game leveling has become commonplace, and as a result, it often feels less meaningful. Players are craving games where each level feels significant and truly rewarding.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Levels Are Measured And Paced Brilliantly

Western role-playing games focus on quality over quantity when it comes to leveling up, making each upgrade feel meaningful. *Baldur’s Gate 3* is a perfect example of this – players will truly appreciate and look forward to every time they gain a level.

As I level up my character, I’m constantly unlocking new skills and perks that really open up how I approach fights. Honestly, just a level or two can be the difference between getting totally crushed and absolutely dominating, so the game does a good job of keeping things balanced – I never feel *too* overpowered or hopelessly weak during my adventures. It keeps the whole experience magical, you know?

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Experience Is Mostly Attained Via Quests And Helps Geralt Become Just Strong Enough

The Witcher 3 is widely considered one of the best video games of all time, offering players a vast and immersive open-world role-playing experience. While defeating monsters does provide some experience points, the majority of your character’s leveling up comes from completing quests that reward a fixed amount of experience.

To prevent players from becoming too strong, quests don’t reward experience if completed at a much higher level than intended. Plus, *The Witcher 3* offers a lot of customization, so every skill you choose actually makes a difference and helps you grow as a character.

Gothic

Players Invest Experience To Level Up Stats And Skills

Gothic is a fantastic open-world RPG that deserves more attention. It’s notoriously difficult at the beginning – even a small group of enemies can quickly take away all your health.

Players need to gain experience gradually and join a camp as soon as possible. Camps provide trainers who allow players to spend experience points to boost their character’s abilities and become better fighters. This gives them noticeable advantages in battle, like learning new and powerful moves.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

The Freeform Leveling Ensures That Players Can Experiment With Multiple Builds

Skyrim is widely considered one of the best video games ever made. Its expansive open world and role-playing elements create a timeless experience that players can enjoy for countless hours. The game is beloved for its rewarding exploration, engaging quests, and the ability to create a unique and captivating story as the Dragonborn.

Unlike earlier *Elder Scrolls* games, *Skyrim* lets you improve any skill to level up. This means you’re free to create the character you want without being restricted to specific skill choices.

Disco Elysium

Quests And Certain Actions Help Players Gain Skill Points To Enhance Their Capabilities

Disco Elysium is a truly exceptional role-playing game. What makes it stand out is its incredible story and writing – even though it doesn’t have traditional combat, exploring the world, following clues, and improving your character are all deeply satisfying.

Players shape Harry’s fractured personality, helping him become a skilled detective who earns Kim’s respect despite his odd behavior. This all contributes to *Disco Elysium* being remembered as one of the greatest role-playing games ever made, featuring a truly unforgettable main character.

Deus Ex

Leveling Up Stats Feels Very Meaningful

Deus Ex stands out in the action RPG genre for truly letting players define their character through role-playing. You can customize JC Denton’s skills so he might be a poor shooter but incredibly skilled at hacking and opening locks, depending on how you choose to spend your skill points.

Developing JC’s abilities quickly shows noticeable results. It’s really satisfying to see him master a difficult skill like steadying a sniper rifle after practice, and it means players have the freedom to customize his abilities as they progress.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Every Action Improves Henry’s Skills And Make Him More Competent

Because Kingdom Come: Deliverance strives for realism, players starting as a blacksmith’s son will likely feel weak and ineffective. Even a single fight can be a desperate struggle, and the game often throws unexpected ambushes and multiple enemies at you, making things even harder for the character, Henry.

Like in the game *Skyrim*, you get better at skills by actually using them. This lets you unlock perks, which help you survive the harsh medieval world.

System Shock 2

An ARPG With Meaningful Progression

System Shock 2 is a scary and engaging survival horror RPG. Players take on the role of a silent soldier exploring the Von Braun, and their choices during the initial tutorial determine their character’s strengths – affecting skills with both weapons and psychic abilities.

Players can also improve their character’s abilities to get better at the game, and the RPG features let you customize your playstyle however you want. New players might want to focus on increasing strength, while experienced players can explore psychic powers by joining the O.S.A. if they didn’t try them before.

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2025-09-23 10:35