Games Where You Start Overpowered — And Enemies Scale to Fight Back

Many video games focus on a sense of advancement. Players typically start out weak and gradually become stronger as they move through the story, explore the game world, and learn how to play. This happens by unlocking new abilities, finding better gear, and mastering the game’s rules – it’s a common and effective way to keep players engaged.

Usually, games start with you being relatively weak. But every now and then, a game flips that idea on its head – you begin incredibly powerful. As you play, the game world reacts to your strength, trying to challenge you or at least make things more difficult. Here are a few examples of games that do just that.

Prototype

Alex Mercer Is The Most Powerful Being In New York From Moment One

From the very beginning of Prototype, it’s clear who dominates New York City. Alex Mercer might not know his identity or the source of his powers, but he instinctively and effortlessly defeats anyone who stands in his way – whether they’re ordinary people, soldiers, or dangerous creatures.

Alex definitely gets stronger throughout the game, gaining abilities like summoning spikes or transforming his arm into a sword. However, he’s already incredibly dangerous from the start thanks to his superhuman strength, speed, and the power to absorb anything he touches, taking on its form and memories. The military occupation of New York is mostly an attempt to contain him, but it ultimately fails.

Carrion

This Creature Was Locked Up For A Reason

The main objective of Carrion is simple: break free. While you’ll develop new skills and grow larger, your ultimate goal is to escape the sprawling research facility you’re contained within. However, the lab’s complex security systems are designed to stop you at every turn.

There’s a good reason you’re being kept contained. We don’t fully understand what you are, but we know you’re incredibly dangerous. Anyone who gets near you – scientists, staff, even armed guards – won’t be able to withstand you for long. You’ll quickly overpower and consume anyone who tries to stop you from escaping.

God Of War (2018)

Kratos Has A Lot Of Years On Him

One of the main inspirations for this list was the original God of War series, especially God of War 2. The game begins with Kratos stripped of his godhood and sent to the Underworld. He’s lost all the abilities he earned in the first game and must reclaim them – plus learn some new ones. While regaining those powers is incredibly satisfying, the initial loss of them is definitely frustrating.

Fortunately, Kratos remains a powerful god when God of War (2018) begins. He’s aged, maybe lost a little speed, and now he’s a father, but he’s still incredibly formidable. The fight with Baldur, a Norse god who can’t feel pain, perfectly demonstrates this. Kratos takes damage, but he gives just as much back. Throughout the game, Kratos doesn’t necessarily gain strength; instead, he becomes more skilled at utilizing his existing power – and his axe – to defeat enemies like trolls, dragons, draugr, and other gods.

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

It’s The Hulk. Being OP Is The Point

Radical Entertainment created some fun, open-world action games in the 2000s where players felt incredibly powerful. While Prototype 2 really perfected the formula, Prototype was the most polished version, and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was where they first tested out many of the ideas.

It’s no surprise that playing as The Hulk means starting the game with incredible power – that’s what makes him, well, The Hulk! In Ultimate Destruction, you can jump enormous distances, throw cars, tanks, and huge chunks of concrete, and, naturally, destroy everything around you. Very little can actually stop The Hulk, though you’ll face opposition from the military, specialized Hulkbusters, and even the Abomination. They’re going to need a lot of help, because a Hulk on a rampage is trouble for anyone in his path.

Just Cause 2

Protagonist Armor The Likes Of Which The World Has Never Seen

Rico Rodriguez, the hero of Just Cause 2, is uniquely powerful. He doesn’t have superhuman strength or regeneration, and he can’t lift incredible weights or absorb enemies. Instead, he’s incredibly skilled at surviving dangerous situations and taking down a dictatorship in over-the-top, impressive ways. Officially, he works as a field operative for a secret agency – essentially, he’s a spy. While he has access to weapons, vehicles, and gadgets, his most effective tool is surprisingly a grappling hook.

Rico Rodriguez defies reality. He can survive falls from planes and effortlessly cling to moving vehicles, escaping unharmed every time. He’s capable of incredible feats, like taking down a helicopter mid-flight and landing back on a car as if it’s nothing. He’s not just an action hero; he’s an unstoppable force. Even as the dangers around him increase, and despite having all his skills from the beginning, nothing can truly hold Rico back.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

All The Doom Slayer Needs In A Shield

It was only a matter of time before the Doom Slayer appeared, but his power reaches new heights in Doom: The Dark Ages. While he was already incredibly strong in Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, he’s even more formidable here. The game begins with him surprisingly enslaved, controlled by Kreed Makyr using a device called the Tether. The Makyr see him as the perfect weapon, and for good reason – he’s virtually unstoppable.

Most Doom games focus on fast-paced shooting, but in The Dark Ages, the Slayer uses a shield as a key weapon. This might seem strange for a Doom game, but the shield is surprisingly effective. It’s not just for blocking attacks—you can use it to counter and punish demons. You can even throw the shield, which has a spinning saw blade, to slice through enemies – think of a very aggressive Captain America! You get the shield early in Chapter 2, letting you defeat almost any demon with melee attacks alongside your usual guns.

Goat Simulator 3

The Goat Isn’t Just OP; It’s A Reality-Warping God

Being ‘overpowered‘ can mean different things in different games – sometimes it’s about incredibly strong abilities, or having the best weapons. But Goat Simulator 3 does things differently. You won’t find weapons, skill upgrades, or even typical superpowers. Instead, you play as an indestructible goat with a long, sticky tongue and a desire to cause chaos, and the game encourages you to do just that.

Similar to games like Just Cause 2, realistic physics aren’t a priority here – it’s becoming a common thing! The goat is incredibly flexible, able to contort into bizarre shapes to cause maximum chaos. You can expect plenty of explosions, shooting, and boss fights, but the real fun comes from the goat’s ability to latch onto and pull anything. It’s a basic idea, but skillful use can create unbelievable destruction. Combined with the goat’s inability to die, you’re not really controlling an animal; you’re playing as a destructive force disguised as one.

Megaton Rainfall

Sure, There’s A Story, But Godlike Powers In VR Are Too Fun To Ignore

Few VR games make you feel as powerfully capable as Megaton Rainfall. You play as a super-powered protector of Earth, tasked with defending against an alien invasion. Though you are invincible, the planet isn’t, so your goal is to minimize destruction while battling the aliens. Of course, it’s just a game, so there’s no real obligation to succeed…

You’re incredibly powerful – possessing super strength and the ability to fly faster than the speed of sound. The entire world is your open playground, from the deepest parts of the ocean to the icy Arctic, and even beyond our planet and into the Milky Way galaxy. Plus, every city in the game can be completely destroyed, so even though your job is to protect them, you have the freedom to demolish them if you choose. You’ll have access to all of this from the very beginning, with even more powers to discover as you play. While Megaton Rainfall is best experienced with VR, you can still play without a headset, though it won’t be quite as immersive.

2026-01-24 14:39