The Best Open-World RPGs For Deep Progression

Open-world RPGs come in all shapes and sizes, each with its own unique strengths. A key feature for many players is the ability to improve their character and equipment over time. Most open-world RPGs include this, but some games really focus on it, offering incredibly detailed options for customizing your character and finding great loot.

I love games that don’t just end when the story does! For me, the real fun begins after the credits roll – trying out different character builds, mixing and matching weapons and skills, and just pushing things to the absolute limit to see how powerful I can become. It’s awesome trying to break the game with crazy damage or become totally unkillable. So, I’ve put together a list of some of the best open-world RPGs that really let you sink your teeth into deep character progression – games that are seriously addictive if you enjoy that kind of thing!

6. Fallout: New Vegas

Embrace The Old Ways

While newer Fallout games like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 have streamlined their role-playing aspects, Fallout: New Vegas remains the most recent game to fully utilize the classic S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system. This allows players to create incredibly detailed and adaptable characters and experience meaningful progression. Though it often plays like a first-person shooter where aiming and weapons are important, New Vegas truly emphasizes RPG elements; almost every quest offers multiple paths and outcomes based on your character’s skills and choices.

In Fallout: New Vegas, your character’s skills truly matter. Whether you create a strong fighter, a clever hacker, a brilliant scientist, a charismatic negotiator, or a unique mix of everything, the game adapts. You can enjoy playing as a close-combat specialist, a long-range sniper, or even someone who avoids fighting altogether. The detailed character progression and branching storylines make the game highly replayable, letting you experience different factions, complete missed quests, and approach challenges in new ways with each playthrough.

5. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Two Characters, Countless Progression Paths

Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a remarkably flexible and engaging progression system. It successfully combines popular elements from previous games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – such as randomized loot with visual flair – and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s extensive skill trees and in-depth gear upgrades. The game also introduces fresh ideas, notably allowing players to experience the game through two unique characters, Naoe and Yasuke, each with their own weapons, skills, and abilities. Initially, some were skeptical about the dual shinobi and samurai gameplay, but the implementation has been well-received, with many players finding it difficult to choose a favorite between the two characters after playing as both.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, you have a lot of freedom in how you play. You can specialize each character with a specific weapon, or become a master of many. You can focus on ranged attacks, rely on gadgets, play stealthily like a ninja, or charge into battles and destroy fortresses with brute force. The game also has a flexible loot system where you can apply perks to multiple weapons, upgrade your gear with resources, and find incredibly powerful legendary items. Plus, there’s a surprisingly deep skill system that lets you fine-tune your character’s abilities long after the main story is finished.

4. Elden Ring

As Massive In Scope As It Is Deep In Progression Systems

Elden Ring is widely considered a masterpiece of open-world game design. As the most ambitious game from creator Hidetaka Miyazaki, it offers a huge world to explore and incredibly deep gameplay. Like other games from his studio, it features a flexible character progression system, a complex magic system, and an astounding variety of weapons, armor, spells, and abilities. Players can discover new equipment while exploring, earn it through challenging battles, or even craft powerful, unique weapons. Plus, every weapon can be customized in multiple ways. Magic in Elden Ring is another incredibly versatile system; though it takes time to learn, it allows players to create unbelievably powerful characters capable of easily defeating bosses.

Players are drawn back to Elden Ring not just for its beautiful world and diverse enemies, but because of the incredible range of ways you can approach combat. Many enjoy creating unique character builds for each playthrough. It’s common for fans to have a large number of powerful characters, highlighting the game’s variety and the enjoyment of experimenting with different playstyles every time they explore the Lands Between.

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3. Rise Of The Ronin

The Best Of Two Worlds

While Team Ninja’s Nioh 3 offers excellent character customization and progression, Rise of the Ronin is a fantastic option, especially since it features open zones rather than a completely open world. Though Rise of the Ronin, set in feudal Japan, isn’t as visually refined as Ghost of Tsushima or Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it surpasses them with its deep and rewarding character progression. The combat is a real highlight, and the ability to customize your fighting style is a major reason to play.

Compared to the Nioh games, Rise of the Ronin feels more rooted in history, but it’s a bit simpler when it comes to character progression and combat. This can be good for players new to the genre. Still, the game offers a lot to explore, with many different weapon types – each taking significant time to fully learn – and extensive skill trees, stats, and abilities. Like Nioh, you’ll find randomized loot to help customize your playstyle. Plus, Rise of the Ronin features a strong companion system similar to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, where you build relationships with over a dozen potential allies.

2. Diablo 4

There’s Still Nothing Quite Like This Series

Throughout its 25 years, the Diablo series has evolved significantly, with the latest installment, Diablo 4, featuring a vast open world and incredibly deep character progression. While some players still prefer the leveling system of Diablo 2, Diablo 4 offers a uniquely engaging experience, providing countless hours of gameplay and encouraging players to fully explore and customize their chosen classes.

Diablo 4 is designed as a live-service game, meaning it regularly resets with new seasons and encourages players to start fresh characters – either by experimenting with different character builds or trying out a new class. While building characters isn’t quite as detailed as in Path of Exile, Diablo 4 makes up for it with its robust item system and ways to subtly improve gear, like using glyphs, tempering, and masterworks. The developers also frequently update the game’s core systems, responding to player feedback to create enjoyable combat and progression.

1. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Approachable, Yet Perfectly Deep

Even now, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 remains one of the top open-world shooter-looters. It’s easy for new players to pick up and enjoy, but also offers a deep and complex experience for those who want it. You can play through the main part of The Division 2 without needing to worry too much about complex character builds or gear. But if you get hooked, the game really shines with detailed character customization and gear optimization – letting dedicated players spend hours perfecting their builds instead of just fighting.

Building on the foundation of the original, The Division 2 offers deep and satisfying ways to progress and create incredibly powerful characters. The game has continued to get better over time, with six unique specializations, each featuring signature weapons and skills. Players can find tons of randomized loot with special perks and set bonuses, and hunt for extremely rare exotic items. You can even fine-tune almost every detail of your gear, though it can be expensive! All of this ensures that The Division 2 offers hundreds of hours of gameplay, constantly challenging players to maximize their combat abilities.

2026-02-16 20:05