RPGs With Customizable Companions

RPGs With Customizable Companions

Key Takeaways

  • Neverwinter Nights 2 allows full customization of companions’ armor, skills, classes, and storylines.
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic lets players change companion armor and storylines, impacting their behavior.
  • The Outer Worlds offers complete companion armor and abilities customization to reflect player preferences.

As a seasoned RPG player with countless hours spent customizing my virtual squads, I must say that Baldur’s Gate 3 takes the cake when it comes to companion customization. With its extensive options for armor sets, camp clothes, abilities, classes, and even dialogue choices, Larian Studios has truly outdone themselves in this department.


In any renowned role-playing game series, companions play a crucial role. These characters, ranging from a quirky and endearing vampire to a witch who can transform at will and hails from untamed wilderness, are the ones that players develop deep connections with, even during moments when they find themselves stuck in doorways.

Here are some games where you can extensively personalize your game companions, catering either to those who want to optimize their abilities or simply give them a stylish makeover.

8 Neverwinter Nights 2

A Ridiculously Underrated Gem With Fun Character Customization Options

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Skills
  • Classes
  • Storylines

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but feel disappointed that the Neverwinter Nights series appears to have been left untouched. It seems like every new day brings another ambitious Dungeons & Dragons game into the spotlight, making me yearn for more adventures in Faerûn.

In the realm of role-playing games (RPGs), Neverwinter Nights 2 stands as a highly recommended title. Not only does it offer a wealth of customizable game systems that cater to players’ preferences, but its narrative is also rich and engaging, with the companions playing a significant role in the gameplay experience. Unlike the first installment, these companions are not just along for the ride; they can be customized extensively, allowing players to adjust their armor, abilities, skills, specializations, and even their storylines.

7 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Change The Behavior And Story Of Companions

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Storylines
  • Combat Behavior

In layman’s terms, for those well-versed in the Star Wars universe, Knights of the Old Republic stands out due to its charming and intricately developed characters that join the recently revived main character on their journey.

In this game, you can equip your allies with any armor you personally possess. While their visual aspect and overall playing style are predetermined, they play a significant role in shaping the storyline. Additionally, during each ally’s side missions, you will encounter numerous choices that directly influence their behavior and the conclusions of their individual narratives.

6 The Outer Worlds

Give Companions The Spacer’s Choice

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Abilities
  • Storylines

In Obsidian’s role-playing game, you won’t find a lack of personalization options for both the player and their allies. With an onboard mirror, known as The Unreliable, players can adjust their skills and attributes, just as easily as they can modify those of their companions.

In my gaming world, diving into the cosmos of The Outer Worlds remains a thrilling journey for sci-fi enthusiasts craving a dash of quirkiness. What sets it apart is the freedom to tailor each companion’s armor and skills according to my preferences, ensuring that my spacefaring team is as organized or as unruly as I desire. The beauty lies in the fact that their actions, their playstyles, are entirely dictated by me, the player.

5 Fallout: New Vegas

Allows Players To Completely Rework The Playstyle Of A Companion

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Weapons
  • Playstyle

Despite having a somewhat restricted range for character customization (only clothing and weapon choices), these elements significantly shape the gameplay styles of the companions. For instance, transforming a Scribe who uses an iron fist into a companion equipped with a sniper rifle in power armor.

Though the effectiveness of a companion with a certain weapon will vary depending on their pre-determined playstyle, it’s still good if players feel connected to Boon but always thought that he’d suit a shotgun just a little more.

4 Mass Effect

An Impressive Number Of Aspects Affect How A Companion Looks And Plays

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Abilities
  • Playstyle
  • Armor Color

In contrast to the traditional role-playing game (RPG) style, the initial version of Mass Effect, over time, has moved away from it. However, what stands out in this franchise across all its installments is the remarkable degree of customization options for companions.

In Mass Effect, players have extensive control over the appearance and behavior of their teammates aboard the Normandy. From adjusting the color of armor sets to managing companions’ skills and usage, the game offers a high degree of personalization. Regrettably, the series has shifted focus slightly from the customization aspects; it seems that BioWare aimed to preserve specific characters’ visual identity and shape, so changes in the franchise become more about texture over time.

3 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Everything Is Changeable

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Classes
  • Specialization
  • Appearance

With a reflection in the Respec Mirror, any alteration becomes feasible – adjustments ranging from the type of footwear your companions wear to the very essence of their character classes are all modifiable in Divinity: Original Sin 2.

Similar to many other computer role-playing games, you can also assume control over these companions as Origin characters, with the ability to customize their appearance and starting classes according to your preferences and gameplay style. Once again, Larian demonstrates their deep understanding and mastery of the RPG genre with this title.

2 Dragon Age: Origins

Players Can Change A Companion’s Look And How Their Story Plays Out

Customizable Companion Features
  • Armor
  • Specialization
  • Abilities
  • Narrative Pathways
  • Combat Autonomy

In contrast to later entries in the Dragon Age series that offer differing levels of companion customization, Dragon Age: Origins initially stood out by featuring companions who functioned almost like additional player characters from the start.

While a player doesn’t have the ability to alter a companion’s initial class entirely, they can select their expertise, skills, and combat behavior independently. This balance offers an ideal scenario where companions retain their unique traits, yet players can customize their team according to their own creative vision and playstyle.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

From Their Clothes To Their Classes, Much Can Be Altered

Customizable Companion Features
  • Complete Armor Sets
  • Camp Clothes
  • Abilities
  • Classes
  • Dialogue Choices

For seasoned players of Larian’s renowned RPG, personalizing their companions is an often-used aspect. This includes altering and switching out everything they wear, such as headgear or camp attire.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can customize your companion characters’ classes and subclasses extensively using the camp-ghoul Withers. This is ideal for players who enjoy Astarion, but believe he would fit better as a Bard rather than a Rogue. Additionally, companions can be played by the player directly, either to delve deeper into the game world and engage with NPCs or by starting the game from their perspective as an Origin character.

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2024-11-13 12:44