Open-World Games With Realistic Economies

Money plays a role in both video games and real life. However, many engaging open-world games go beyond traditional currency. Games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach focus on 3D printing, Fallout 3 features a world where people value bottle caps as currency, and Ghost of Tsushima centers around trading resources during wartime.

These are just a few examples, but many games have captivating economies for more complex reasons. Even open-world games that use traditional currency can be engaging depending on how that money flows within the game, so let’s explore this further.

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Borderlands 4

The Galaxy Runs On Money

The world of Borderlands, including a potential Borderlands 4, is driven by powerful corporations. Making a living requires money, and many people choose to become Vault Hunters because it appears to be a quick path to wealth.

Now, even death has a price. People can be brought back to life at special stations, but only if you can afford it. It sounds extreme, but it’s easy to envision a future where companies and the pursuit of wealth overshadow everything – even faith.

Monster Hunter Wilds

The Hunting Game

Monster Hunter Wilds, the newest installment in the Monster Hunter series, simulates a working economy. Players take on the role of hunters who earn money – called Zenny – by completing monster bounties. This Zenny is then used to purchase essential supplies and craft new equipment, helping to protect the world.

Okay, so basically, I get all my cool equipment by going on hunts and collecting stuff. Then, with better gear, I can take on even tougher hunts, which helps protect the world. It’s a really satisfying loop – I get stronger, tackle harder challenges, and get even better gear. It’s all about constantly upgrading!

Final Fantasy 12

Bounty Hunting For Gil

It always feels a little odd in role-playing games when enemies drop items or money – it doesn’t often seem realistic. Final Fantasy 12 tried to address this by having monsters drop things like hides or other materials when defeated. Players could then sell these materials to shops for Gil, which is the currency used throughout the Final Fantasy series.

Okay, so we don’t actually see our characters skinning monsters for materials, but honestly, I just assume they’re doing it between battles. It feels more logical that’s how we’re getting things! It’s not a flawless system, though, because monsters still just randomly drop gear sometimes, which is a little weird.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

3D Printing The Future

In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, the world has moved beyond using money. Because it’s set after a global catastrophe, people now rely on materials used for 3D printing everything they need – from vehicles to weapons. This makes delivery professionals, or couriers, incredibly vital to society.

These vehicles can carry supplies to underground shelters, protecting communities by taking on the risks of transport. Players will find the game more rewarding as they repair roads and other systems to streamline deliveries.

Donkey Kong Bananza

Bananas And Gold

The main story of Donkey Kong Bananza revolves around the villainous VoidCo stealing Banandium – crystallized bananas – from Donkey Kong. Throughout the game, you collect Banandium to improve DK’s abilities, but you’ll also need to find other useful items and gold to buy things at shops.

Players can use materials and gold to create cozy resting spots in different environments, or to purchase clothing with helpful bonuses. Given that the game focuses on digging and exploring underground, it’s logical that these resources drive the economy, much like bananas help Donkey Kong grow stronger.

Elden Ring

Learning The Runes

In Elden Ring, you collect Runes by defeating enemies. These Runes act as a form of life energy, allowing you to improve your character’s abilities at special locations. You can use them to boost stats like Endurance, which increases your stamina, letting you attack and dodge for longer periods.

Runes are incredibly useful – you can even trade them with shopkeepers, who likely want to improve their own abilities. The game’s economy is heavily tied to character strength; being powerful significantly increases your chances of surviving in this challenging and unforgiving world.

Fallout 3

Idolizing Soda

In the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 3, traditional money is gone. Instead, people use bottle caps from Nuka-Cola as currency – it’s similar to how Coca-Cola tabs could become the new form of money if society collapsed.

Looking at Fallout 3 as an example, its bottling plant location within the D.C. area feels particularly fitting, and the game offers plenty of interesting things to collect beyond just bottle caps. The concept of people valuing and almost worshipping products isn’t far-fetched either – we see similar behavior in real life, like with frequent buyer programs or strong brand loyalty, such as dedicated Disney fans.

Mercenaries 2: World In Flames

The Life Of Mercenaries

In Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, you play as a mercenary who’s been betrayed by a corrupt government and is now seeking revenge. To fund your quest, you’ll need to complete various mercenary missions and earn money.

In Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, earning more money lets you buy more weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. This game brilliantly simulates a real-world economy fueling warfare, though in a much more exaggerated and chaotic way. Ultimately, it’s a game about creating and enjoying mayhem.

Ghost Of Tsushima

Trading With Captors

Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world game set in feudal Japan, where players take on the role of a samurai defending the island of Tsushima from a Mongol invasion. The invasion has cut off trade, preventing goods from reaching the island’s harbors.

Players can get equipment like armor by collecting materials and trading them with merchants. These materials include plants and items found in Mongol camps. It’s similar to the idea of taking from the powerful – reclaiming what belongs to the people of Tsushima to support the community.

Days Gone

Earning Camp Credits

In the game Days Gone, the world has been overrun by zombies, but civilization hasn’t completely fallen apart like in some post-apocalyptic stories. Instead of bombs or a supernatural war, it’s the zombies making things difficult. The game uses a few different types of currency, and gas is particularly valuable because it’s become very scarce.

Beyond simply trading money, players can complete tasks for different groups to gain credits, creating a system where favors are a form of currency. The game also features a unique market where players can trade rare items – like zombie ears – as trophies for goods and services.

2026-04-09 18:08