The Best Open-World RPGs That Get Better As You Play

Many games don’t immediately grab your attention. Sometimes, the story and gameplay build gradually, taking time to reach their peak. This doesn’t necessarily mean the beginning is bad, but it can feel like a setup for the more exciting experiences later on – like an appetizer before the main meal.

Open-world games often let players wander off the main story for extended periods. This can make the beginning feel slow, as players might not focus on the core narrative until they have to. However, once the game really gets going, it becomes incredibly engaging and continues to improve, offering hours of enjoyment through the main story, downloadable content, and even multiple playthroughs.

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Slow Start Turned Epic Journey

The introductory section is notoriously slow-paced.
The world gradually opens up in every direction.

I started playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt expecting a cool monster-hunting game, and it definitely delivered on that front! But what really grabbed me was how the story unfolded over time. At first, it’s all about local problems and the gritty details of life in a world at war. But as you explore more of the world, the story gets so much deeper. You meet these incredibly complex characters and get caught up in these long, involved storylines – not just in the main quest, but in all the side quests too. It really pulls you in!

As you progress, the choices you make and conversations you have early on become increasingly important to the overall story. Gameplay-wise, Geralt grows from a skilled fighter into a truly powerful combatant with new abilities and better equipment, allowing you to take on bigger challenges and more complex quests that were only suggested at the start.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Unfolding A Much Larger Mystery

The best content is found later on.
Combat depth increases significantly.

When I first started playing Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, it seemed pretty straightforward. The beginning is all about learning the ropes and getting used to the world. But honestly, the game really opens up after a few hours! It’s got these surprisingly complex systems hidden under a simple surface, and once you unlock the advanced classes and abilities, every battle becomes epic. It starts simple, but it quickly becomes something really special.

Bitterblack Isle, the final dungeon, completely changes the game. It features much harder enemies, unique and powerful gear, and battles that truly test your skills – requiring you to use everything you’ve learned. Your character’s build also becomes more focused and rewarding, with each piece of equipment making a noticeable difference. This makes the final fights feel impactful and worthwhile, no matter how long you’ve spent preparing.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

From Peasant To Warrior

Limited skill access in the beginning.
Rewarding progression right to the end.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance starts as a realistic story of trying to survive. You play as an ordinary blacksmith’s son thrown into a brutal medieval world, a long way from the romanticized image of knights. At first, fighting is difficult and unforgiving, because your character is unskilled. This initial weakness means the game requires patience and slow, steady progress.

Henry gets noticeably better as you play. His sword fighting becomes smoother, and he’s able to talk to people more effectively, opening up new conversation options and choices. The improvements happen gradually, so when you finally unlock new abilities, it feels genuinely rewarding and well-deserved.

Gothic 2

Brutal Yet Incredibly Rewarding

Fragile early stages.
Training and faction progress unlock new areas and abilities.

Gothic 2 starts much like its predecessor, immediately placing you in a perilous world filled with dangerous creatures. The beginning of the game requires a careful approach – every move needs thought, and you’ll make progress through planning and gradual improvement, not by rushing in.

As you play, with training and the choices you make, the game transforms. You’ll become more powerful, making combat easier and quests more challenging. What starts as a vulnerable character evolves into a strong hero who can face tough enemies and shape the world’s destiny.

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Grand Battles Hidden Away

Sandbox progression over narrative focus.
Small skirmishes turn into massive fights for the kingdom.

At the start of Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, you begin with a small group of soldiers and must carefully avoid larger forces. The early game focuses on survival, as money and equipment are limited, making the world feel large and challenging from the very beginning.

As you play, the game expands, with your armies growing and your political power increasing until everyone – friend and foe – takes notice. What begins as simple quests like hunting bandits transforms into managing an entire kingdom, making those epic late-game battles feel truly earned after a long climb from humble beginnings to real authority.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

An Iconic Opener That Only Gets Better

Initial sections are fairly simplistic.
The wider world introduces new factions and regions.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is famous for its dramatic opening, immediately throwing players into an exciting dragon attack. But after that strong start, the initial quests and dungeons feel somewhat simple. While easy to access, they don’t offer much in the way of difficulty, satisfying rewards, or a truly memorable experience.

As you level up, the game just explodes with more to do! The faction storylines get really interesting, and the enemies – especially the dragons – become seriously challenging. But it’s not just the world getting bigger; you get more powerful too! You learn new shouts, your class abilities get even better, and there are tons of weapons to find. Honestly, it finally feels like the epic RPG I’ve always dreamed of.

Fallout: New Vegas

A True Role-Playing Excellence

Narrative complexity grows with faction involvement.
Player choices reshape the world over time.

Fallout: New Vegas starts with a straightforward quest for revenge, giving players only essential gear to begin with. The game quickly establishes the unforgiving nature of the post-apocalyptic world, highlighting scarce resources and dangerous enemies. Often, the decisions you make as a player feel minor when considering the larger scope of the game’s world.

The game starts simply, but quickly becomes a complex story shaped by your choices and their consequences. As powerful groups rise, their own goals come into focus, and your early decisions start to truly matter, impacting the lives of characters and even the fate of the entire world.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Bringing Mythological Legends To Life

Level-gated regions that eventually become accessible.
More powerful and specialized combat styles later on.

At the beginning of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you’re thrown into a personal story of being exiled and trying to survive in Ancient Greece. The first few quests involve resolving local disputes, completing small tasks for rewards, and discovering the islands nearby. The game, including the fighting, is fairly simple at first, but this gradually changes as you progress.

As you progress, the game world expands significantly, offering new areas and increasingly epic events. The storylines become more complex, evolving from individual character arcs into sweeping legends. Plus, you’ll have more options to customize your character and playstyle with robust skill trees, which are compelling enough to keep you engaged for a long time.

2026-02-17 20:08