The biggest changes in upcoming open-world RPGs

Open-world games have experienced a huge boom over the past two decades and have come a long way technologically. It's so impressive to see how far we've come and all the things you can do. Like games Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Constantly innovating and pushing forward, wow us with these worlds that feel so real and magical.

I'll admit it, though: I'm experiencing open-world fatigue, and I'm certainly not the only one. The genre seems to lean too far into “big worlds”, and with that, leaving players mostly uninspired, we're seeing some big changes in the next big open-world RPGs that are set to come out. There's no guarantee, of course, that these trends will hold true, but with some key lessons to draw from, both good and bad, I think we're on the cusp of a major shift for the genre. I will use examples drawn from pre-existing games to illustrate my points.

Identity is a fantasy, power is not a fantasy

Unique player-oriented stories

Overpowered builds have always had a fascination with any type of video game that allows for build crafting, and over the years we've seen several versions of this: Bleed Build In. Alden RingSilent archers SkyrimAnd so on. However, now the players are looking for identity. We don't just want to be all-powerful, or really all-powerful, but what we do want is substance for our characters and to be able to define what kind of protagonist they are. This means more features that define their identity, and a world that responds to that identity. Choosing a specific path should have major consequences in gameplay.

For example, Cyberpunk 2077 Allows you to choose your life path between Corpo, Street Kid, and Nomad, and although the intro section is different for each of the three, there aren't any major differences in the main game which is a bit of a shame. You'll find a unique quest in Act 2, depending on which path you choose, but it feels like a little more work could have been done to push the identity even further. For example, a street child walking around an Arasa building may be attacked by guards or attacked if seen, and nomads will often be harassed by gangs for being perceived as outsiders. They should be more than just flavor text, basically, so you can really tell your own story within the parameters of the game.

Finishing the game is not the main goal

Games make you want to stay

It's not about the ending, it's about the journey. For open-world RPGs, it's increasingly this way. While there are extras, the main quest is often just an afterthought when reflected with the game's side quests and other activities. We're getting to a point where just existing in the game feels satisfying enough, casual activities like hunting, crafting, playing cards, exploring, and building relationships and romantic interests are more appealing than rushing to the end of the story. If open-world RPGs are quickly starting to feel like simulations, it's because we're probably getting closer and closer to that point, and previous titles already show this.

As with the previous examples Skyrim Show it off with Hearthfire, which lets you build your own home. Result 4 and Starfield The settlement came with building, which is side content that has no end and is highly replayable. That's what Bethesda's brilliant inventions are: replayability, whatever you think of their quality. elsewhere, Cyberpunk 2077 Featuring hangouts in your apartment with characters you've romanced. These are also repeatable, so you can delay meeting Hanaki in Embers indefinitely until you tire of calling the Night City your home. I firmly believe that open-world games are the only way to go this far, though I hope Radiant Quests ends.

Choices ripple through the world

Dialogue is not the only place for results

Choice is very important for players; That is very certain. Nothing feels less empowering than making a choice that feels heavy and important, only to do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the world. This has been seen repeatedly in many open-world RPGs in the past, and although it may be optimistic of me to write this, I truly believe we've reached a point where players are so sick and tired that things are starting to change. Thanks to the implementation of various honor and reputation systems (looking at you RDR2 and KDC2!), and it can be the first place to start when it comes to creating realistic worlds.

The biggest blueprint for it, though, is no doubt The Witcher 3And Geralt's decisions have huge ramifications, without you having any idea of ​​it until the events actually unfold. Since we're talking about RPGs, I also need to mention that Baldur's Gate 3It's not an open world game though. There are many decisions you can make in the game that will later affect whether certain areas are accessible to you. For example, killing Grove means you won't be welcomed into the Last Light, and allowing Isobel to take it means facing the Shadow with the Last Light. These are the kinds of big world changes we need, in what actions and dialogue options go to players, because choices shouldn't just be taste.

More hybrid genre games

Expect a taste of immersive sims, survival crafts and more

I've already touched on this a bit in a previous entry, but increasingly, we're going to see the genres mix with the base flavor of open-world RPGs. And again, this is something we've already had many years ago: seen in the craft of survival result and The Elder Scrolls Games, such as immersive SIM elements in games Cyberpunk 2077Where, depending on your expertise, you can go through areas and handle quests differently, and so on. Survival crafts have become especially popular in the last decade, and it's likely that more games will move on to this, as it encourages staying rather than ending the game.

I'm excited to see other genres explored, including strategy and management sims. Here's an example to think about Fallout 4's Slum management, which I know was far from being everyone's cup of tea, but when done right, I think it could be an interesting angle to take. Imagine Project Orion, where you have to manage resources and relationships with gangs in a cyberpunk world. Maybe it's a niche idea, but we live in a time where I think the open-world RPG format could really use some major shakeups and innovations.

Success is measured by longevity

Launch weeks are no longer the main event

We're in an age where major open-world RPG releases are taking longer and longer to come out. Grand Theft Auto 6 Set to release a decade later GTA 5and The Elder Scrolls 6 Probably going to be released well over fifteen years later Skyrim came out All this is to say that games are banking more on longevity than on release dates. By developing DLCs to continue interest and publicity years after the game's initial release, or remasters and new versions (e.g. Skyrim and all its various releases).

Some are good and some are bad. DLC prices have been a point of contention for some time, as it is arguably true that a successful game does not need DLC to be good, successful and “complete”. On the other hand, free updates and tangible content a la Phantom Liberty that shows thought and dedication and comes with free upgrades on the side might be a good way forward. What is non-negotiable, however, is that we'll see major releases for these big titles less often, especially after a disaster. Cyberpunk 2077which served as a word of warning. Not only that, but the state of the world economy means that with the rising cost of video games, fewer people will be able to commit to a game at a staggering price on its release date. Most consumers will wait for deep discounts, multiple quality-of-life updates, free DLCs, and so on to get a more complete experience.

That said, I have a feeling we'll have some outliers for this one, eg GTA 6. That launch day and pre-orders will be crazy.

Big worlds are no longer the goal

Handcrafted, rigorous experiences are making a comeback

When the open-world format first came out, it was revolutionary because it opposed closed-off world players. Seeing a mountain in the distance means that you will probably never climb it, let alone the whole process to your imagination. Well, no more. Open-world games broke that barrier, for the most part, and it's best illustrated in the words of Todd Howard: “See that mountain? You can climb it!”

However we are now beyond these vast worlds. Bigger doesn't always mean better, and that's the case Starfield Teaches us perfectly. Procedurally generated planets were considered the pinnacle of open-world technology, but they actually went against what made Bethesda's previous open-world environments so charming and engaging: beautiful, interesting, hand-crafted points of interest and mysteries filled with environmental storytelling. There were no repetitive dungeons, even if the assets looked familiar and were reused from place to place. The places were still unique, and it made them feel real, even if the worlds weren't that big. But who wants a huge world anyway, if it's just full of the same stuff you've already seen? of Starfield Many open-world games will learn from the next generation, I hope.