RELATED: Most Terrifying Cults In Games
The result is a progression system in video games that incentivizes players in more creative and rewarding ways than objective stomping. These unique progression systems not only give players more special gameplay but also make the game a lot more memorable compared to the usual template that’s all too common in games about assassins or special ops units.
Updated January 13, 2023 by Sid Natividad:Thanks to the video game design revolution that these games kicked off, more and more video game titles seem to be following suit. Among these titles are Elden Ring, Breath of the Wild, Mount and Blade Bannerlord 2, and even certified stressors such as Darkest Dungeon.
They introduced some of the best progression systems in games. But it’s not just them, there are even more titles that are worthy of that recognition. Over the years, these additional video games have maintained their trendsetting strength and become good examples for other video games to follow.
15 Warframe
Release year: 2013 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
There’s nothing standard about Warframe, which was part of the reason why it maintained its loyal player base over the years despite the notorious lack of proper tutorials. In this space ninja game, players progress partly by completing mercenary missions across the solar system.
There are standard quests, but players don’t level up by doing those. Instead, they must literally try out and master as many weapons and warframes as they can to increase their rank. In hindsight, it’s quite an organic way of leveling. Being proficient in many tools is one of the best ways for mercenary ninjas to become good at their job.
14 No Man’s Sky
Release year: 2016 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, macOS, iPadOS
It had a rough release but No Man’s Sky managed to turn its reputation around thanks to updates and free DLCs. It went from an empty, procedurally-generated playground to a game that incentivizes exploration and strategizing about survival, especially in harsh environments.
RELATED: Best Open-World Games That Turned 10 In 2022, Ranked
Due to the procedural nature of the game world or rather, the game universe, there’s no ceiling to No Man’s Sky’s exploration. And unlike other games that also feature this kind of game world, there’s more to do in No Man’s Sky. Players can follow storylines, go in all directions like in a sandbox, or just build bases all over the universe.
13 Death Stranding
Release year: 2019 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5
Death Stranding was initially an acquired taste but numerous updates and newfound player appreciation made it age well over time. Nearly four years later, the game is now one of the most thoughtful cooperation exercises in gaming where players literally build bridges and roads for others in an online space. For that matter, offline play isn’t recommended.
And even before its numerous fixes, Death Stranding was already a unique game due to its odd progression system. Players assume the role of Sam Bridges in the most dangerous delivery man job in history as he unites a broken world.
12 Path Of Exile
Release year: 2013 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, macOS
Path of Exile initially comes off as a Diablo clone but after a few hours, it quickly sets itself apart. Progression is deceptively standard at first until players start hitting a wall with their builds and they’re compelled to think outside of the box and start abusing the skill tree and skill system.
RELATED: Open-World Games To Play While Waiting For Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
That’s where the meat of Path of Exile’s progression lies. Its complex passive skill tree and novel skill gem system make it the Rubik’s cube equivalent of ARPGs. After that, the mechanics just keep getting more and more complex as players reach the endgame; developers just keep piling them on with no end in sight.
11 Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous
Release year: 2021 Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Mac operating systems
Unlike its simpler predecessor, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous shakes up the CRPG formula with its Mythic Path system. This allows players to become literal villains with swarms of insects at their disposal. Or if they want, players can even turn themselves into permanent dragons.
This kind of freedom in a CRPG was rather unprecedented, making Wrath of the Righteous a surprise hit. With this kind of Mythic Path-fueled progression system, replaying the game is massively rewarding since there are so many avenues of gameplay and it puts other RPGs to shame.
10 Elden Ring
Release year: 2022 Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Elden Ring’s popularity is proof enough that it’s more than just a thinly-veiled Dark Souls sequel but in an open-world playground. Because by removing all quest markers and common progression UI elements, the game breathed a fresh new perspective into the open-world genre.
This is an RPG where players can go anywhere they want. There are no limits, though there are a couple of literal gatekeepers (in the form of bosses). Making questlines as vague as possible also ensures that players are rewarded with lateral thinking and exploration.
9 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Release year: 2017 Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Before Elden Ring started redefining open-world RPGs, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild already set an example of how it should be done. Likewise, the progression here is tied to exploration in a way that doesn’t water it down to a level metric.
RELATED: Films That Are Knock-Offs Of Video Games
Players literally have to find locations based on images in order to progress quests and help Link with his amnesia. The game also doesn’t set up a railroad for players to follow. They can go any direction they want and even head to the final boss as early as the first 30 minutes or so, assuming they can.
8 Hades
Release year: 2020 Platforms: macOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
As far as roguelike games go, Hades has one of the most clever ways to tell its story. Because players get to unravel more about this Greek myth drama whenever their hero, Zagreus dies. This way, players get rewarded no matter how they play the game.
Dying in Hades is also one of the best ways to become stronger. Hence, the death in this roguelike game isn’t as anxiety-inducing compared to others. And despite the roguelike tag, Hades is a pretty chill game where every mechanic seamlessly blends together to ensure that players keep trying again despite failure.
7 Monster Hunter: World
Release year: 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
The Monster Hunter series is a franchise so distinctive, that its gameplay loop is its own trademark. Thus, not many games were able to imitate it successfully. Monster Hunter’s rare formula was in full swing and made more accessible in Monster Hunter: World.
RELATED: Nintendo Franchises With the Best Spin-Off Games
In these games, players will go on hunts or missions where their progression relies on how efficiently they can hunt the monsters again and again. Hunts go anywhere from five to 20 minutes depending on player skill. Monsters themselves have varying and quirky personalities, making each hunt different from the last, and classes are divided by weapons.
6 Nier: Automata
Release year: 2017 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Seeing the ending screen for the first time in Nier: Automata is not the end of the game, actually. It’s usually just a fourth or fifth fraction of the game because players will have to replay the game several times in order to get the most out of the story.
Each subsequent playthrough is offered from the perspective of different characters. They all achieve different endings, but these endings are all tied together to the final one. That’s game director Yoko Taro’s creative signature for his titles. And this narrative freedom translates to an unforgettable gameplay experience.
5 Darkest Dungeon
Release year: 2016 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Darkest Dungeon is one of the most brutal video games in existence due to the randomness of its combat mechanics. Players control a town or manor that serves as a gathering hub for adventurers or heroes. They must then delve into horrific dungeons to uncover the manor’s secrets and obtain treasures.
RELATED: Best New Racing Games To Try In 2022
Thanks to the game’s sadistic mechanics, players who try to conserve their heroes and pick favorites will have a bad time. The game compels players to work around failure and embrace the impermanence of their fragile and mortal adventurers. Thus, the town or manor has the illusion of a sanctuary that needs rebuilding; but in reality, it’s actually a meat grinder. Heroes go in, and gold or treasure comes out, usually covered in the heroes’ blood and guts. That’s how to progress in Darkest Dungeon.
4 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind
Release year: 2002 Platforms: Xbox, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming
Morrowind will forever remain one of the most daring and wondrous environments in an Elder Scrolls game. How the developers handled the titular Dunmer province was nothing short of spectacular. To solidify Morrowind’s status as an alien game, its progression system is equally eccentric.
There’s the standard Elder Scrolls stat suite, but players level them up more organically compared to something like Skyrim. Jumping around increases Acrobatics, and running around increases Athletics, etc. Questlines are also somewhat vague and players can lock themselves out of the main quest by killing certain NPCs. It was the wild west of RPGs back then.
3 Divinity: Original Sin
Release year: 2015 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Classic Mac OS
Its sequel is a lot more polished and casual-friendly; hence, Divinity: Original Sin offered a more hardcore experience. In the sequel, it’s easy to follow quests and complete everything. But in the first game, players will have to fend for themselves.
RELATED: Games To Play If You Loved LA Noir
The quest system is a journal that players have to read for clues. Using one’s common sense and deductive abilities is also one of the ways to progress here. There’s no hand-holding, and party members can even debate with others regarding what to do. It makes the sequel look tame by comparison.
2 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Release year: 2015 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
It’s a Metal Gear Solid game so a unique progression is a given. However, the open-world element here gives players unprecedented levels of freedom they wouldn’t expect in a Metal Gear or a Hideo Kojima title.
Part of the progression system consists of kidnapping enemy soldiers and sending them to Snake’s off-shore mother base. And bolstering mother base resources is necessary, especially for the game’s multiplayer component. Besides, it’s an open-world stealth game, progression is bound to be peculiar here.
1 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
Release year: 2020 (early access) Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord gives players so much freedom that it can put off those used to having a hint of direction in their RPGs. This sandbox RPG lets players be whatever they want in a fictional medieval world.
How they do it is a learning process with quite a considerable curve. The progression here is thus whichever players set their minds to. That could be anything from being a rich merchant, a powerful emperor, or even a carefree bandit.
MORE: Perfect Games To Play While Listening To Podcasts
