The best open world games with instant loading

If there's one thing, almost every great open world game has its variety. There's always so much content to enjoy and places to see, and some of the most enjoyable parts are being able to create a personalized build tailored to your tastes and preferences, but in many cases you can get stuck playing as one archetype or character for the entire duration of the game.

However, some games remove all friction between builds and allow you to quickly switch to any playstyle you might want on the fly. It can be through powerups, weapon changes, or complete character overhauls, and regardless of how it works, these games manage to make the whole experience much more enjoyable at the click of a button.

“Instantly” is a slight exaggeration in some of these cases, as you may have to go through a few steps. Some titles also implement a few restrictions, such as limiting loadout swaps when you're not in combat.

External

True RPG freedom

Details:

• Quick slots allow quick transitions between styles

• It supports dramatically different combat approaches

Externallike any proper RPG, it directly encourages experimentation by allowing players to build around magic, melee, ranged, or hybrid combinations to incorporate abilities from multiple paths. Once abilities and gear are unlocked, quickslots allow players to switch between completely different fighting styles without creating a new character, which is incredibly useful given how punishing the world and gameplay can be.

This flexibility is especially valuable in exploration, where different enemies and environments reward different strategies. I found that in certain dungeons I would prefer swords over bows, but on the open plains I would switch to the ranged setting which would change the course of each encounter without you having to reset or retreat at all.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Historic environment, modern comfort

Details:

• Loadouts allow you to swap builds on the fly

• Changes between fighter, hunter and stealth settings

Odyssey introduced one of the franchise's best quality-of-life features through Loadouts gear. Instead of manually swapping out each piece of gear, you can save multiple presets and switch between them almost instantly from the inventory screen, which can take away from the immersion, but definitely improves the game.

The reason this feature is so important is how different the different parts of the game are, as you'll find yourself faced with bustling fortresses and quiet villages on the outskirts, each needing a specialized approach that a single building could never offer. I consider the game to be one of the best in the series and the loadout feature makes it very difficult to feel as good as it is.

Tom Clancy's The Division 2

No weapon is too big

Details:

• Gear slots can be swapped mid-match

• Specialization in each activity

Looter shooters are fundamentally built around the idea of ​​gear and items, and Division 2 there is no other. You have access to a huge variety of weapons and slots, each of which can be customized to create an incredibly in-depth build, but unlike other games where the swapping process can be tedious, here you can swap builds on the fly with just a few button presses.

During late-game content, where one build may excel in solo exploration while another is designed specifically for raiding or PvP, the ability to jump between them makes completing raids and venturing into the dark zone significantly less frustrating than it would otherwise be. I'm quite happy to try new things and customize my builds, and I've found this version of build swaps to be one of the best in the entire genre.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breaking Point

The only limit is you

Details:

• Multiple gear loads can be stored

• Quickly move between slots

Ghost Recon Breaking Point it gives you enormous freedom in how you approach missions, and its loadout system is exactly what supports this flexibility. Complete gear sets can be stored, making it easy to switch between sniper, assault, stealth or melee builds whenever needed, and as many people know, you almost always need a new weapon for the situation.

With different missions often rewarding specific tactics, being able to change your entire setup without having to manually equip every weapon and accessory keeps the game flowing and means you'll never have any downtime, even when the world is large. And as if that wasn't enough, the game also hosts one of the widest weapon arsenals of any shooter, making the full-on weapon swaps even more impressive.

Once a Man

Adaptation is key

Details:

• Specialized fights are built right in your inventory

• Designed for diversity

Once human The survival-focused open world constantly introduces new types of enemies and challenges, so you'll never feel too comfortable with just one gun in your pocket. Flexibility is incredibly valuable, but also a powerful tool that can be leveraged through device configurations that can be saved and switched between whenever circumstances change.

Whether you're gearing up for exploration, world bosses, or high-level encounters, you can instantly switch between completely different weapon combinations and armor setups, which I used in almost every single session, given how much variation there is in the game. In a sense, experimentation is not optional, but an essential part of the game that you must take advantage of or be left behind in the apocalypse.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Let the hunt go on longer

Details:

• Two primary weapons in one loadout

• Fighting styles can be switched mid-hunt

In the past, Monster Hunter games limited how you could engage the target while hunting, but v Wildsa large limit was removed right from the start. You now have access to two separate primary slots that can be fielded with pretty much any combination of weapons you can think of, although some will obviously be better than others.

This means it's entirely possible to start the fight with a bow, switch to a greatsword once the monster is weakened, or pair complementary weapon types depending on the situation or the type of support the party needs. I think this single feature elevates the base game far beyond the previous ones and provides much more variety, both at the beginning and end of your journey.

Fallout 76

Even the Apocalypse can be liberating

Details:

• Loadouts with instant advantage and special changes

• Individual characters can support radically different approaches

Fallout 76 The punch card machine changed character progression by allowing players to save more specials and perks rather than having to manually switch between items over and over again. Instead of permanently committing to a single build, you can now change your Ravager's weapons and passive buffs in seconds, a feature that many people have requested and now have access to.

Combined with different weapon and armor sets, this makes it easy to maintain dedicated archetypes without creating multiple characters. For a game built around long-term development, this is one of the most useful quality-of-life features Bethesda has added, and a bonus that made me come back and really fall in love with the game all over again.

Nioh 3

Samurai and Ninja as one

Details:

• Always have two builds: Samurai and Ninja

• Switching between them is almost necessary

All of these games encourage you to explore different loads, but they don't actually force you to do so. Nioh 3 is an exception because Team Ninja designed the combat system to facilitate two simultaneous builds that complement each other. Throughout the campaign, players have access to both samurai and ninja, with certain weapons tied to only one archetype.

Samurai builds are slower but harder hitting, while ninjas can jump all over the place while using much less stamina. They have different yokai skills and abilities that make them better suited for certain situations or bosses, and ignoring one of them means cutting your toolkit in half. For Nioh veterans, the Ninja build may take some getting used to, but it will become second nature after a while.