An open world RPG where loot really matters

It's hard to imagine an open-world RPG without robust loot and gear systems. After all, why do players need to explore the vast world if they can't find anything useful there to become stronger? Discovering new armor, weapons, upgrades, or crafting materials can be just as important a driving force for players as the desire to simply go and see what's out in the wild.

There are dozens of different ways to access loot and items in an open-world RPG, many of which rely on the familiar ARPG-quality randomized loot drops, occasionally sprinkled with unique rare items with fixed locations – for example, The Witcher 3. However, some games eschew the constant RNG loot drop altogether to try different approaches and give each new item more meaning. Instead of having to constantly process different identical items and constantly manage their inventory, loot in these games really matters and can significantly change the entire gameplay, so players would want to add everything to their collection. Below are some open world RPGs with some of the most unique and meaningful loot systems in the genre to date.

Elden Ring

Every new find can be a game changer

Elden Ring it fully adopts FromSoftware's signature soul-like approach to loot and items from past games, but on a much larger open-world scale. A whole range of armor, weapons, talismans, rings, spells or anything in between Elden Ring is stunning and can be used to gain an advantage in combat. One of the best feelings about the game is the sheer scale of its worlds, coupled with the understanding that every corner can contain useful, powerful, almost game-changing rewards that are deliberately placed there for a reason, forcing players to push themselves.

In traditional studio style, there are also boss souls that players collect from the strongest enemies and then use to craft unique gear of their choice. Regular and Elite enemies can also randomly drop their rare gear, which occasionally motivates players to farm runs. Other Elden Ring A distinctive feature is the item descriptions themselves, which contain rare lore dumps that some fans love to read and analyze, further adding weight and importance to each new find. For a veteran Elden Ring for players who may tire of knowing the exact location of almost everything in the game, some Randomizer mods are recommended to shuffle the location of each reward or even bosses in Lands Between.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

One of the most unique loots in the series and the entire genre

Assassin's Creed Valhalla has arguably not only the most unique loot system in the entire series to date, but arguably one of the most distinct and impressive in the entire open-ended action RPG genre. Since Assassin's Creed started flirting with RPG elements, almost every entry made loot with its own twist. IN AC Origins, Odysseyand Shadowsclassic randomized quality-rated drops were paired with unique items obtained at fixed locations. Assassin's Creed Valhalla has completely rejected RNG drops and instead offers only unique armor and weapons scattered across its vast maps, usually obtainable through treasure chests. It's also worth noting that each chest in AC Valhalla is actually a little puzzle that requires some busy work, for better or for worse.

IN Assassin's Creed Valhallaplayers can access dozens of unique armor sets and different weapon types, each with their own distinct combat perks, so there's always something to choose from. But the real cherry on top is the game's upgrade system. By investing valuable materials into each item, players unlock new quality levels that make their gear significantly stronger while also changing its appearance with each new level. as a result AC Valhalla it motivates players to find each chest and try to upgrade as many items as possible – and each individual addition to the collection feels like a real treat.

Dragon's Dogma 2

Amazing loot variety coupled with flexible upgrade mechanics

Dragon's Dogma 2 builds its loot system largely on the acclaimed first game, while also borrowing some ideas from it Elden Ringmeaning each weapon has fixed stats and an upgrade path. There is an amazing selection of unique armor and equipment Dragon's Dogma 2with 12 different weapon categories, including unique options such as Duospears or Archistaves not seen elsewhere. However, due to the class-based nature of the game, not every character class can use everything, so players may want to change their starting class (profession) at some point and try some new combinations.

There are almost no random drops in the game, so new, powerful loot can be obtained mostly in hidden treasure chests, which motivates the player to explore. However, some useful loot and gear can also be obtained as quest rewards, simply bought from merchants, or even crafted. With the game's flexible upgrade mechanics, which provide extra versatility and customization to each weapon and armor, each player can experiment with different spells, although this also means a lot of upgrade materials are needed. Unlike elden ring, although in Dragon's Dogma 2Some powerful late game unique weapons are simply better than the early to mid game options, no matter how many upgrades are applied to the starting gear. As such, players are forced at some point in the game to trade in their favorite weapons for a significant increase in damage and power, which some fans aren't too fond of.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

It allows you to truly bond with your weapon of choice

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is known for its meticulous attention to detail in depicting the authentic medieval world of Bohemia, which permeates all aspects of the game. With its realistic inventory system and survival mechanics, players literally live in this world and must contend with constant needs such as hunger, thirst, and sleep, as well as the demands of keeping clean and well-maintained equipment and clothing. Naturally, in a game like this, what armor or shield to use and what weapon to carry into battle are especially important. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 features a vast arsenal of gear with dozens of unique weapons in each category that can be found, bought from merchants, or even forged by the player.

Every weapon or piece of armor in the game has its own realistic abilities that make them powerful in some scenarios but unreliable in other conditions – there are no all-around, magical “best” weapons in the game with unstoppable power. Plus, every powerful, high-quality new v Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can only be obtained through sweat and blood, requiring high crafting skills, unique perks to learn, and rare, rare materials to upgrade. So it's not surprising that players value their quality equipment far more than in any other game of its kind, essentially bonding with their trusty, hard-earned weapon.

Fallout 4

Even insignificant junk in the wastelands matters

at first sight Fallout 4 loot access isn't too special compared to other open world action RPGs. Sometimes players can get really valuable and powerful equipment and items from named NPCs, bosses, or the most valuable locked chests or rooms, but such cases are quite rare. For the most part though Fallout 4 it's filled to the brim with all sorts of junk and garbage drops from enemies or chests, worn or hand-crafted primitive weapons or tools that aren't even worth collecting in many other similar games, especially when Fallout 4 it also has a character weight limit. However, here is where Fallout 4 An incredibly flexible and robust crafting system comes into play, making pretty much every single item in the game important in the long run.

Absolutely everything inside Fallout 4 can be broken down into parts or raw materials that can later be used to craft, upgrade and build. Players can create and expand entire settlements, build and furnish various buildings, not to mention create powerful tools for themselves, such as completely unique blueprint weapons and armor that cannot be obtained in any other way. Fallout 4 is a veritable paradise for kleptomaniacs who want to take everything with them, giving players a very good reason to actually do so.