The 8 Best Unique NPC Mechanics in Open World Games

Key insights

• The Nemesis system for NPCs in
  Middle-earth: Shadow of War
  was so inventive that Monolith Productions patented it so no one else could use it.
• Destroy all humans! 2:
  “Reprobed” is about Crypto physically snatching people away for humor and infiltration.
• Make decisions in
  vampire
  can drastically change the game as players can feed as a vampire or NPCs can help as a doctor.

Typically, players don't pay much attention to NPCs as they mostly only exist to make an open world more immersive. However, developers occasionally surprise players by making non-playable characters important parts of the journey, whether for storytelling reasons or gameplay changes.

Sometimes NPCs can be used as tools to help the player progress through main and side quests, while others become gameplay gimmicks that make up the majority of a game. It shows the imagination that developers can have when they can make characters that are supposed to be in the background as iconic as the main character.

8 Destroy all humans! 2: Verified

The sequel allows crypto to kidnap people and more

Cryptosporidium-137 can run around as a killer alien and play with humans however the player wants. However, one of his signature abilities is Destroy all humans! 2: Verified involves taking over people's bodies with the simple press of a button, which can be weird when running around the various open-world maps, but is also helpful when penetrating enemy lines.

Crypto's new abilities and weapons, as well as an improved control scheme for the UFO, make this possible Destroy all humans! 2 to show endless carnage and chaos in the 1960s. The game's remake maintains the original game's zany style as players can use plenty of irreverent humor to cause endless amounts of destruction, from America to Japan.

7 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla

Being a Viking warlord can be as combative as it is peaceful

A big part of it Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Build a Viking army to raid, pillage and conquer enemy territories. However, if the player wants, there is more than just killing enemies as a warlord, with the possibility of making friends who can help overthrow certain camps and even entire cities.

It's not just about simple grunts and lieutenants, but there are also important personalities that you can befriend and convince to take Eivor's side in the conflict. This helps with turning Assassin's Creed: Valhalla It turns more into an RPG, but still offers options for stealth and infiltration rather than just Eivor's attacks on her enemies.

6 Stardew Valley

Each character in the valley has their own life

ConcernedApe adopted the formula established in games like Harvest Moon and improved it in Stardew Valley. Instead of the NPCs in and around Pelican Town revolving entirely around the main protagonist, they have their own lives that develop over the months and years, with some even developing relationships with each other that can lead to marriages.

In addition, you can befriend NPCs Stardew Valley is not just for lovemaking, as friendships can develop between the player and NPCs, leading to new cutscenes, gifts and opportunities to help or hinder people depending on the player's choice. That's one of many reasons why Stardew Valley is considered far superior the harvest moon Franchise.

5 Batman: Arkham Knight

Players can experience Gotham City as it continues to evolve

Rocksteady has included so many nice touches Batman: Arkham Knightfrom references from the DC Universe to what Batman looks like in his many suits. However, the NPCs in Gotham City are treated with great care, such as the many ways Joker's Phantom breaks the fourth wall and how villains react to each other once locked up, with hundreds of evolving dialogue options.

Interactions with all villains change as Batman's identity is revealed before or after their arrest Arkham Knight. That's not even counting the many thugs and mercenaries who can listen to hundreds of entertaining jokes that make them feel more human. As a bonus, the player can pursue any villain at any time, giving them the freedom to create the Batman adventure of their dreams.

4 vampire

All people in London are expendable if they sacrifice their history

Normally killing important NPCs would cause the player to lose the game early, but vampire is different. From start to finish, vampire is about making decisions that can drastically change the game, including whether someone wants to feed on humans as a vampire. The more Jonathan feeds Reid, the more powerful he becomes, allowing players to drain the blood of anyone he encounters.

On the more heroic side, the City of London is full of NPCs to solve investigations. If someone wants to remain the hero, he solves cases vampire also rewards experience, although much more slowly. As a bonus, vampire There are also sick NPCs that allow the player to take over Jonathan's job as a doctor to help them, giving them additional influence in certain quests.

3 Bowser's rage

Everything good and bad revolves around a Godzilla-sized Bowser

Bowser's rage Not only was it the first true open-world Mario experience, but it also featured a constantly looming threat in the form of Fury Bowser, who is arguably the scariest version of him yet. Rather than the very end, Bowser's Fury is a rare example of a gigantic boss fight that repeats itself throughout the game.

Every five to ten minutes, Bowser appears in his pitch-black, corrupted Kaiju state, transforming the entire map into a dark and stormy variant with more dangers, including hostile cats. Some of the collectible Cat Shines can only be collected when Fury Bowser is present, forcing players to time certain targets correctly and move carefully while traversing Bowser's rage.

2 Watch Dogs: Legion

Everyone can fight for the future of London

Instead of a preset list of characters, Watch Dogs: Legion features a dystopian cyberpunk future version of London where every single person on the street can be recruited and become a new member of DeadSec. From construction workers to elderly people, anyone can be a freedom-fighting hacker standing up to the tyranny of Albion, Zero Day and crime syndicates.

In addition to the thousands of possible NPC recruits in Watch Dogs: Legionthey can be customized once they join the squad at DeadSec. Their civilian jobs also play a role in their abilities and advantages, such as spies having access to better weapons and equipment, while Albion officers can sneak into locations without setting off the alarm. This allows the player to choose who they want to join the crew.

1 Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Thanks to the Nemesis system, no two runs are the same

Monolith Productions has not only written a strong story Middle-earth: Shadow of Warbut have developed and patented the Nemesis system, which was used in their first Middle-earth game Shadow of War took it to another level by making the random generation of Uruk-Hai, Ologs and Gongs even more diverse than before.

While the main story is always known, building and conquering the army is different with each playthrough, as each orc has its own personality and may have a personal history with the main character. This Nemesis system has become iconic Middle-earth: Shadow of War that Monolith Productions is bringing it back in their upcoming album Wonder Woman Game for DC.