Progression systems are extremely important in any video game, with developers wanting players to enjoy a sense of growth as they become stronger while tackling the many enemies and obstacles in their respective games. A simple and effective solution that has been found to tackle this problem is to add an upgrade system in games that allow players to pursue the build or abilities they want for their player.
However, upgrade systems have become so prominent in video games that they've honestly become a bit too trite for most people's liking. There's nothing new that video games bring to the table in this department, barring a few titles that understand how progression should work in these games.
7 Monster Hunter: World
Many people loved the Monster Hunter series, but its prevalence on portable platforms meant that many people simply didn't get to check out this amazing series for themselves. This changed with the advent of Monster Hunter: World, the first-ever release of this title on home consoles.
This was a brilliant move from Capcom, with Monster Hunter: World quickly becoming one of the most popular video game franchises in the series. The system to upgrade weapons and attain new ones is pretty simple but delightful in its variety, with players hunting down bigger and tougher monsters to get their materials and either developing new gear or improving their existing equipment.
6 Final Fantasy 10
Squaresoft needed to introduce Final Fantasy 10 to a new generation of PS2 gamers in a definitive fashion, and they managed to achieve this in a resounding fashion. To this day, many people consider the tenth mainline Final Fantasy entry to be one of the greatest video games of all time, featuring a robust upgrade system in the form of a Sphere Grid that replaced the traditional leveling present in previous titles in the series.
Players could either stay on course for their own character or try out a completely different path by jumping around using various special Spheres. This control that players had over their character's leveling made the Sphere Grid a blast to mess around with and one of the most innovative leveling systems in gaming history.
5 Deus Ex
Deus Ex is a sci-fi action RPG that is certainly one of the very best games in the genre by a country mile. The title was revolutionary for its time, with modern immersive sims still not coming close to the sheer level of brilliance exhibited by Deus Ex. Each and every level in the game is meticulously crafted to give players a sense of accomplishment as they explore these massive open environments and figure out the best way possible to reach their goal.
Deus Extakes its RPG influences seriously, with players barely being able to get a shot on target if their skill with a particular weapon is sub-par. As a result, it becomes important to invest skill points wisely and upgrade JC's skills to help him be as competent as possible in the face of adversity.
4 Hades
Supergiant Games is a master of their craft, honing their skills with each entry before releasing the action roguelike Hades to massive commercial and critical acclaim. It's easy to see why Hades 2 has been greenlit, given how successful its predecessor really was.
Players can use many tools to improve both Zagreus' passive skills and the effectiveness of his weapons, making him a force to be reckoned with in battle. Mowing through enemies and bosses that gave players a tough time never ceases to be entertaining, with the Underworld prince's upgrades helping him out quite a bit in battle.
3 God Hand
It's a shame that God Hand was unfairly panned across the board by critics who didn't understand how this combat system worked. While the game can be a bit hard to get a hang of early on, players who managed to understand how to juggle and wallop enemies would have a blast playing through this title.
Getting new roulette abilities for Gene and mapping them to the face buttons made for a simple and satisfying way to improve this character's repertoire. From struggling against the most basic enemy to walloping bosses with ease — God Hand's combat system is truly one of a kind, and a huge reason why players attain such a satisfying sense of progression is the many upgraded moves and abilities they can equip at a moment's notice.
2 Metroid
Unlike most other games, the upgrades in Metroid don't come via grinding or purchasing skills. Instead, all players need to do is engage in some exploration and check out the map to find upgrades that let them get past certain areas they were having a tough time with.
There's a reason why the Metroid series is responsible for birthing an entire genre along with Castlevania. The upgrades are extremely meaningful, and the sense of achievement that players enjoy by unlocking the route to areas that were inaccessible before is unmatched.
1 Dying Light
There's no denying that Dying Light has its fair share of problems that make it slightly challenging to get through at times. However, one place where this game excels is by letting players enjoy an upgrade system that truly makes them feel stronger with each investment.
At the start of the game, even regular zombie mobs can be a pain to deal with, and the Volatiles at night can rip the player apart if they're not careful. However, as players attain more skills, they can dropkick multiple zombies and easily outrun the more powerful zombies in the night, making it a great example of a meaningful upgrade system in video games.