Highlights
- Believable NPCs enhance immersion in open-world games, making the game world feel more realistic and enjoyable.
- Rockstar Games has excelled at developing open-world games with realistic NPC behaviors and interactions, as seen in Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Unique NPC routines and behaviors in games like Gothic , Kenshi , and Watch Dogs: Legion add depth to the game world and make the player's experience more engaging.
Open-world gaming is one of the most mainstream ways to enjoy this popular entertainment medium, and it's also one of the most popular genres around. This makes it important for these worlds to stand out so that players have a reason to embark on wonderful journeys in these worlds instead of feeling exhausted by the same tropes.
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Having a believable world where NPCs act realistically certainly helps players immerse themselves in the game world. This is easier said than done, but developers who undertake the tough job of developing an open-world game with believable NPCs and are largely successful in their endeavor will be more than pleased by what's on display here.
5 Grand Theft Auto 5
NPCs Have Unique Behaviors And Animations That Help Them Feel Like Natural Parts Of The Game World
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , PS4 , PS3 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC
- Released
- September 17, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Genre(s)
- Open-World , Action
Rockstar has always been at the forefront of open-world gaming, arguably setting a formula for future games to emulate with the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 before building upon the success of this game with future releases in the series. It's easy to see why the hype for Grand Theft Auto 5 was through the roof since Rockstar promised to help its formula elevate to new heights.
Upon release, it was clear that Grand Theft Auto 5 was a massive step in the right direction. The story, gameplay, and world design were in a class of their own, with Los Santos and the surrounding countryside being incredibly detailed. The idea of controlling three protagonists was also well-received, and NPC interactions were better than ever before.
4 Gothic
Every Resident In This Twisted World Has A Routine They Follow Every Day
Gothic is a rather underrated Western RPG that focuses on the tale of a prisoner who is dumped unceremoniously into the ore mines where he must learn to fend for himself or die trying. Progression was unique in Gothic, with players using their skill points to talk to actual characters in the game world who could help them hone their skills.
NPCs in the world also had their schedules, which made the world feel more immersive. These characters had their jobs, cooked food to sustain themselves, engaged in recreational activities, and went to bed by night. Fleshing out the NPC AI made Gothic's world feel more believable and fun to interact with.
3 Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's Immaculate Detail Is Present Everywhere, Including How NPCs Behave In This World
If players thought that there was no way Rockstar could make a game that was more mind-blowing than Grand Theft Auto 5, then Red Dead Redemption 2 showed just how much the studio had grown since the massive success of the fifth mainline GTA entry. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a thing of beauty that fans continue to talk about to this day, and understandably so.
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The story of Arthur Morgan as he and the rest of Dutch's gang experience a slow and steady downfall is heartbreaking to witness. The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is made even more believable by the title's many NPCs, with players having unique interactions with these characters in the game world that show just how immersive Rockstar's open-world games are.
2 Kenshi
A Sandbox Where Players Start As Competent As Any Regular NPC, With Inhabitants Having Their Routines
One of the most unique sandbox games that players can get their hands on, the sheer amount of things players can accomplish in Kenshi is mind-blowing. Unlike most games where players are the Chosen One or someone equally important, Kenshi puts players in the role of a character who is about as unremarkable as they come.
There's no difference between the player character and a run-of-the-mill NPC in the early game, with the latter feeling like natural parts of the game world. Their tasks are defined and they carry out any relevant activities in a realistic and believable manner, with some of these characters making sure that the player's time in Kenshi's world is anything but easy.
1 Watch Dogs: Legion
Since All NPCs Are Recruitable, They Need To Be As Unique And Believable As Possible
Watch Dogs: Legion got a lot of flack when it was released. The game felt like a rather generic sandbox, and the main story didn't hit as hard. However, one mechanic of Watch Dogs: Legion that is unique is the fact that players can recruit any NPC in the game world to join DedSec.
This meant that the game needed to make NPCs in the game as unique as possible, something that they accomplished with great results. NPCs could hate or like the player character based on their actions, and it took a decent amount of work to convince more recruits to join DedSec.
