Realism isn't something that is all that common in video games, and understandably so. The vast majority of video game developers would prefer to make a fun video game instead of something that promotes realism to a fault. After all, games work as an escape from reality, and most players aren't intrigued by video games that aim to emulate real-life barring a few instances.

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However, that doesn't mean that players won't appreciate games where developers try to adhere to what has been established in the real world to make their experience feel all the more genuine. Even a game that features realistic-looking armor sets can be pretty engaging as long as developers understand that adding realistic-looking armor sets in the game shouldn't take away from the overall fun factor. There aren't many open-world games that focus on realistic armor, but the ones that do are all the more notable for it.

5 Elden Ring

Barring Some Over-The-Top Armor Sets, The Vast Majority Of Armor Is Pretty Realistic

Elden Ring is pretty much a successor to Dark Souls in all but name, with many weapons and armor from FromSoftware's beloved trilogy making its way to Elden Ring. Since the armor in Dark Souls was already considered by many to be pretty realistic in terms of design, it's no surprise that this carries over to Elden Ring too.

Sure, some pieces of armor seem rather impractical and ridiculous to behold, but that's more of an exception than the norm. Most of the more grounded armor pieces are influenced by the designs of action armor pieces from medieval times, making the game feel all the more authentic and engaging as a result. There are many reasons why Elden Ring became such a successful game, and the authenticity of the game's combat was a huge reason why.

4 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

A Medieval Open-World Game With A Focus On Realism, With Fairly Historically Accurate Armor

Warhorse Studios knocked it out of the park with Kingdom Come: Deliverance, a title set in medieval times, that focuses on Henry, the son of a blacksmith. The game's focus on realism is commendable, with the many armor sets in the game being inspired by actual counterparts from medieval times. However, the developers didn't stop there and made sure that the first-person perspective was used to communicate the effect that heavy armor had in an actual sword fight.

If players wear a helmet, then the visor blocks their vision just like it would in real life, which makes for an authentic and rather irritating detail. Players have to choose between weighing themselves down with heavy armor or opting for lighter variants, with the designs of every armor in this game being about as realistic and authentic as most people would expect.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Most Armor Sets Are Inspired From Designs In Medieval Times

The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, adding a dark fantasy edge to established medieval tropes. Players can enjoy the best of both worlds in a world populated by heinous monsters and magical powers, while also wearing realistic armor of all shapes and sizes based on what players prefer — speed or protection.

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The armor Geralt wears is largely realistic, barring a few oddities here and there. The vast array of gambesons, cuirasses, breastplates, and everything else along the same lines players can wear in the game are rife with detail and personality while also boasting realistic designs that will prevent Geralt from being hurt during tough combat encounters.

2 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

A Beloved Medieval Sandbox Game Where Armor Is As Realistic As One Would Expect

Mount & Blade is a beloved sandbox series set in medieval times. Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is a natural evolution of the formula present in previous games, with the combat mechanics making the choice of protection in this game more important than ever before.

Armor in the game is as realistic as one would expect from a game that promotes realism, with the designs of these outfits being as authentic as can be. Immersion is a huge part of what makes Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord such a riveting title to get into, and the varied suits and pieces of armor that players can find in the game world contribute to this.

1 Dragon's Dogma

Some Armors Look Like High Fantasy Material, While Others Are Pretty Realistic And Down-To-Earth

With the release of Dragon's Dogma 2 coming sooner than later, there's no better time to jump into the first game in the series. Players will appreciate the work and detail that went into making the game's armor look as realistic as possible, with a few outliers lying here and there. These are few and far between, which makes them a fresh change of pace from regular armor sets in the game instead of something that overpowers the game's more grounded armor designs.

The sheer amount of work put into developing realistic suits of armor for the game is pretty impressive, with varying suits of armor conveying how much protection they provide based on their look and feel. The action may be over-the-top and rather unrealistic at times, but the same can't be said for the various suits of armor that players find in the game world.

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