Free-Roaming RPGs And Why They’ll Continue To Be So Popular

In the world of video games, there are so many different kinds of story-driven games and lots of fun to be had. Since video games have become something more than a 2D time-passer, the creativity has been off the charts and we’ve been able to reap the rewards of the hard work showcased by developers. As consumers, we have been spoiled rotten with all of the exciting inventions and stories. Whether you’re into online, competitive gaming or you’re into single-player narratives, there will be a game out there that is perfect for you. In fact, there will be hundreds available that tickle your fancy!

View of San Andreas

Source: Rockstar Games/Kiesha Richardson

An extremely popular kind of game that has come on leaps and bounds since the turn of the millennium is the role-playing style that allows you to roam around the open world that has been created. Creating a character and wandering around an area seems like such a basic idea, but it works so well. We could, after all, leave our homes and explore, but for some reason, we can’t get enough of the virtual versions in front of us on our TVs. From the likes of Grand Theft Auto to Elder Scrolls games, the freedom of moving around and seeing what’s around the corner keeps us excited.

These kinds of games have a basic premise, but they’re so very popular, and they’ll continue to be so for years and years to come. If you’re interested in the reasoning behind this, then do read on - it’s pretty cool when you think about it!

They Allow Us to Wander and Explore

You’ll create a character and run through a few pieces of the storyline. You’ll get used to how everything works and the overall narrative. Once that is handled, you’ll be free to roam around. Look at the likes of Fallout – you are given a premise, and then it’s up to you how everything pans out. Sure, there are a few things that you cannot do seeing as it’s a programmed video game, but you can literally explore every square meter that is in front of you. If you’re curious about a particular aspect, then you can simply head there and check it out. This kind of freedom feels great. We’re all explorers at heart, so this gives us a simpler way of doing so – we can find out more things from the comfort of our homes while feeling as though we’re on a real journey.

Creating and Living Out A Story Keeps Us Hooked

Just like in a movie series or TV shows, we become hooked on certain stories and the characters that are portraying them. For as long as humans have been able to grasp things, they have been attracted to stories. Video games are just another example of a method of telling stories and living out certain fantasies. RPGs allow us to almost tell our own stories. There will be an element of a linear story as you can only go with what has been created, but when there are plenty of outcomes based on your experience, it makes things a lot more unique and truer to us.

You Can Spend Hours on It Doing New Things Each Time  

When you have a free-roaming video game in front of you, the possibilities feel endless. A lot of the time, you become bound only by your creativity. There are so many different things you can do in terms of single-player and multiplayer – and it can keep you occupied for hours. You might want to figure out how to make money in GTA 5 or you might just want to run around acting like fools. Because there’s so much to do, it really helps with escaping from real life when you need such respite.

There Are So Many Different Genres That It Can Cover

It’s not strictly one particular kind of genre or subject matter when it comes to RPG games. There are all kinds of creeds and backgrounds involved. You might have a space-related game, a Wild West kind of scenario, or a modern-day one – there is no discriminating. 

It’s Away from The Typical Linear Structure

Finally, it allows us to feel much freer and unshackled from a typical linear story where we must follow the guidelines strictly and do exactly as we’re told in order to complete the game. Sure, there are some amazing, award-winning games that deal with a linear story, but sometimes we need a little more fluidity – and free-roaming RPGs can do just that for us.

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