An open world game where base building is part of the story

base construction very Important characteristics of the open world genreThis is especially true when we talk about sandbox or survival games that focus solely on collecting resources and making the most of them through crafting or building. Many players love creating and building things from scratch, and some fan creations are so impressive that they're almost works of art in themselves. But beyond survival and sandbox titles, some The story-driven game implements a base-building mechanic. You can even make it surprisingly important to the story.

Naturally, players should not expect the same level of crafting and building mechanics as e.g. minecraft In a story-driven open world game. In our experience, these titles offer the right amount of depth and customization options, but try to make them easy and flexible so players don't get too overwhelmed or distracted by other elements. That said, building a base or settlement can be very important to the narrative of such games, rather than simply being an optional activity. Sometimes players can't even progress through the story to accomplish certain missions and objectives without first building and customizing their base, which can unlock entirely new features or important characters. Here are some examples of open world games: Building a base is not only possible, it's actually part of the story..

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Ravensthorpe settlement expansion

Assassin's Creed Although it has little to do with base-building mechanics, later entries take some confident steps in that direction. Assassin's Creed Valhalla It was the first of its kind. In the previous entry: black flag or OdysseyPlayers can only customize and upgrade their own ships. AC Valhalla Take it a step further and make the player the new leader of an emerging Viking settlement. Ravensthorpe As the story progresses, you can unlock new gameplay features, upgrades, missions, and even game modes through agreements.

Ravensthorpe plays a big part in: Assassin's Creed Valhalla The story serves as the new home of the Raven Clan, where Eivor constantly returns to speak with their advisors, meet new secondary characters who can provide new quests, improve your equipment and ships, train your mounts, relive secondary adventures with your loved ones, or simply feast and celebrate with your people. The building is relatively simple. ValhallaPlayers are unable to choose where to place specific buildings, there is little to no customization beyond decorative statues and other minor elements, and all resources required are easily collected through raids. But despite this simplicity, Ravensthorpe really starts to feel like home over the course of the game, and it's rewarding just to watch Ravensthorpe grow and bustle with different people.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Van Der Linde Gang Camp Customization

It unfolds like a road movie. Red Dead Redemption 2Van der Linde's gang is on the run and is forced to travel across the country, constantly searching for new places to set up temporary settlements. The entire story is divided into chapters linked to new camp locations. Players must first scout the surroundings to find the best location, and then take on the overall mission of having the gang move to new locations, including untamed wastelands, caves, and abandoned buildings, and build new bases.

It's worth noting that despite its huge impact on the story, players can't really create anything significant. Red Dead Redemption 2Every member of the gang basically has their own tent and place for the night, outside of smaller expansions such as stables or chicken coops. However, players can also customize and improve several places throughout the camp, from the kitchen to personal spaces, decorating them with hunting trophies and sometimes even doing chores throughout the camp to make their lives easier and gain more respect in the community. Players can set up their own small camp anywhere in the wilderness where they can rest, cook, and stock up on ammunition. RDR 2.

Watch Mother Base grow

Perhaps one of the best examples of a base-building mechanic that is important to an open world game, both in terms of gameplay and story, is this: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain mother base. These overseas headquarters serve as the base for the game's progression, with players gradually populating their base with new employees drawn from open-world missions to develop equipment and unlock new features essential to progressing the story. Mother Base also represents a narrative layer that rebuilds the Diamond Dogs, emphasizing Big Boss's army-building revenge arc and becoming the location where certain key events of the story unfold.

Mother Base focuses more on structural freedom and management rather than “building”, and players have little to no access to the base layout. They can only choose the build order. Valhalla. However, some customization is available, including color options and custom emblems. Why create Mother Base? MGS 5 What's very important, though, is how much story-related stuff happens there, from parasite outbreaks and employee funerals to full-blown enemy invasions, important story cutscenes and character interactions, and even potential brawls or desertions if the players ignore too many base visits.

Dune: Awakening

Solido Construction System

Dune: Awakening It's the most survival-like open world game on this list, as players can largely ignore the story campaign and missions in favor of sandbox survival on Arrakis on their own terms. Base building and base operation are essential in the game. Players must claim their own territory, build their headquarters from scratch with complete freedom, gather resources and blueprints to expand and strengthen them, and constantly monitor the systems to ensure they are functioning properly, even in the background when the game is not being played. Otherwise you risk losing your equipment.

Featuring powerful crafting and building mechanics that rival the most popular sandbox survival games. Dune: Awakening They are also very important to story progression, acting as gates to some essential quests that require the player to build certain structures first. For example, without a spice cache, faction-specific quests for the Atreides or Harkonnens are locked out, and if players can't craft essentials like a Stillsuit or Sandbike, many of the game's mission contracts can't be tackled at all. Simply put, it is impossible to survive on Arrakis without a house or several houses.

Assassin's Creed Shadow

Fully customizable hideout

It continues the settlement building mechanism first established in 1999. AC Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Shadow Another confident step in this direction. Naoe needs a place to hide and gather allies as she embraces her role as an assassin dedicated to stopping onryō across Japan. hideout It becomes that location, and can be unlocked relatively early in the story. However, unlike Ravensthorpe, Hideout is a completely flexible, player-driven environment where every building can be placed wherever you want, with extensive customization inside and out, as well as the surrounding area.

Hiding is equally important. Assassin's Creed Shadow' The story of Ravensthorpe Valhalla It serves as a place where various NPCs gather to provide players with side quests, train allies, unlock new combat features or mechanics, improve equipment, go on assassination hunts, and more. Players are encouraged to return to the Hideout every season to receive rewards from scouts, explore relationships by talking to companions, witness random interactions between them, or simply spend time with Junjiro. It feels like a safe place where players can take a breather between combat, stealth, and exploration.