When you start an open world game, you will randomly encounter some enemies. Because it gives you a chance to practice combat and earn valuable XP. But after a few hours, fighting random enemies for no reason gets tiring.
When there are bigger and better quests to complete, fights tend to feel quite repetitive and unimportant. But not all open world titles are like that. Some games have actually found ways to make random encounters consistently fun. Here are some examples:
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza (aka Like A Dragon) games are famous for their random encounters. In every game, people are constantly attacking you as you move between missions. These battles aren't particularly noteworthy, but Yakuza Kiwami does offer an additional form of random encounters. It's called Majima Everywhere.
Using this feature will keep you ambushed by series icon Goro Majima. You never know when or where this strange character will appear, or whether he will be in disguise when he does appear. It's silly, but it's an important part of the game.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Random encounters in Shadow of Mordor revolve around the Nemesis system. This is a system where all enemies are part of one big hierarchy with low level thugs at the bottom and big bosses at the top. Their ranking may change depending on their quarrel with you. If they kill you, they will move up a tier.
So, whenever you get ambushed by a random enemy, the previous fight makes a lot of sense. It's even more special when the battle involves someone you've faced before, as it adds to the fun.
Resync Assassin's Creed Black Flag
In Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynched, you take control of a pirate during the golden age of piracy. As you would expect, you can sail the seas in your own ship and battle other ships you come across. This is where you will randomly encounter them.
Other ships may not always be hostile, but since you are a pirate, you are still free to attack them. You can also encounter ships fighting each other and intervene to wipe out both ships. It helps you feel like a real pirate. Additionally, it utilizes the game's naval combat mechanics, which are a secondary focus in the main story.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Pokemon games are always random, but the titles aren't always open world. One of the open world entries is Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Random encounters are a little less random in this game because you can see the Pokémon rather than them hiding in the grass. The benefit of this is that it's easier to avoid fights that aren't really necessary.
The encounter itself is not that revolutionary. All you have to do is battle wild Pokémon. However, as with all games in the series, participating in these battles is important because it is how you catch more Pokémon. And as the series slogan is “Gotta catch them all!”, gathering your collection is essential to your adventure. The significance of these encounters is therefore what makes them incredible.
fallout 2
Wandering the wasteland in a Fallout game is rarely safe. Because there are always random things you can come across. Fallout 2 has some very interesting collections.
Most people see you being attacked by a group of hostile humans or animals. But there are also special encounters that are a bit more interesting. For example, you can meet a lot of strange characters, such as metal men, people in old-fashioned knightly armor, exploding cows, etc. These exciting encounters add to the enjoyment of the entire adventure.
cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is set in the strange and wonderful world of Night City. This city is full of people and often has a lot going on. As you drive around, you may discover interesting events.
People may come and attack you, or cars may chase you. Moreover, there are cases where two forces fight each other, and you may be an innocent witness, or you may intervene and wipe them all out. All of this gives the feeling that danger lurks around every corner of Night City.
Battle Brothers
Battle Brothers is a tactical RPG set in a medieval-inspired fantasy world. While moving around the world map, you will occasionally encounter random events and encounters. There's a lot of variety, and what you see depends in part on the character's background, origins, traits, and a few other things.
Some are simple, like a silly breathing competition or your character gets injured during training, but they can affect your character's condition. There are also other factors that affect certain contracts, such as adding additional enemies. All of these events add a bit more flair to the game.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is known for providing a very immersive open world to roam around. One of the reasons it feels like a living, breathing place is the abundance of random encounters you can experience as you explore.
You'll find many more people doing a variety of things, including a snakebite, a friend escaping from prison, a threatening gang member, an arsonist clan member, and more. The encounters are all fairly brief, but most are still very memorable.
The world of Skyrim is very large and filled with settlements, people, animals, and so much more. What makes this place even more lively are all the random encounters you may encounter while playing.
There's a wide variety of things to do, from being robbed by a member of the thieves' guild to witnessing a vampire eat a person. Perhaps the most notable of these is when a giant dragon spawns and attacks you. This can quickly make the situation very confusing and dangerous. Also, knowing that something like that could happen makes me a little more nervous while roaming.
grand theft auto 5
Grand Theft Auto 5 is set in San Andreas, which includes Los Santos (a fictional version of Los Angeles) and the surrounding desert regions. So it’s a big place with a lot going on. Some of what's happening are random encounters that you can stumble upon and participate in.
Common events involve chasing a robber, but there are also more interesting events. For example, you might find a man tied to a pole in his underwear, and you have to help him get to the wedding on time. Like most encounters, it's very funny. But there are also violent people. Grand Theft Auto is known for its humor and bloodshed, so this isn't surprising. So you should expect the same results from random encounters.
