Summary
Level scaling’s utility and benefit vary depending on what type of gamer one asks. Some love how enemies keep up with the player’s level. Others bemoan how it makes leveling up feel unimportant. When done poorly it can make the game too easy from start to finish.
When done well it makes players stay on their toes and ensures they never get too powerful or rely on grinding. The open-world games below use it in smart ways, especially when it comes to the convenience of friends who want to play together but are at different levels or at different points in the campaign.
Diablohas always had a multiplayer component to it, andDiablo 4has made it easier than ever for friends to jump into Sanctuary together. As long as players are in the same difficulty or World Tier, they can venture through the world and hack up demons together regardless of their individual level.
After all, players are always in a world with others and they sometimes happen to run into each other and take on the same enemy. The game’s level scaling works to such a degree that enemies remain almost equally challenging and engaging in the open world with a level 1 character fighting side-by-side with a level 35 character. Of course, the higher-level character will have an advantage with gear and abilities, so leveling up still has its purpose.
Dying Lightwas the successor toDead Islandyears before that game got a proper sequel.The zombie-crawling first-person RPGgives gamers the best of both worlds when it comes to level scaling. During the main campaign, there is a set progression path and enemies will be too hard if players move through the story too quickly without preparing themselves.
Only once players beat the game will enemies scale to the player’s level. The game notifies players about this too. Part of the intensity inDying Lightis rushing to a safe haven once night falls, so enemies scaling to the player’s level from the start would not be fun right from the get-go. Once players beat the game, though, it becomes the endgame people are used to from the genre.
There has been a lot said and written aboutCyberpunk 2077’stransformation from a loathed disaster into a fine open-world RPG. The game is almost unrecognizable from its launch state, especially on consoles. When the 2.0 update launched in 2023, the game introduced level scaling to ensure that players never become too weak or too strong against foes.
Before the update, combat was a struggle until players reacheda high enough level. Now, it remains steady from start to finish. To some, this takes away the earned power fantasy many RPGs like this provide after reaching high enough levels to clear out enemies that were once huge threats. To others, it helps make the whole map accessible from the start and guarantees viability in every build.
Oblivionhas a stringent level scaling system. Enemies level up side by side with the player almost exactly. This can be restricted, however, and make the game too hard later on if people have not adjusted their build correctly.
In a series that prides itself on player freedom, this leads to the opposite effect, making progression past a certain point almost impossible. Most players will likely beat the game or have their fill with it before getting to this point, but it definitely is a problem forpeople who dump hundreds of hours into the adventure and its DLCs.
This legendary series can almost be single-handedly credited with starting the looter shooter trend. It took the elements of action RPGs likeDiabloand translated them intoa first-person shooter. Games likeDead Island,The Division, andDying Lightwould not be the same withoutBorderlandscarving a path for them.
Enemies in this cartoonish and brutal world scale to the player’s level, but that does not mean the game is a cakewalk. New enemies and side quests scale to the player’s current level to ensure players are not overpowered. After beating the game, the true vault hunter modes also scale to whatever level the player is currently at. Multiplayer also uses level scaling to make sure players are even when teaming up.
Multiplayer also features an option where enemies only scale to the host’s level. It is unbalanced but an opportunity for lower-level players to level up quickly.
Even more than ten years after its release,Skyrimoffers a level of freedom few other RPGs match.Players can become almost anything in relation to the world and its combat mechanics. Whether one wants to be a brute, a sneaky archer, a mage, or a thief,Skyrimaccommodates all gameplay types. This is why the level scaling is important.
Exploring and experimenting with the progression trees needs to be a little forgiving. The game would not feel as fun or accessible if it was punishing from the opening hours. Fortunately, those looking for a deep challenge can always crank up the difficulty. It makes the game harder in exchange for more experience.
