Weather has come a long way in video games. Weather started out as a way to set up a dress up game or convey a key moment during a cutscene. When a villain appears, the sky may darken and a storm may arise, or it may start to rain as a character cries over a dying body. These are all good examples, but as consoles have advanced, developers have been able to utilize better technology for gameplay purposes.
10 games where the weather affects gameplay
Many games have dynamic weather effects, but in some games the weather is more than visual.
Weather effects in the game are now more dangerous as they can affect gameplay. Sometimes this helps provide new immersion opportunities, while other times the weather effects can be too annoying to deal with. Let's take a look at some big games that make good use of weather effects, for better or worse.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Surface made slippery by rain
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Hyrule is amazingly realized, one of the most freeing open world games of all time. But that doesn't mean there aren't obstacles. One of the most frustrating weather patterns is rain, which prevents players from getting onto any surfaces, which can be disastrous while exploring and collecting items.
There are other weather-based hazards as well, such as having Link drink something hot in a cold, snowy area to avoid losing a heart, or vice versa in a hot area.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Watch the passage of time
player Death Stranding 2: On the Beach You can explore vast deserts, mountains and forest areas throughout Mexico and Australia. The only real weather problem is rain. This is called Timefall. Because the rain in this world contains chemicals that can quickly age anything it touches, from human hands to packages.
To prevent rain from damaging the package, players can build a shelter to wait out the rain or cover the package with a tarp. Players can also use trucks to safely transport goods in bulk. Snowy areas can also cause damage, especially to the main character, Sam.
final fantasy 12
Monster Hunter
final fantasy 12 It's more of a semi-open world, but it was one of the biggest things of its time on the PS2. final fantasy stratagem. In certain areas, the weather can affect that area by opening new routes, closing areas, or causing new enemies to appear.
One of the game's biggest side quests was rare monster hunting, and players had to pay attention to weather patterns to know when these rare monsters would appear. Additionally, certain weather patterns may be strengthened, and alignment magic, such as water spells, may become stronger when it rains.
Assassin's Creed Origins
dust in the wind
Assassin's Creed Origins was the first game to incorporate RPG elements into its gameplay, and overall, this large-scale open-world RPG was primarily set in Egypt. A big weather pattern that players had to watch out for was sandstorms that would occasionally occur as players explored the terrain.
Ultimate city builder with dynamic weather system
This amazing city-building game features a dynamic weather system to make it even more immersive.
Sandstorms affect visibility but do not harm the player, unlike sandstorms in some other games, including: Mad Max. If players use Eagle Vision to cut through the wind, they can use sandstorms to their advantage to quickly and quietly eliminate enemies.
monster hunter wild
Season of fallow and abundance
monster hunter wild It is the world's first fully open world game. Monster Hunter The franchise allows players to move from one end of the map to the other, which is determined by story progression.
The game features two seasons, Fallow and Plenty, which allow you to change how the environment behaves and what monsters will appear, eventually allowing players to select which season they want to explore from the mission menu. For example, the starting area, Windward Plains, may have sandstorms that affect visibility and lightning storms that players must actively avoid. Otherwise, injury may occur.
easy to sneak
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain Although separated into small biomes of open space, most feature desert terrain with a few bits of vegetation here and there. This is another stealth game where players can use sandstorms to their advantage to sneak past or eliminate guards.
Rain can help hide players because it is generally darker, and if the water is pounding loudly enough, players can shoot enemies without silencers because the deafening sound of bullets is masked.
fallout 4
Radstorm Alert
fallout 4 Radstorms are one of the deadliest weather patterns you'll see in any game. The game takes place in the Boston area of the United States, close to the ocean. Ocean winds influenced rain in the region, carrying radiation with it. fallout Fans know that radiation can have harmful effects.
If left untreated, it can sometimes cause mutations in the player, so it's best to be prepared while traveling through the wasteland. Players can carry various potions to nullify Radstorm effects, such as Rad-X. Alternatively, players can stay inside any type of shelter to wait out the storm.
Xenoblade Chronicles
weatherproofing machine
Xenoblade Chronicles There's a huge open world area to explore, which is filled with nasty creatures, much stronger and bigger than your initial party can handle. Additionally, dynamic weather can affect all three types of character archetypes in the game. There are machines called Skells that can be controlled by humans and humanoid party members, enemies of all types, allies and enemies.
A game with a huge map that won't waste your time (exploration without filler)
Immerse yourself in the open world adventure and forget you're playing a game. Because it's full of content.
Weather affects these characteristics differently. For example, rain can reduce accuracy for party members and enemies, but if your character controls a Skell, rain will not affect accuracy. Unlocking Skells takes time, but it's definitely worth it since it allows you to negate many weather effects.
Pokemon Violet/Scarlet
weather evolution
pokemon violet and pokemon scarlet There are two of the biggest pokemon Games created by Game Freak utilize weather patterns in a variety of ways. One of the most obvious is that certain weather conditions can bring forth Pokémon, just as rain can bring forth Water-type Pokémon.
Weather can also affect how a Pokémon evolves, like Sliggoo evolving into Goodra in rainy weather. Evolutionary patterns are currently rare; pokemon As the series continues to evolve, and depending on how players interact with the creatures, this could become more common in future Pokémon sequels.
mario kart world
hold on tight to the wheel
mario kart world is the first game in the series to feature an open world that links tracks together during a circuit, and players can also fully explore the world to discover minigames and costumes. As a racing game, it's not surprising how the weather affects the cars.
When it rains, tires become slippery and prone to slipping, making it even more dangerous on snowy roads. In these situations, players need to be more tactful while driving. The overall terrain can make the race more difficult. Like mud, tire traction can be slowed.
Red Dead Redemption fans, this open-world game is worth your time.
The freedom you have to explore nature in these open world games is truly amazing. Red Dead Redemption fans will enjoy this.