10 Open World Games with the Best Class Systems

One of the reasons that open world games have become so popular over time is the freedom they give to players, so it may seem somewhat counter-intuitive to then limit players with a restrictive class system. However, not all class systems are necessarily limiting, and some can even lead players to even more exploration and playtime by creating different characters.

Whether it's the varied classes of party-based RPGs, enabling players to come up with any number of strategies and combinations, or some more recent titles which blend the traditional system to allow players to create hybrids and unique builds, each of the following games utilizes their class system to full effect, all the while providing interesting open worlds for players to explore.

10 Enshrouded

A Very Open Skill Tree Which Gives Players Freedom

One of the more recent games to release in the fantasy RPG genre is the highly popular Enshrouded. What makes the class game in this game so special is not just the sheer size of its skill tree, but also its freedom. Even progressing along specialized paths won't lock you into place, so you can combine all sorts of abilities and skills between different specializations to create hundreds of unique character builds.

The game also actively encourages this, with many of the hybrid builds being more powerful than just singularly specialized ones. Players can choose from a wide range of skills, including Assassin, Ranger, Beastmaster, Survivor, Trickster, Healer, Wizard, Battlemage, Tank, Warrior, Barbarian, and Athlete.

9 Dragon Age: Inquisition

Lead Your Warriors, Mages, and Rogues to Glory

While Dragon Age: Inquisition only offers the basic three classes as standard: Warrior, Rogue, and Mage — you can specialize certain skill trees within each one to become vastly different. For example, Rogues might focus on archery, but also laying traps and making advanced poisons, while a Mage can specialize in a variety of powers from healing to necromancy.

The great thing about this system in combination with the party-based combat is how different classes and abilities combine to help and assist one another. Doubling up on attacks with Mages and Warriors can be extremely devastating, and it's a lot of fun to experiment with different combinations and strategies to obliterate your enemies. On top of that, the game has one of the strongest stories in the series with a huge range of political and interpersonal mechanics.

8 Guild Wars 2

Some Incredible Classes and Unique Races in a Beautiful Game World

Guild Wars 2 is one of my favourite MMOs of all time, and a large part of the reason for that is the varied classes and races you can choose from. In addition to having one of the coolest in-game worlds in the fantasy genre, Guild Wars 2 also has a very simple and intuitive combat system which is great fun to play.

There are a total of nine possible classes to choose from with a deep range of specializations within each one. While each of the game's five distinct races have their own skills and abilities, you can mix-and-match different races and classes to come up with some truly chaotic builds. My personal favorite is the Warrior-Asura, as it's particularly entertaining watching a small cute creature wielding a giant two-handed hammer with such force.

7 Cyberpunk 2077

Slash, Shoot, or Hack Your Way Through the Future

While Cyberpunk 2077 may not have a rigid class system in the traditional sense, it does have a huge variety of skills, tech, and weapons to choose from, which can lead to some highly specialized and deep character builds. Whether it's a netrunner who exclusively eviscerates targets without ever having to engage, a manic samurai with a flaming katana and enhanced agility, or an all-out tank build using heavy weapons, there is truly something for everyone in Cyberpunk 2077.

What also makes this more loose system so good is the fact that you can switch it up at any time. Want to be a powerful sniper but also have some ninja-esque melee capabilities? No problem. Fancy being a pistol specialist but want to use an automatic shotgun for a particular mission? That's possible too. The game does not restrict players in terms of its skill tree, but inevitably, some skills will be considerably more useful than others depending on your chosen playstyle.

6 Wartales

Command a Band of Rogues and Warriors on an Epic Open World Adventure

Wartales is certainly a unique game in many aspects, but one area in which it particularly excels is the class and profession system. In addition to having nine base classes including those added by DLC, there are also twelve additional professions which will enable characters in your party to develop new skills such as lockpicking, cooking, and blacksmithing.

While there are no magical classes or abilities, since Wartales focusses slightly more on a 'realistic' medieval setting, there is still plenty of variety — which you'll need if you want to succeed in the game's turn-based combat system. Overall, the distinct classes and professions help each character feel unique and developed, which certainly adds a lot to the overall experience.

5 Dragon's Dogma 2

A Fan-Favourite Skill System

The highly anticipated follow-up to Capcom's beloved fantasy RPG certainly didn't disappoint, and in fact, exceeded expectations in many ways. The game is not just about its flashy visuals and incredible boss designs. One standout feature is the way Dragon's Dogma 2 utilizes its class (vocation) system to allow players to level their preferred skills, and you can even switch between classes without losing progress on the ones you have already been using.

Finding combinations between these different classes is where the real fun in the game lies. Using Augments, which are essentially a form of passive buff, you will quickly see your character go from a humble nobody to being one of the most powerful warriors in all of Vermund and Battahl.

4 Baldur's Gate 3

Every Decision Will Have Its Consequences

Based on the ruleset of the original Dungeons and Dragons tabletop game, Baldur's Gate 3 is widely regarded as the best fantasy RPG of recent years and there's good reason for that. On top of a very well-acted story and engaging gameplay mechanics, it also takes place in an incredibly lore-rich gameworld where every decision of the player can have dramatic consequences.

The first such choice will be your player class, and this can affect the way NPCs interact with you, perhaps in a more obvious way than in any prior RPG before. The game features 12 base classes and up to 48 subclasses, so you really get a sense of building a totally unique character every time you play — there is also a multiclassing feature enabling players to adapt across multiple different classes.

Every Dragonborn is Unique

For my money, there aren't many games that have had the timeless impact, immersion, and player freedom that Skyrim affords. While it might not retain the more rigid class-based system of Oblivion, the addition of a two-handed magic system as well as the new highly powerful Dragonborn shouts enabled a far greater variety of playstyles than in previous Elder Scrolls games. That's right, you don't actually have to play as a stealth-archer every time.

The different magic types such as Illusion, Destruction, Restoration, and Conjuration can all lead to vastly different character builds, from powerful necromancers to pacifist healers. Ultimately, Skyrim gives you a lot of freedom to adapt and test out different skills, but you'll only level up and unlock the true benefits of each skill by using it regularly.

2 Diablo 4

Take It to the Demons of Hell

Diablo 4 might get a bit of flack for how it compares to some earlier entries in the series, but one area which it really improved on previous entries was with its open world. The Diablo series is known for having some of the most varied and fun-to-play classes in the RPG genre, and can be even more fun to play with friends when you have well-balanced and varied classes.

In Diablo 4, you can choose from five different classes, all with very different abilities and gear. The "Vessel of Hatred" also added a sixth class, Spiritborn, to add even further variety. Two further classes, the Paladin and Warlock, are expected to be added soon in the upcoming Lords of Hatred DLC.

1 World of Warcraft

The Godfather of Class-Based Open Worlds

Without World of Warcraft, it's hard to imagine many of the other games mentioned here existing. This titan of an MMO RPG was initially so attractive because of its class system, enabling players to create characters which truly feel unique and varied. These days, Warcraft has expanded into an entire franchise, but the original game is still going strong with roughly 8-9 million monthly users.

There are a total of thirteen different classes to choose from nowadays, and each one has at least three specializations to choose from within it. From tank-like defensive Paladins to the all-out attacking Warlock class, there are many different pathways to take, and it's for precisely this reason that many players create multiple characters.