6 Open-World RPGs With Legit Perfect Loot Systems

It’s hard to find players who don’t love loot, and even those who claim they don’t want every open-world game to evolve into a full-fledged RPG probably won’t deny that there have already been some really strong examples of such a transition. Ultimately, it all depends on how well each game embraces loot systems and makes them vital to their gameplay without overcomplicating things. Adding loot is rarely completely out of place; it’s all a matter of balance.

Well-fleshed-out loot systems can make any game better, but there are certain rules to follow, from the amount of loot players receive to the layered nature of its perks and stats. Such systems can easily become unnecessarily complex to learn or, on the contrary, too simple to be meaningful. Below are some open-world RPGs with legit perfect loot systems, maintaining the delicate balance between quality, quantity, depth, approachability, and reward in their own unique ways.

Elden Ring

Only The Most Persistent Will Get The Full Collection

While most modern open-world RPGs are still somewhat reliant on randomized, color-coded loot systems, Elden Ring remains a standout achievement in handcrafted gear variety. Every piece of gear you get in Elden Ring is individually designed, from its looks to its stats, weight, moveset (for weapons), and more. This approach makes every discovery desirable and strongly encourages deep exploration, because you know that some rewards simply can’t be obtained anywhere else in the game.

While Elden Ring isn’t the only game that treats its loot this way (AC Valhalla is another example that comes to mind), it’s easily among the most generous games when it comes to distinct loot found in chests or dropped by enemies and bosses. Beyond the exceptional number and variety of items, their individual stats are also important, whether it’s armor with resistance to various damage types, a weapon’s special ability, or unique bonuses from talismans. Even gear weight can become a problem if your character can’t handle it.

Borderlands 4

Its Randomness Is In Its Own League

Mentioning Borderlands instantly floods one’s mind with an avalanche of loot, mostly guns of all shapes and sizes. By the fourth mainline entry, Gearbox has mastered the subtle art of looting, delivering a never-ending stream of wildly randomized variations that are more flexible than ever before. Combined with much greater buildcraft variety, this puts Borderlands 4 one step above its predecessors, while an extra focus on multi-piece set bonuses and Firmware transfers makes the system easy to get invested in.

Borderlands 4’s weapons are assembled from manufacturers, stats, elements, special effects, and individual components, so you never really know what you’re getting or how it will behave until you try it in combat. Special Legendary and Pearlescent items are extremely rare and carry effects ordinary gear cannot roll, further enhancing their worth. Fortunately, the game’s endgame knows what you might be after, making the hunt for specific items easier and more fruitful.

Middle-earth: Shadow Of War

Loot Elevated Through A Unique Personal Layer

Once a popular open-world series, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is now mostly remembered for its unfortunate Nemesis System patent, keeping other titles from freely building on this one-of-a-kind mechanic. However, the game’s loot system is another achievement that is often overlooked. Random loot drops and randomized enemies with deeply personal encounters really feed into each other here, creating an unusual balance that works better than in most other titles.

In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, orc captains can drop equipment connected to their class, so hunting higher-ranked commanders yields greater rewards. Obtaining a powerful weapon may constantly remind you of the distinctive orc you repeatedly faced to get it. Aside from that, it is a mostly classic but still robust system, featuring Legendary pieces and themed sets, gear with unique in-game upgrade challenges, and a way to quickly adjust your best items to your current level without needing to scrap them as you progress.

Diablo 4

Keeps Reinventing The Wheel, With Varied Results

Of course, no loot-centered list can avoid something as impactful as Diablo. Even if the fourth entry wasn’t perfect right from the start, ongoing support based on fan feedback and Blizzard’s own ideas has finally shaped Diablo 4 into a truly monstrous open-world ARPG you can play for hundreds of hours, primarily chasing increasingly powerful and rare item drops for your favorite character class. Diablo 4’s itemization is incredibly vast and diverse, while some of its best items are so rare that they require specific farming strategies to finally obtain.

While Diablo 4 is definitely somewhere near the top of its subgenre when it comes to its open world and loot systems, it’s worth noting that, due to ongoing updates, some loot-focused changes have still been hit and miss with the community. One of the latest updates, for instance, has been met with lukewarm enthusiasm due to how randomized Unique item bonuses have become, diluting or even losing the entire layer that made them, well, unique in the first place.

Fallout 76

One Of The Deepest And Most Flexible Loot Progression Layers

Whether or not it is up your alley, Fallout 76 shouldn’t be underestimated for its loot system, which is easily among the deepest in the open-world genre. Years of updates, an emphasis on crafting, and an ever-expanding arsenal of unique weapons and armor pieces have created a progression system where the balance is always shifting, prompting you to hunt for new recipes, trade unique mods, and experiment with your current equipment.

Fallout 76’s best gear comes from rare four-star items and raid-exclusive mods. Since top gear can carry several effects, it’s the combination of rolls you’re most interested in. Keeping the best items and tweaking their unwanted perks is a never-ending chase for perfection, while the game turns bad random drops into a sort of progression toward eventually controlling that randomness.

Last but not least, Fallout 76 offers one of the best loot-processing systems, as everything you don’t need can be dismantled into useful materials you’ll always want stockpiled for your next building or crafting endeavor. Along the way, you also grow your modification knowledge and can even expand your library of craftable Legendary effects.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

From Looks To Perks, You Control Everything

After Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s unique take on gear and loot, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seemingly takes a step back, returning to AC Odyssey’s color-coded loot system with random drops from enemies and most chests. Much of the best Legendary gear, though, can only be obtained by clearing huge castles, fortresses, and camps, killing bosses, or eliminating various assassination targets. What makes AC Shadows’ system so good is how useful and distinct most weapon perks are, how flexibly they can be applied to other gear, and how stunning most weapons and armor look.

Loot drops in AC Shadows stay engaging for a long time thanks to the visual splendor of new items unlocked as you rise through the levels, while discovering unique perks further enhances the game’s deep buildcrafting potential for both Yasuke and Naoe. For those who strive to collect every unique Legendary reward, there’s nothing more satisfying than finally looting the chest stashed at the top of a castle. What’s more, loot drops are fairly generous in Assassin’s Creed Shadows without being overly frequent, so the flow of new items to process never becomes too tedious, but never dries up either.