The first time I encountered RPG games was over a decade ago, playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on a modest laptop with limited graphics and performance. Back then, I had just stepped out of the beginner’s village and didn’t even understand the importance of skill allocation or character progression. I blindly swung my sword at anything that moved and was often torn apart by wolves or bandits before I could react. Over the years, I have played countless RPGs across various platforms, but the unique sense of growth—from a weak, inexperienced player to a powerful hero—has always captivated me deeply. In recent years, several new releases have reignited that passionate feeling and reminded me why I fell in love with RPGs in the first place—Baldur’s Gate 3, Final Fantasy XVI, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and the next-gen enhanced The Witcher 3 have each brought fresh experiences and challenges that make the journey from humble beginnings to world-saving legend as thrilling as ever.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 — The Weight of Choices and the Depth of Growth
The first time I entered the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, I was just a small character cursed with a “parasite.” I started without flashy equipment or invincible skills, and even my companions regarded me with suspicion. That sense of isolation made me naturally immerse myself in the role.
In the early game, I carefully weighed every dialogue choice, as one wrong decision could cause a potential ally to leave the party. I once failed to convince a half-orc leader and was forced into a war against an entire tribe, nearly losing everything. This irreversible consequence system made every decision feel like a real-life major choice.
Growth was not just about leveling up or acquiring gear, but also understanding the world’s rules. By mid-game, I was no longer a reckless fighter who charged head-on but had learned to design tactics using terrain, spells, and teamwork. In a battle against a vampire noble, I pre-set oil barrels and traps in a corridor, then lured the enemy in before unleashing a fireball that turned the battlefield into chaos. At that moment, I felt like a true strategist in the story.
By the late game, my growth extended beyond power to mindset. When facing an evil force threatening the entire world, I no longer hesitated but made sacrificial decisions decisively. This transformation from village newbie to world savior was not forced by the system but something I achieved step by step through choices and their costs.
- Final Fantasy XVI — From Kingdom Prince to True Guardian
Final Fantasy XVI offered me a different sense of growth. At the start, I was a prince of noble birth but limited in ability, caught in the whirlpool of family and politics. Early battles forced me to rely on limited summon powers to barely survive.
The turning point came after the kingdom’s fall. Losing everything, I was like a warrior stripped of armor, facing the world with bare hands. The sense of loss was real and painful, but it made the subsequent growth more meaningful.
Through repeated battles, I learned to master different summon powers. The first time I saved a companion using the wings of the Phoenix, I felt not only combat exhilaration but also the meaning of protection. The story constantly confronted me with the theme of the “price of power,” where every victory was layered with loss and sacrifice.
By the final battle, I could smoothly switch between multiple summon skills, executing dazzling and deadly combos. At that moment, I was no longer just the kingdom’s heir but the guardian of the entire continent.
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty — Self-Transcendence in a Dystopia
I had played Cyberpunk 2077 long ago, but it was not until the release of the “Phantom Liberty” DLC that I truly experienced its RPG growth depth.
Starting the DLC, I was a minor figure on the outskirts of Night City, caught in conspiracies far beyond my power. Facing cybernetic beings, mercenaries, and gang leaders, I had to switch between gunfights, hacking, and negotiations.
As the main story progressed, I gradually unlocked new cybernetic enhancements, dramatically boosting my reflexes, strength, and hacking skills. The first time I infiltrated an enemy system holographically and disabled the entire security network in ten seconds gave me a sense of achievement that no firearm could match.
Growth here was not only about increasing strength but also changing mindset. At first, I knew nothing of Night City’s rules and only thought about survival. In the end, I could manipulate these rules to my advantage and even influence political-level power struggles.
- The Witcher 3 Next-Gen — Accumulation of Experience and Wisdom
Although the original The Witcher 3 is an older game, the next-gen update with ray-tracing and optimized combat system rekindled my obsession.
Geralt’s growth is not a traditional “from zero to hero” mode; he is an experienced monster hunter from the start. Yet, under the player’s control, he continues to evolve — mastering new sword combos, alchemy recipes, and making choices that affect the fate of the entire continent.
The moment that impressed me most was a dialogue battle with a high-level vampire. In my youth, I might have drawn my sword immediately, but this time, using intelligence gathered from previous quests, I found a bloodless way to resolve the conflict. This sense of growth through knowledge and experience was even more satisfying than leveling up.
- The Essence of RPG Growth — Immersion and Participation
Looking back on these experiences, I realize that the charm of RPGs is not just the increase in stats and gear but the chance to participate in a living, breathing world. Every level-up, every choice, every battle is a mark I leave in the story.
The path from village newbie to world savior has no shortcuts. It requires failure, trial, and finding one’s place through crises. When I stood before the final gate in Baldur’s Gate 3, faced the ultimate enemy in Final Fantasy XVI, reversed fate in Cyberpunk 2077, or resolved a bloody conflict in The Witcher 3, I felt the same emotion — I was no longer the newbie but an irreplaceable character in the story.
Perhaps this is the true charm of the RPG growth journey.
