Summary
TheRPGgenreis among the most popular in the gaming world. It opens a wide range of possibilities for players to explore vast worlds as the characters of their choosing. This not only makes the experience entertaining but also adds another layer of complexity to the narrative and even the combat mechanics implemented.
While not all RPGs have Status Effects, those that do present players withan additional challenge for survival, as failing to feed their party or let them rest can significantly impact gameplay and character performance. Fatigue is one of the most common Status Effects implemented into RPGs and its consequences can vary from one title to another. Here are some of thebest RPGs that have great fatigue mechanics.
Taking place over the course of two weeks in a remote and isolated town,Pathologic 2presents players with a premise involving an outbreak of the Plague, where Artemy Burakh, a surgeon raised in the town, will have to uncover the truth behind the outbreak.
While many people would classifyPathologic2 as asurvival horroror even a survival thriller before calling it an RPG, it does feature enough elements of the latter to also be considered as such. The Exhaustion Status Effect present in this title increases daily, and if players let it build up to a point where the meter is full, their character will slowly start to lose health.
Taking inspiration from other classic RPGs, such asBaldur’s Gate, andNeverwinter Nights 2,Pathfinder: Kingmakeroffers compelling gameplay that will keep players entertained for hours. Featuring several RPG mechanics, such as character creation, this title has a lot of flexibility and gives players the right amount of freedom to make the experience enjoyable.
One of the best mechanics inPathfinder: Kingmakeris the addition of the Exhaustion Status Effect, which directly impacts how a character behaves. Exhausted characters will move at half their speed and can’t run or charge at enemies. Moreover, characters with this Status Effect will be penalized with a -6 reduction in Strength and Dexterity.
6Expeditions: Viking
Traveling For Too Long Will Result In Weary Warriors
Expeditions: Vikinghas one of the most compelling and likely accurate starting premises revolvingaround the Viking eraand the way Scandinavian societies worked at the time. When players are named the chieftain of their village, things seem to be going very well. However, they will soon find out that there’s a coup already taking place to gain dominion of the land and take the role of leader from them.
This title features several different Status Effects, including “Fatigued”, which halves the total finesse, perception and strength score of players' characters, making everything much more challenging. Fatigue typically happens when players have traveled for too long without resting and can be cured by resting at a campsite and taking a Vigour Tonic.
While many medieval stories allow players to take on the role of royalty or a renowned knight,Kingdom Come: Deliverancedecides to take an entirely different route and puts players in the shoes of Henry, the peasant son of a respected blacksmith. With non-linear storylines, a complex law system and skill-based mini-games, this title has everything players need to have a fun adventure in the Middle Ages.
The “Tired” effect inKingdom Come: Deliverancewill cause players' Stamina and Speech to decrease, which can negatively affect various aspects of the game. To address this problem, players can go to Inns and get a good night’s sleep. It’s also possible to sleep in other people’s beds, but it can get players into trouble, which, naturally, won’t allow them to rest as much as they need to.
While playingNeverwinter Nights 2, players will take on the role of a resident of a small village which was once the battlefield where the King of Shadows (the game’s main antagonist) was supposedly defeated. This title presents players with a rich story that will have them seek any means that can be used to prevail over the forces of evil.
While there’s not much information about Status Effects inNeverwinter Nights 2, there is a “Fatigued” status, which punishes whoever has it with a -2 penalty to their Strength and Dexterity Stats and causes a 10% reduction in movement speed.
Darkest Dungeonis arguably one of the most complete games of its type, as it features tons of different mechanics, and 16 playable classes, including Crusader, Hellion, Abomination, Plague Doctor, and Bounty Hunter. The concept of this title is simple; players must guide a group of adventurers through dark, damp dungeons, where they’ll encounter various creatures that will put them to the test.
That said, the perils lurking in the shadows aren’t the only thing that can affect players, as there are also Status Effects like stress that impact how the game develops and how the characters act. This isn’t really surprising, as it’s probably safe to say that exploring a dark dungeon filled with dangers isn’t the most relaxing thing to do.
Set within a century or so from modern times,Wasteland 3takes place in the frozen wasteland of Colorado, wherea group of rangersstruggles to survive and establish itself to create a habitable area to thrive and rebuild society. This party-based RPG will have players gather resources and make improvements to their ranger base as the story progresses.
While the game doesn’t specifically feature Fatigue Status Effects, it does feature other interesting ones that make it a fine addition to the list. For example, the “Hungover” effect reduces AP by 2 and has a duration of either 60 turns or 600 seconds. Another great effect is “Fried”, which reduces evasion by 10% and lasts either 720 turns or 7200 seconds.
Few games in history can crown themselves as not only a great RPG, but also the predecessor to one of the most successful fantasy titles ever made. WhileThe Elder Scrolls 4: Obliviontakes place 200 years beforeThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, it still helped lay the foundations for what the game would become and presented players with an amazing experience that many of them still remember fondly.
Players will likely remember the Fatigue bar, which was shown in green on their HUD. When this bar reaches zero, Melee damage is considerably reduced, and the ability to pickpocket and use stealth will also be affected significantly. This, along with other great game mechanics, has turnedOblivioninto a timeless classic.
