Part 4/9:
To encapsulate the distinct differences in RPG design philosophy, a comparison is drawn between Gothic 2 and Skyrim, the latter being a proud representative of the individualistic RPG trend.
In games like Skyrim, players enjoy vast open worlds where they can explore and undertake quests at their leisure, often sidestepping main storylines. The design encourages freedom, but it often results in these expansive worlds feeling disconnected from deeper narrative arcs. Players can lose themselves for hours pursuing distractions, but this freedom comes at a cost: a lack of personal agency within the game world.