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RPGs are often considered focused on more planning than action, with Action RPGs being an exception, therefore combining it together with building bases seems like a very natural progression.
Nothing beats a stronghold to rule your future empire with an iron grip from! Or help save the world/kingdom if you’re into that sort of thing…
Getting your own safe haven or a base idea was present in some older RPG titles like Baldur’s Gate 2, it allowed the player to get some extra content, quests and items related to running such.
While the idea was great, it wasn’t very well developed due to time and money constraints. But it implanted an idea in many players, an idea of creating a base of operations for their adventures, something that TTRPG fans already enjoyed in their campaigns…
Setting up your new stronghold is often tied to fulfilling some sort of quest line. Either that or securing influence/resources/recipes to unlock more facilities or buildings within your new settlement. There’s plenty of potential interaction with either neutral NPCs or enemies to gather those.
Trade, combat, questlines or simple scavenging. Plenty of already existing mechanics commonly found in RPGs make the base/settlement building seem more like an inevitable outcome rather than a separate genre altogether!
It does seem like a match made in heaven.
Having more options is definitely an interesting part of base building. Whether it’s researching newer technologies or unlocking new recipes to improve already existing buildings, which in turn open even more opportunities.
Improvement in both functionality and efficiency is very satisfying for players, it gives the satisfactory feeling of progression, plus actual in-game bonuses as well of course!
Base building or rather having a place to rest and recuperate was present in the TTRPGs before it made its way to the computer RPGs.
While in the TTRPG, the DM can come up with benefits/challenges on the fly, the video game versions don’t have that luxury. Every mechanic, event, interaction within the stronghold have to be coded in.
If the base building is optional, it has to be separated from the main story with only minimum interactions between them, which is often why it may feel like these serve more like a side content rather than part of the main narrative.
Which isn’t a bad thing on its own, as not every player enjoys that part of the game. If players wish to take part in the experience, they’re more than welcome to engage with the mechanics!
Here’s our top choice titles with both RPG and base building mechanics!
Kenshi is basically a free roam game, there’s no set objective other than your own personal goals. After you create your character and pick a “game start” that affects your companions, health and overall initial difficulty, it’s up to you to survive, no hand holding.
If you manage to build up your warchest to invest into creating your base, the game will respond to it by sending enemies to raid it, so be prepared!
To construct better structures you’ll also need to research technologies, some are harder to find than the others, so explore and purchase them around the world.
Kenshi can be very challenging for newcomers but there’s plenty of basic guides and mods to ease you in, if you’re up to the challenge!
Very fun once you get the basics down and start fighting back!
The first (unmodded) Bethesda game to offer full settlement construction. Players can start creating their own settlements straight after leaving the Vault. From housing to actual furniture, Power Armour stations to add some modifications, electricity, water processing, there’s plenty to choose from.
Unsurprisingly the mods themselves are plentiful and expand this to the insane level, further allowing you to create some fully self-sustaining fortresses or some ridiculous trap mazes for your enemies.
But it can safely be ignored if you don’t want to manage or build settlements and simply want to enjoy some Bethesda Fallout experience instead. It’s purely optional, despite certain quests being tied to it, specifically the Minutemen faction.
Pillars of Eternity expands on the idea that was introduced in Baldur’s Gate 2. The Watcher (main protagonist) can visit and claim the “Caed Nua” stronghold.
While it’s initially pretty much a ruin, it contains a statue with a woman's soul bound into it serving as its caretaker that allows you to improve the keep so long as you’ve got coppers to afford it.
There’s plenty of extra content, unique quests, items and other goodies related to its improvement. The location also contains an optional exploration of the Caed Nua dungeons with some challenging enemies to face on the way and at the very bottom (be prepared for some serious fight!).
While completely optional, it’s definitely worthwhile to invest into its development as it can net you some useful items along the way!
Darkest Dungeon is a game that virtually requires you to improve your settlement unlike other titles where it’s more optional. Each new structure is tied to both skill and gear improvements for your… “heroes”.
Each structure needs specific resources to be upgraded, resources that can be gained from dangerous expeditions, requiring players to balance between risk and reward every time. It’s entirely possible to lose all your heroes in a particularly unlucky adventure, setting you back quite a bit, potentially sapping your patience completely.
But that’s where the main source of fun comes from! Defying the odds and succeeding against them, no matter the setback or the costs.
While the game is challenging, there’s no timer other than players' own patience and willpower to continue.
Preparation and perseverance are key!
State of Decay 2 is an action zombie survival game with RPG elements and party/community management.
Base building is an essential component of the game as it allows you to store items and resources, craft items, maintain your infection levels, recruit companions into your group etc.
Each map contains a few potential base locations that players can take over by using their influence, which is gained through combat, trading and fulfilling quests.
Certain bases have extra requirements but offer more building slots, passive or special bonuses etc.
Since it’s a zombie survival game, you can expect to spend a lot of time scavenging for necessary resources like food and fuel.
Every recruited character can be controlled directly or as a companion, with each having a set of skills that can be mastered further, opening some new construction/interactions within the base.
Overall it offers plenty in terms of both Role-Playing as zombie apocalypse survivors and base management!
As mentioned previously, the idea of base building existed in the computer RPGs ancestor, the TTRPGs. It was a place of respite after the adventures, which also allowed some party banter and interactions, gear maintenance and anything else that Dungeon Master designed for the players to enjoy.
While mostly optional in video games, it can offer plenty of new content, party interactions, special merchants and many other improvements and challenges in one single location.
It’s easy to recognise its benefits but the downsides are that not everyone seeks that sort of experience in an RPG and putting a lot of time and effort into it can backfire for the developers.
It adds a lot of content in a single location, giving players choice to engage with it at their own pace while the party enjoys their well deserved rest.
The initial bases are often very basic without most facilities being functional/online. It’s up to players to secure necessary resources for its improvement.
More often than not it can be ignored completely but they often contain special items, missions, character interactions, merchants etc. Basically extra content for those who wish to engage with it.
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