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For the most part, any game with a leveling system pretty much forces players to try and get the highest stats possible to make the most of what the title has to offer. This is a pretty logical conclusion for most people, especially since the main goal in most games is to level up as much as possible to eliminate most threats with ease and achieve a natural sense of progression.


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However, there are times when games function better at lower levels for a whole host of reasons. After all, the nature of the leveled progression means that players can overwhelm their opponents to such an extent that the fight can get downright trivial at times. Then there are many other times when leveling can be opposite of what the player wants to do. Either way, players playing the following titles are sure to enjoy a run where reaching the top level is not a priority.

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7 undertale

undertale is one of the smartest games made, with this anti-RPG stopping players from fighting in an attempt to help them realize the more charming facets of gaming. Players who ignore the themes of the game and kill everything in sight will embark on a path of anarchy that will doom the whole world.

undertale is a game that is absolutely cute, which makes it clear that saving every enemy and going through the whole game without hurting a soul is the best way to play this game. Staying at level 1 is not only possible – it is recommended!

6 Final Fantasy 7

Final Fantasy 7 is a game that needs no introduction, which is what makes its inclusion on this list so odd. After all, it is common knowledge that players need to achieve certain levels to make battles easier in this game.

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However, the real kicker comes while fighting the final boss of this game. Safer Sephiroth actually gets a bonus in HP based on the number of level 99 party members in the team. This is a pretty good way to get around expectations while also making the fight more challenging for players who went out of their way to get as powerful as possible.

5 dark souls

dark souls is a legendary action-adventure game that changed the entire gaming landscape by showing the industry that gamers love titles where they are challenged every step of the way rather than holding their hand for the tiniest of things. It’s this focus on treating gamers like adults and forcing them to learn from their mistakes that makes dark souls such a great title.

While most people feel that the goal is to level up as many souls as possible, this is the way to play dark souls, there is another way for players to maximize the fun of the combat system and increase the difficulty even more. Players can do a low-level run in the game and only upgrade their weapons, forcing them to learn enemy patterns and choose their attack windows wisely.

4 Final Fantasy 8

Final Fantasy 8 is a game that is considered a mixed bag by many people. It’s true that the game suffers from balance issues and a messy story, but the visuals were groundbreaking for the time and the combat had a flair never seen before in a video game.

Final Fantasy 8 is a game where enemies level up with the player. So by keeping the levels as low as possible and using Junctions properly, players can easily blast through the game without any problems.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is a great game that adds to the amazing legacy of the Elder Scrolls series. The huge open world and great main quest were the two central pillars of this game that made it so satisfying to play through.

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Forgetfulness is another game where enemies level up along with the player. This forced players to keep track of their gear when leveling up, making for a rather puzzling mechanic where leveling down would actually make the game easier!

2 The world ends with you

The world ends with you is one of the most unique role-playing games on this list. It uses a unique blend of action role-playing and a modern Tokyo setting to let players experience quite a unique masterpiece.

The game has a mechanism that allows players to lower their level all the way to 1 for a chance to get rare pins. Fortunately, levels only reduce a player’s hit points, meaning they can still get through most encounters without a hitch as long as they avoid unnecessary damage.

1 Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a great continuation of the series that has slowly warmed up to humans over time. The quest design could use some work in some places, but there’s no denying that the game is great to get through anyway.

Dragon Age: Inquisition actually gives players an achievement if they reach Skyhold below level 5, which can be done by activating the “Take It Slow” trial. This trial, among many others, was added as part of the Offender DLC.

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