The best open world games for archer builds

Key conclusions

• Many open-world games feature archery as a powerful combat option, offering satisfying mechanics, customizable bows, and special builds for players.
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla
  ,
  Elden Ring
  and
  Dragon's dogma 2
  Equip dozens of unique bows and a variety of ranged skills to create powerful archer builds.
• Monster Hunter: World
  ,
  Ghost of Tsushima
  and
  The horizon is forbidden to the west
  may lack archery variety, but still allows players to create powerful archer builds for deadly encounters.

Many open-world games give players ample opportunity to create a character, allowing them to specialize in melee combat, possess magical abilities, or play as rangers who rely on bows and arrows. Historically, the bow has been a very effective weapon that requires precision and skill, and this appeal has led many open-world action games to use archery as a powerful method of combat.

Using a bow in games is often a lot of fun, many games add unique powerful skills or customizable bows with different types of arrows that add to the excitement of archery. Taking down enemies from a distance can sometimes simplify intense combat encounters or give players a significant advantage against difficult bosses. Below are some of the best open world games that not only feature bows and arrows, but also allow players to create custom archer builds with nearly limitless damage potential.

1 Elden Ring

Players can choose from 19 bows and other gear to create the ultimate archer

Elden Ring is renowned for its incredibly deep level of detail, featuring a wide range of weapons, armor, talismans and other gear to find and master. With 19 bows divided into three types—Light Bows, Classic Bows, and Great Bows—along with dozens of arrow types with different damage effects and multiple ranged abilities, Elden Ring offers exceptional opportunities to create powerful archer builds.

Although a lot Elden Ring players find bows relatively weak compared to the game's array of powerful melee or magic weapons, it is quite possible to complete the game and defeat every boss using a bow as a primary weapon, as demonstrated by dedicated players. While not everyone can afford to go to such extremes, players should not overlook ranged weapons. A well-timed arrow can prove especially deadly against certain difficult enemies or bosses, giving players a strategic advantage in difficult encounters.

2 Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Over 20 unique bows with different perks and a wide range of ranged skills

The building is on established land Origins and Odysseuswhich introduced several types of bows into the series, Assassin's Creed Valhalla includes a variety of bows—Light, Predator, and Hunter—each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Players can find, upgrade and customize more than 20 unique looking bows, each equipped with a special bonus that can give the archer a valuable advantage in battle.

The game's selection of bows allows for a variety of ranged combat options, making it easy to eliminate quest-marked targets from a distance. In addition, the Wolf Skill Tree offers a variety of passive and active skills to further increase character depth for players who enjoy archery. However, there are some drawbacks: the arrows are limited in capacity, which can cause them to run out during long fights. Bows also typically fight ruthless melee-oriented game bosses, and still require a hidden blade to confirm key kills.

Archer is traditionally one of the most popular and deadly classes

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is renowned for its flexible character build options, and the Stealth Archer build remains a fan favorite for its sheer lethality. Landing critical shots from a stealthy range often allows players to eliminate an encounter before enemies even realize what's going on, making this build particularly powerful.

With a specialized archery skill tree, stealth-enhancing abilities, and a number of support spells—including the ability to enchant animals as allies for added distraction— Skyrim offers many tools to create a formidable archer. Add to that the satisfying tactile feel of archery, and it's easy to see why many players strive to create archer characters with every playthrough of the game.

4 Dragon's dogma 2

17 unique bows and an advanced mage archer to experiment with

Dragon's dogma 2 is based on the robust combat system of the original, and the Archer class (known as the Archer Vocation) has some exciting updates. Players can start as an Archer, collecting up to 17 unique bows along the way, though all are of the same bow type. For those looking for more specialized ranged abilities, the advanced Magick Archer Vocation can be unlocked, focusing on ranged combat with powerful magic attacks.

The game offers a wide variety of ranged and magic skills to experiment with, allowing players to find the perfect setup for their playstyle. Thanks to the unique pawn system, players can form an entire squad of archers, creating an unstoppable wave of arrows to defeat enemies – a unique and exciting option rarely available to archery enthusiasts.

5 Monster Hunter: World

Archery is fun, with a variety of combat skills to choose from

Onions have long been a favorite in the village Monster hunter series, and many players adopted it as their weapon. U Monster Hunter: Worldthe bow provides a great balance between brute damage and stun, allowing hunters to immobilize certain monsters and deal large amounts of damage quickly. The massive design of the bow can take some getting used to, and players can also try light and heavy bowguns to add some variety to the ranged combat experience.

The game features four deep bow upgrade paths—Independent, Bone, Ore, and Defender—that allow players to create custom and powerful archer builds. However, placement is critical when using a bow Monster Hunter: Worldwhen the character becomes almost immobile while aiming and making attacks. Timing is of the essence, as players can find it difficult to dodge fast, heavy monsters if they are caught off guard while charging, making accuracy and awareness essential to a successful bow game.

6 The horizon is forbidden to the west

Three types of bows to upgrade and many skills to choose and master

The horizon is forbidden to the west takes archery to new heights, building on everything that has been done Horizon Zero Dawnthe battle bow is large. Although both games are set in a post-apocalyptic future, Aloy's main hunting tools are three types of bows that can be upgraded – Hunter, Warrior and Sharpshot. Each bow can be equipped with elemental arrows, allowing players to strategically exploit the weaknesses of various mechanical creatures. For those who prefer a stealthy approach, weaker vehicles can even be knocked out with a single, well-placed shot.

The game's skill tree has also received significant upgrades, expanding archery-focused abilities and increasing Aloy's combat potential. The archer special build (combining the hunter and infiltrator skills) can be one of the most formidable builds, allowing players to rely almost exclusively on their bows. With exciting encounters with giant machines like Thunderjaw, The horizon is forbidden to the west offers an exhilarating, fluid combat experience that makes mastering archery both rewarding and endlessly fun.

7 Ghost of Tsushima

While the archery approach may lack flexibility, it still feels rewarding

U Ghost of Tsushimawhile Jin Sakai's journey as a samurai places the main focus on his katana, the game still offers surprisingly flexible archery options. Players can wield two types of bows, the Half Bow and the Longbow, both of which can be customized and upgraded. Each bow can benefit greatly from ranged skills that unlock powerful effects such as explosives or fire arrows, allowing players to wipe out entire groups of Mongols with a well-timed arrow. The Ikki Island the expansion even added archery side-actions to test players' bow skills.

Certain armor sets further enhance Jin's archery skills, along with a number of collectible charms that enhance his ranged abilities. With these tools, players can make Jin into a master archer who hunts down enemies from a distance and only uses his katana for close encounters or boss fights. The longbow, in particular, offers satisfying power with heavy arrows that knock enemies off their feet, making it an exciting choice for dispatching unsuspecting enemies from afar.