8 Ways Westworld Is Basically A Video Game

A key element in any open world RPG is customisation: the player's ability to define their own experience and grow as they progress provides much of the entertainment in this genre.

While Westworld doesn’t hit you over the head with guests ‘levelling up’, they are afforded opportunities to define and redefine themselves over the course of their experience.

William (Jimmi Simpson) is the vehicle for many of these moments: one of his first scenes particularly stands out. He is taken into a room and allowed to choose his clothing as well as his weapon. This is much like the opening stages in many RPGs, in which you can assign a broad framework for what your character will be going forward. Later, William also changes his outfit to better suit a new scenario.

Even the concept of upgrading weaponry is present and in a distinctly uncomplicated way. Simply acquire a new weapon in the park somehow, with the guns owned by the hosts in the harder areas likely to be more devastating.