There are usually a few different ways to open a video game door. Sometimes it's as simple as pressing a button, but most of the time, doors require keys. It's basic video game logic. Sometimes, however, we get treated to a lockpicking minigame, where only the right tools and a deft hand will get you through.
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PostsLockpicking mechanics add another layer of interactivity beyond simply pushing a button, and games of all genres have attempted their own take on breaking-and-entering. Some of these minigames are better than others, so here are nine of the best in video games.
9 Star Wars Outlaws
Lockpicking On Beat
Star Wars Outlaws
Open-World Action-Adventure 3.5/5 18 7.4/10 Released August 30, 2024 ESRB T For Teen // Violence, Simulated Gambling, Mild Language Developer(s) Massive Entertainment Publisher(s) Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games Engine Snowdrop Franchise Star Wars Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand CollapseStar Wars Outlaws may have been a bit of a mixed bag, but one of the more interesting mechanics in the game is its approach to lockpicking. Rather than opening traditional locks, you are unlocking digital ones that emit a sound in a basic rhythm. Hit the button along with the beat, and the lock opens.
The one downside is that there are only a couple of basic patterns, generally only requiring two or three inputs. It would be nice to see the mechanics expanded upon, where higher-level chests and doors have more complicated patterns, but as it stands, there is no other lockpicking minigame like it, making it stand out from the crowd.
8 Splinter Cell
One Of The Originals
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Stealth Released November 18, 2002 ESRB t Developer(s) Ubisoft Montreal Publisher(s) Ubisoft, Aspyr Media Engine Unreal Engine 2 Franchise Splinter Cell Platform(s) Xbox, PC, PS2, GameCube, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Mobile How Long To Beat 13 Hours Powered by Expand CollapseThe Splinter Cell series has been absent from gaming for quite some time now, and many forget that it pioneered a lot of the main features we see in stealth games now, including its lockpicking mechanic. It's a pretty simple procedure; just rotate the analog stick until the controller rumbles, and you've found the sweet spot, locking the pin in place.
It's an easy thing to pick up, and Splinter Cell makes it feel incredibly satisfying to execute. Many games since have used this as a basis for their own lockpicking mechanics in some way or another, including this next entry.
7 Thief - 2014
Like A Thief In The Night
Thief
Stealth Released February 25, 2014 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs, Violence Developer(s) Eidos Montreal Publisher(s) Square Enix Engine Unreal Engine 3 Franchise Thief Platform(s) PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC How Long To Beat 11 Hours Metascore 70 Powered by Expand CollapseThe 2014 reboot of the Thief series was met with mixed reviews, often criticized by long-time fans for the game's more linear gameplay and poorly written story. One solid mechanic, though, was the game's take on breaking into locked places.
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PostsSimilar to Splinter Cell, using a lockpick, you use the left stick to find the sweet spot, setting each pin using either the right trigger or R2. You can also get a focus upgrade that allows you to see inside the lock, showing you precisely where the pins should go, speeding up the process. It definitely took inspiration from Splinter Cell and feels just as satisfying.
6 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Uniquely Difficult
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
RPG Released February 13, 2018 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Alcohol Developer(s) Warhorse Studios Publisher(s) Deep Silver Engine cryengine Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch How Long To Beat 42 Hours Metascore 76 OpenCritic Rating Fair Powered by Expand CollapseNothing in Kingdom Come: Deliverance is easy to do. It's an immersive sim like no other, and tasks more gamers take for granted are slow and time-consuming. You start the game as a peasant with basically no skills, and the game doesn't take it easy on you, leaving you mostly to your own skill, or lack of, and your stats as you progress.
The lockpicking mechanic is unique in that you control both the sweet spot and an outer ring, needing to keep both aligned while they rotate. Rotate one too quickly and you can break a pick, and knowing where to find more can be a challenge. It sounds easy enough, but in practice it's ridiculously difficult until you sink some points into lockpicking perks, but even then, you need a lot of skill for this one.
5 Ratchet & Clank
A Puzzling Minigame
Ratchet & Clank
Platformer Third-Person Shooter Released April 12, 2016 ESRB Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Insomniac Games Publisher(s) Sony Interactive Entertainment Engine Insomniac Engine v.4.0 Franchise Ratchet & Clank Platform(s) PlayStation 4 How Long To Beat 10 Hours Metascore 85 PS Plus Availability Premium OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand CollapseLockpicking isn't reserved for stealthy action games. Just take a look at Ratchet & Clank, which has one of the best minigames for unlocking doors. Through the use of a gadget called the Trespasser, Ratchet can open locks by completing a quick laser puzzle, where you need to rotate a series of rings in order to line up lasers and illuminate special nodes.
With all the action in Ratchet & Clank, the Trespasser puzzles are a nice change of pace and add variety to the gameplay, and they always feel satisfying to complete when you finally get the solutions. Throughout the game, there are a number of optional doors you can unlock, too, which add to the challenge.
4 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Tapping Pins And Breaking Picks
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
RPG 10.0/10 Released March 20, 2006 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine havok, speedtree, gamebryo Franchise The Elder Scrolls Platform(s) PC, PS3, Xbox 360 How Long To Beat 30 Hours PS Plus Availability Premium Powered by Expand CollapseGoing the stealthy route in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is a great choice, as the game gives you plenty of options for making your way through the world unnoticed. Picking locks is the most important ability for a thief, and you'll certainly pick a lot of them. Luckily, Oblivion's lockpicking minigame is simple to learn but tough to master.
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PostsViewing the lock from the inside, you manipulate the pick to tap the pins, setting them before they fall back down. Time it wrong, and you'll break your lockpick. It can be difficult to figure out the proper timing at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be sneaking your way around Cyrodiil like a pro.
3 Judgement
Kamurocho's Finest
At first glance, it might seem like Judgement's lockpicking mechanic is similar to Oblivion's, but they function a bit differently. When lockpicking on the streets of Kamurocho, you use one stick to select a pin, while the other is used for manipulating them up and down. As you push the pins in, they will turn yellow when close to the right position, allowing you to lock them in place. Push one too far, however, and all the pins reset.
The trick here is patience and a steady hand, especially when under pressure, as some locks have a time limit. It's a fairly easy mechanic to get the hang of, and if you enjoy the lockpicking, you can pick up missions from a locksmith that will put your skills to the test.
2 Starfield
Digipick Puzzles
Starfield
Action RPG 4.0/5 7.0/10 Released September 6, 2023 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine proprietary engine Cross-Platform Play no multiplayer Cross Save no Steam Deck Compatibility yes Platform(s) PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S How Long To Beat 20 Hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 101 GB (September 2023) Metascore 86 OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand CollapseOne of the most useful skills you have in Starfield is the ability to pick locks using digipicks, allowing you to score all kinds of great loot hidden behind locked doors, cabinets, and chests. The minigame in Starfield is more involved than most of the entries on this list. Rather than fiddling with pins, you are tasked with using a variety of pieces to fill gaps in a series of rings, ultimately unlocking whatever container you happen to be raiding.
Lockpicking in Starfield is not so much about trial-and-error as it is being able to think several moves ahead. Some of the pieces you're given are used in a specific order, and on harder locks, some aren't used at all, they are just there to make things more difficult. Despite Starfield's many shortcomings, this unique lockpicking mechanic makes it more interesting than just finding a lock's sweet spot.
1 Skyrim/Fallout Series
If It Isn't Broken, Don't Fix It
Fallout 4
RPG Action 9.3/10 Released November 10, 2015 ESRB M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Engine Creation Cross-Platform Play no Cross Save no Franchise Fallout Steam Deck Compatibility yes Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S X|S Optimized No File Size Xbox Series 51 GB (December 2023) Metascore 87 PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand CollapseFallout 3 has a great lockpicking system that is easy to pick up and does a good job of making you feel like you're actually picking a lock. This time it's all about finding the correct positioning of your lockpick while using one stick to rotate the lock open. The trick is to feel out the proper pressure to put on the lock, as too much will cause your pick to break.
The mechanic works so well that Bethesda used the same feature in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim as well as both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. After all, if it isn't broken, why fix it? It's simple, effective, and your lockpicking ability can often be augmented through perks that give you an edge when confronting particularly difficult locks. Bethesda built a great mechanic that we're likely going to see again in future releases.
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