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.
Lockpicking 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.
Star Wars Outlaws may have beena 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Similar 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.
Nothing 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, andknowing where to find morecan 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.
Lockpicking 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.
Going 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.
Viewing 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.
3Judgement
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’re able to pick up missions from a locksmith that will put your skills to the test.
One 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.
Fallout 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.