The most spectacular and immersive video game worlds
With fantasy fans the world over encapsulated by the wonderful worlds of House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we want to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible universes and mysterious lands brought to us over the years by video games. Packed with characters, mythologies, histories, wildlife, environments, and of course, tons of fun, these worlds have served as the playgrounds in which generations of gamers have come of age.
The ground rules for this list stipulate that the world must be an original one created for a video game or series of games; it cannot be a world built for another medium (books, movies, etc.) rendered in a video game world.
Contents:
- Hyrule (Zelda)
- Tamriel (Elder Scrolls)
- Post-nuclear America (Fallout)
- GTA’s America
- Metal Gear universe
- Albion (Fable)
- The Mushroom Kingdom (Super Mario)
- Forbidden Land (Shadow of the Colossus)
- Minecraft world
1. Hyrule (Zelda)
One of a number of classics featured in this list that has seen numerous iterations since its initial arrival on the scene way, way back in 1986, the Zelda games’ Kingdom of Hyrule is a beautiful place.
It has always taken itself slightly more seriously than similar games, which has led to some powerful storytelling and majestic in-game mythology, possibly best displayed in 1998’s apocalyptic masterpiece Ocarina of Time.
2. Tamriel (Elder Scrolls)
Various regions of Tamriel have served as the settings for the games in the Elder Scrolls series, including Skyrim, Morrowind, and Cyrodiil (Oblivion, 2006), but wherever we’ve been let loose, one thing’s been guaranteed: an expansive and immersive fantasy adventure, complete with plenty of wacky characters, terrifying creatures, and extensive lore available through in-game dialog and literature – there’s even smut available in the form of “The Lusty Argonian Maid” – just make sure there’s no one around before you open up this steamy tale.
3. Post-nuclear America (Fallout)
War, war never changes… Like the Elder Scrolls, the Fallout series has always been one for open-ended story telling and lots of freedom to play the way you want, and what’s really made it one of the best open-world series out there is its totally unique setting: post-apocalyptic wastelands.
From New Vegas to the Commonwealth, the series has turned what could be a bleak and tedious landscape into a beautifully crafted playground with an atmosphere and no shortage of thrilling action and exploration.
4. GTA’s United States (Grand Theft Auto)
The version of America featured in the GTA series is simply one of the best examples of parody and social commentary in any video game. Period. Almost every aspect of every one of the series’ numerous maps is designed to poke fun at modern America, from the “Statue of Happiness” (holding high a coffee cup rather than a torch) to Sprunk soda and Bleeter (the world’s Twitter). The worlds are fleshed out even further with tons of random NPC dialog, radio shows with in-game commercials, and of course, their incredibly written characters.
5. Metal Gear universe
One thing’s for sure: the universe and stories thought up by Hideo Kojima for his Metal Gear series are weird. The universe combines a sheen of hyperrealism when it comes to military tech and violence, with absurd elements like a man who purrs like a cat, giant exclamation marks over alerted guards’ heads, ghosts, and of course the ability to slide down hills in a cardboard box.
6. Albion (Fable)
The Fable series’ world is far from just another fantasy world, as there’s plenty that makes it stand out from the crowd. Featuring voice performances from some of the cream of the British acting crop, NPCs that react differently to you as you evolve into either an angelic hero or a diabolic villain, and a fantastic score, this is a world you’ll be spending plenty of time in. As if that weren’t enough the kingdom even undergoes its own industrial revolution in the third game, complete with workers’ movements and revolution.
7. The Mushroom Kingdom (Super Mario)
The games set in this magical world are so numerous that it would take about 50 years to list them all, but one thing’s for sure: everyone loves the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s got bright colors and a unique, instantly recognizable design. It’s got countless lovable creatures, from Goombas, Cheep-Cheeps and Koopas to Yoshi, Waluigi, and Princess Peach. It’s got endless instantly recognizable sound effects, and best of all, it’s got all the platforming, racing, and adventuring that has enchanted kids for decades. Wahoo!
8. The Forbidden Land (Shadow of the Colossus)
Shadow of the Colossus is a beautiful game, and that’s mainly due to the beautiful and atmospheric world its action takes place in. Comprising bleak but quietly stunning landscapes dotted with the ruins of a former civilization, a moving musical score, and of course the majestic and terrifying colossi, playing through this game is a truly unique experience that you won’t forget in a hurry.
9. Minecraft world
This is a game that has proven well and truly that there is beauty in simplicity. The game’s procedurally generated world may consist almost entirely of blocks, but that hasn’t stopped it becoming one of the most infinitely adaptable creative spaces in the digital sphere. The score fits perfectly with the game’s calming but sometimes unsettling vibe (nothing sets your heart racing like a creeper’s hiss when you’re in the depths of a cave), and the total creative freedom you’re given make this world the best thing it can be – yours.