Top 10 Video Game Worlds

A great world makes a great game; it's that simple. It gives that player an extra incentive to explore concepts in an environment they could never have previously imagined. This is a celebration of the best in gaming worlds, and the worlds that our virtual consoles have made me clamor to jump back into.

#10 San Andreas (Grand Theft Auto)

Whether it was the version from the original 'San Andreas' or more modern 'GTA V' version that you use to love there is no arguing that this is the best and most iconic GTA setting in the franchise's history. This is the world that I truly felt a part of, and also one that I felt had the most care in construction. This was the perfect representation of California, with much more accurate features in terms of geography and human influence than any game had gone o before, and as such you actually felt like a living citizen in a huge world.

San Andreas is technically a satirical and often dark recreation of Los Angeles, but in doing so almost becomes more life like than Los Angeles itself, especially from the perspective of Johnny Foreigner who only hears about the real life counterpart on the news. Other GTA maps have this same style, but to me they are often concrete jungles with their own unique charm that doesn't quite compare to the scale of San Andreas. This map was beautiful as well. There was such a diverse landscape that not only captured the inner city bustle perfectly, but also the surrounding natural beauty to form many opposing landscapes merged effortlessly into one incredible land mass for the player to explore. The weather, ecosystems and geography are all so diverse, and as such this is probably the ultimate gaming map with a good 49 square miles to enjoy.


#9 Rapture (BioShock)

Whoever had the idea to build an art-deco utopia underwater in order to set a story around conflicts and revolutions is an absolute genius. This was the perfect setting for the dark and twisted world of 'BioShock'. The idea is that some crazy businessman created this to be a lassez-faire utopia away from governmental rule; essentially mine and Ayn Rand's idea of a wet dream. Aside from maybe the fact that this world is a dystopian creation in reality suffering from a war that left much of the city derelict.  That part isn't so much my wet dream, and actually makes this place fucking scary. It feels like a city in ruin, only adding to that eery feelings that came with exploring this unique city.
 
Ken Levine was the brainchild of this creation, basing the design on Ayn Rand and George Orwell novels with a hint of 'Logan's Run' for good measure. The background influence shows as well; this is literary brilliance that thankfully translates itself into one hell of a game that regularly feeds off the atmosphere created by the setting. Just like the city in question this revolutionary setting is one that took gamers completely by surprise. It's so totally out there and synchronised with the narrative that you have to applaud everyone involved in the creation process. It's also fucking disturbing too, giving 'BioShock' that unique horror twist; in many ways breathing life into a game that depends on this vivid setting for sustenance.


#8 Halo Ring (Halo)

Whether you call this world a ring, an array, sacred rings, or just Halo's, there's no denying that these interesting looking worlds have become iconic in gaming history. As a player we don't really know the purpose for their existence, but we do know that they were created to try and combat an enemy known as 'The Flood'. The poor and hidden description doesn't matter in the end though, because thanks to great storytelling these rings have become such good settings for various games in the franchise over the years.

Inside the exterior is a full climate where some epic battles have taken place over the years. In fact for a shooter it's certainly a nice setting, but as a multiplayer setting you don't get much better; and that's sort of the allure of the 'Halo' franchise. I promise you I played the campaign, I really did, but it's in the multiplayer elements where this universe shines. Admittedly the 'Halo' universe has since expanded from solely being based around these rings, but the classic games where always at the forefront of gaming, giving these simple objects such a high importance in the whole narrative. You can tell that the rings are such a huge factor in the quality of 'Halo' games as well, as the series notably declines when they started branching out from this original setting. They've lost their sense of intrigue and wonder, leaving another generic FPS that isn't possible when you have such a great idea for a setting as these rings are.


#7 The Pokemon Regions (Pokemon)

For a game about fighting virtual monsters it's unbelievable how much detail is packed into such an ordinary looking world. This world won't make you gasp in awe with its lush visuals and scale, and in reality it's just a copy of Earth, namely the Japanese culture on Earth, but it's such a great setting for a relaxed experience like 'Pokemon' that I just couldn't ignore its contribution to gaming. For a world that exists solely to house virtual monsters this is a very well thought out universe and is perfect for the 'Pokemon' style of gameplay.

The various settlements and obstacles visited along the way are certainly modeled on real life landscapes, but when all things are considered they end up feeling vastly different from anywhere on Earth. There have been various worlds 'Pokemon' has traveled to, my personal favorites being the Kanto and Sinnoh regions, but they all have that air of realism and immersion that create a great game world. If it wasn't for these regions 'Pokemon' just wouldn't have become as believable as it is today, and as such has become an entity to impressionable youngsters. Each region has its own various charms, but they always allow the Pokemon themselves to become the stars of the show, never overplaying the setting and always keeping things simple.


#6 Albion (Fable)

The world of Albion is such a great example of how a solid concept can evolve throughout a franchise. This world has kept evolving with each addition of the franchise, and so it's such a shame that we won't get to see any more epic adventures set inside this fantastic universe. The name 'Albion' is the oldest known name of England, and just like a quaint little English village this oldy-worldy throwback of a universe has a ton of charm that happily shows off its stereotypical feel. Albion has always looked great with its cartoony style, even managing to make us laugh through a grim industrial revolution. The arid desert of Aurora was later added in 'Fable 3', but this is nowhere near as nice as the lush and mystical world of Albion that gives the games their charm.

There's such a huge variety of scenery in this universe. The game will have you traveling through various forests and mountain passes to huge cities that feel bustling and alive. I especially love that this world is a caricature of time gone by, never taking itself seriously, but actually becoming somehow strangely immersive and a damn site realistic despite all that quirkiness. This setting stands out from the usual RPG bread and butter formula, and instead encourages the player to explore through charm more than anything else. That's a refreshing strategy and one that I respected greatly. The results are quintessentially British in style and execution without simply pandering to the conventions to an often tried and tested formula.


#5 Mushroom Kingdom (Mario)

I don't think you can really argue about putting what has to be the most iconic gaming setting of all time on this list. Tell anyone under the age of 30 what the theme tune is to this world and they'll break out in song. The colorful world of Mario is now home to such iconic features as pipes, blocks and mushrooms, becoming the ultimate paradise for gamers over this long lived franchise. There's no order or logic to any of the themed areas that seem to change with each game, but I don't think anyone cares, and this nonchalant attitude to consistency is yet anther charm to this long lived franchise, and even adds to the variety we get with each new game.

This is a universe you can eat mushrooms legally and then bounce on the head of some of the most cute enemies you'll ever face in gaming; all with some light and cheerful music in the background. It's actually a really pleasant world to play in, and is a universe any gamer would happily live in for hours on end. All this from a world where the ruler is repetitively kidnapped, but that doesn't really matter when you have such an interesting mix that just works. It's such a good setting that it's played host to so many games over the years, always fitting in perfectly with every adventure 'Mario and Co.' embark on; even if that said adventure has nothing to do with the universe in question. Plain and simple has never been pulled off in such style, and it's these moments of creative brilliance that saved the video game industry and defined it for decades to come.


#4 Hyrule (Legend of Zelda)

Amazing to think a world as revolutionary as Hyrule has now become as beautiful as that picture above. It deserves that treatment too, as this is one of the most diverse and intriguing landscapes in gaming history. You just couldn't imagine Link's epic quests feeling at home anywhere else. This was the original holy shit moment for gamers everywhere when they realised the scale of the world in front of them, and horseback rides through the green plains have become such an iconic and feel good moment in gaming that they made this universe instantly synonymous with RPG greatness.  There's so many brilliant areas to explore in Hyrule that the whole expedition in the game is a huge highlight in any gamer's life.

Hyrule is a landscape that can resonate with anyone who values a strong game world, and this one over the years has created memorable scenarios aplenty. This is a world atypical of Nintendo's, with rolling hills and pleasant vistas that accompany the laid back nature of the game; aside from having to kill evil demons hellbent on world domination with a spiritual power known as Tri-Force, but then this is a highly contrasting world full of lovely little snippets to pass the time. Zelda's strengths however have always been the predominantly huge quests that you'll remember for decades to come, allowing you to explore new worlds in ways that other games can only dream of.

#3 The Frontier (Red Dead Redemption)

Yes I know that at the end of the day this world is just a depiction of Earth, but trust me, this map is absolutely fucking epic. This is a setting so good that it was one of the deciding factors in me naming this the greatest game of all time. The views you could get from this map were orgasmic. They may have actually been nicer than any views I've seen in real life. These idyllic views were the cherry on top of a setting that just like the story was a dynamic world and one prone to change with diverse characteristics and gorgeous scenery.

I don't care if this is a historical recreation, because the effort that went into this masterpiece of a map is just unbelievable. It's a perfect depiction of the Wild West, even if the styling isn't exactly what you'd call revolutionary. It's just such a perfect setting for a game of this style, and the world filled with a rich array of content reflects just how well the storyline and setting worked together. You have three separate areas that represent both the past and future, and within these areas you have countless places of beauty and intrigue that you will never tire of exploring. There's also various wild animals and wild NPCs chucked in for good measure, making this a thriving world so easy to get lost in.


#2 Tamriel (The Elder Scrolls)

Let's just say that over the years Bethesda have enjoyed showing off the vast landscapes of Tamriel in style, with in my opinion the pinnacle arriving with the 'Skyrim' world that just blow me and many other gamers away. There's just so much to offer in each of 'The Elder Scrolls' games, and at times it's often overwhelming, especially when similar RPGs have nowhere near as much content in comparison. It's not just full of lore and quests either, it's also damn attractive, and a quick trip up a mountain is a great way to see some of the brilliant vistas that this huge map has to offer. There's often a quick trip into the realms of Oblvivion, but really this game makes the list for its version of how natural landscapes should feel.

Even older games in the series such as 'Oblivion' and 'Morrowind' have been crammed to the max with content, each time creating somewhere so vastly unique that you just have to stand back in awe as the creators once again define what's possible within a single game. However for me the thing that sets this world apart from other games is that each character has their own job and routine, and your own influence affects their daily lives. This is a world of immersion on a different scale than any others. In my opinion this is how you do an RPG world, and I don't think any other map or universe matches the 'Elder Scrolls' in terms of sheer scale and content.


#1 The Milky Way (Mass Effect)

Okay there's certainly nothing revolutionary about the concept of setting something in our home galaxy, but when you consider how BioWare have populated this familiar setting then you can understand just what I'm on about. This fictional version of The Milky Way galaxy is by far the best ever presented in any sci-fi game, and maybe in any sci-fi creation full stop. The 'Mass Effect' series does it's best to standout with revolutionary and inspired concepts that include such brilliant ideas as having an alien council set on a satellite called 'The Citadel', which is pictured above. That doesn't do it for you? Well then how about the vast number of unique planets that combine with social and moral issues to drive the game forward into RPG perfection.

This is a universe where you can have sex with different aliens, pilot your own ship and crew, and occasionally save the galaxy; but mainly have sex with as many aliens as possible. The detail is the best part though. It's staggering how much effort is put into each individual setting for each individual game. With command of your ship you can travel to countless planets in a heartbeat, which arguably is the most open world experience you can possibly get in gaming. I honestly think this is a universe that rivals 'Star Wars' in quality, honestly becoming far more immersive and creative than anything presented by the iconic space opera. Honestly the execution of this setting for me was just perfect, and such a great foundation to place such a great story in. I only hope the expansion of the series into the Andromeda galaxy is going to be as successful as the original universe, but I have my doubts on that huge risk.