Summary
There’s something truly special about a big, robust,interactive city in a video game. Whether you’re playing as a hero, courier, or just some shmuck making parents angry for putting mature themes in mature-rated games, a wide-open city is often the ideal setting for whatever activities the developers have planned.
But all that content may not mean all that much if you’re not enjoying what you see. While a satisfying gameplay loop is already difficult enough to create, those talented artists and designers on staff deserve just as much praise for creating some of the gorgeous cities that inspire you to just look around in awe sometimes.
10The Imperial City
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Well before Skyrim came in and adopted a legion of newborn RPG fans, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was arguably the previous big heavy hitter among Western fans of the genre. In particular, the game’s massive scope, while not entirely new to the Elder Scrolls series, felt absolutely revolutionary.
Nowhere was this more apparent than Cyrodiil’s imposing yet oddly comfy capital, The Imperial City. If you played Oblivion around its launch, you likely got to share in that widespread wonder among fans as you took your first steps into the city. Its beautiful stonework and symmetrical design make it as satisfying as it is breathtaking, at least until the Adoring Fan finds you.
9Hong Kong
Sleeping Dogs
Who says real cities can’t have the same charm as fantasy ones? Sleeping Dogs takes place in a shockingly faithful recreation of Hong Kong, and it proves that beauty comes in many forms. In this case, beauty can be found in a grounded city with an enviable amount of pork bun vendors.
Hong Kong’s beauty comes directly from its realism. While to some, its rather liberal use of space may seem crowded and claustrophobic, others will appreciate just how much culture shines through in such a setting. But anyone who has sped through its rainy streets at night will know full well just how striking this place is.
8Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Vice City is based on Miami, but don’t hold that against it. This 80s metropolis revels in nostalgia, which is helpful, considering how many players are nostalgic for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City itself. Nostalgic enough for it to feature in Grand Theft Auto 6, even.
Neon lights and an air of danger litter the streets of Vice City, and as you explore, you’ll find the vibe seeping into your brain and feeling like a narcotic-laden home. The use of Phil Collins’s music is also a nice touch, which should frankly apply to more video game settings.
7Rapture
BioShock
It’s not much better down where it’s wetter in this case, but it’s darn pretty. The Ayn Randian hellscape that is Rapture is an underwater dystopia that’s nevertheless an absolute marvel, and BioShock wants you to feel it.
Right from your first glimpse ofthe fallen Raptureas you arrive in the submersible, the game shows you what a majestic corpse of a city it has. You’re treated to a sweeping view, which admittedly diminishes a bit once a splicer attacks you upon arrival.
6Prague
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
The open areas in Detroit and Hengsha went a long way in keeping players engrossed with Deus Ex: Human Revolution. But it wasn’t until its sequel, Mankind Divided, that the developers seemed to really figure out how to perfect the idea.
Prague is a simply gorgeous city, and this game should serve as a tourism ad for the real-life version, minus all the military checkpoints and giant robots. So many nooks and crannies to explore, it’s an expertly-crafted web of exploration that you deserve to experience on your angsty augmented adventure.
5Kalm
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth had to really nail its first impression, and the massive glow-up it gave the town of Kalm compared to the original made that possible. It lives up to its name but adds so much more that this previously quiet little nook could honestly be a real vacation destination in the real world.
As a tutorial sectionfor many of the game’s new mechanics, Kalm embraces its cozy atmosphere as you explore its surprising verticality and comfortably dense layout. When you sit down for a game of Queen’s Blood in town, you might not even want to get up.
4Ahto City
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
If BioShock’s Rapture is a watery warning tale, then Ahto City is a deceptively perfect oasis across the oceans of Manaan. At first glance, this late-game city in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic appears calm yet bustling, hiding the sinister undertones that come from being a planet trying to stay neutral between fascism and not-fascism.
Manaan attempts to toe the line without allying with the Republic or Sith Empire due to its business interests, but let’s put that aside. It’s a beautiful place, surrounded by endless ocean and built up with pristine, stunning architecture. Combined with the serene soundtrack, it’s the perfect place to take out some Sith.
3Saint Denis
Being set during a time when the Old West lifestyle in America was reaching the end of its heyday, Red Dead Redemption 2 had the opportunity to visually represent that transitional period. Thanks to the city of Saint Denis, that bittersweet moment is as gorgeous as it could be.
After spending so much time exploring the dusty yet breathtaking plains, coming up on Saint Denis hits particularly well as an impressive culture shock. It’s a testament to thecowboy way of lifefading out in favor of a technological revolution, and as sad as that is to witness, the city itself is remarkably pretty. The commentary is not subtle, nor should it be.
2Hekseville
Gravity Rush
If you’re going to create a fictional city, you might as well go wild with it. Gravity Rush’s central location would be an absolute nightmare to navigate in the real world. But luckily, Gravity Rush is extremely not real.
Protagonist Kat is uniquely equipped to bound around the city of Hekseville, using her gravity-based powers to expertly make her way through the vertically-focused metropolis. Frankly, there’s something particularly satisfying about repeatedly slamming into various surfaces without taking damage. Nobody ever talks about that power fantasy.
1Night City
Cyberpunk 2077
Night City could use some mods for its NPCs, and may not be as explorable as its verticality suggests, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a downright stunning city, and it might as well be one of the main characters in Cyberpunk 2077.
Driving through Night City, maybe in Claire’s perfect truck, The Beast, can be a total zen experience. The lights, sounds, and even layout all come together in such a sublime way. Not many cities will make you nostalgic for the sound their crosswalks make.
