10 Most Iconic Video Game Slums

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It’s generally not something people enjoy dwelling on, but it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone has the luxury of residing in a comfortable home.

In both reality and numerous video game narratives, big cities often contain impoverished areas or neighborhoods that are home to those who are struggling, marginalized, or simply experiencing hard times.

These areas can vary from moderately unsettled yet habitable, with an overall decent population, to lawless territories inhabited by ruthless and shady individuals.

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From relatively stable districts populated by honest citizens to chaotic regions filled with dangerous and untrustworthy criminals.

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These places can run the gamut from reasonably peaceful areas with good people, to wild west-like territories inhabited by rough characters.

Although it might not be the most pleasant setting, slums often breed tough individuals and complex tales. In other words, despite its less-than-ideal atmosphere, it’s a place where resilient characters are shaped and intricate stories unfold.

10. Freeside

Fallout: New Vegas

Given that the city featured in Fallout: New Vegas is one of the few pre-war cities remaining in the Mojave Wasteland, it’s logical to expect that those unable to gain entry would seek out the closest viable alternative instead.

The area known as Freeside is essentially what remained of the city of Las Vegas after Mr. House and his allies chose to enclose the main part of the Strip.

As a gamer, I’d say the residents of Freeside are mainly folks who couldn’t pass the Strip’s credit test or blew through all their caps at the gambling tables, leaving them penniless and kicked to the curb.

In areas such as Kingsville and the Followers of the Apocalypse’s settlement, community members strive to aid and maintain harmony. On the contrary, Freeside is teeming with ruffians and troublemakers, always on the hunt for an easy profit.

9. Rogueport

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

In the game “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,” Rogueport serves as the primary central location. It’s a typical den of thieves and wrongdoers, with its inhabitants predominantly consisting of gruff sailors and sneaky con artists.

While it could appear somewhat harsh, it’s accurate to say that the town doesn’t exactly exude warmth or comfort, even during its most prosperous moments.

As you travel eastward, things seem to deteriorate; walls and streets are marred by graffiti and litter, while criminal activity appears more prevalent, even during daytime hours.

On the western part of the city, you’ll find it more pleasant, boasting better facilities and fewer litter issues. However, it should be noted that this area is under control of the Pianta Syndicate, which unfortunately doesn’t make it any better.

8. Sector 7 Slums

Final Fantasy VII

Life in Midgar’s steampunk skyscrapers is typically quite good, especially for those residing at higher elevations.

If you live under the plate, though, it is substantially less okay.

Beneath every part of the city lies a shantytown inhabited by people who are economically disadvantaged and unable to live in more affluent areas, or individuals who choose not to comply with Shinra’s regulations.

The underside of each city district is home to slums populated by either those who can’t afford the luxury of living on top or people who refuse to abide by Shinra’s laws and rules.

In the slum situated beneath Sector 7, you’ll find a comparatively secure environment. It boasts what might be the most developed slum-like urban amenities that any of these areas have achieved.

It’s also the home of the Seventh Heaven bar, which is also the secret hideout of AVALANCHE.

7. New Coventry

Bully

In the game titled “Bully,” the fictional town of Bullworth is divided into various zones, which are popular spots for the diverse groups affiliated with Bullworth Academy to socialize.

For the stereotypical Greasers, home is the district of New Coventry.

In a simpler, more conversational style, the description could be: The community of New Coventry, often home to the working class, lies near a factory area that frequently releases smog.

A large number of inhabitants reside in dilapidated tenement buildings, and commercial activity is limited mainly to a market, a tattoo shop, and a billiards hall.

On a positive note, due to the influence of the Greasers, we have an exciting and vibrant bicycle racing environment, along with an improvised BMX area for fun.

6. Gray Quarter

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

In the game ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’, the dilapidated area known as the Gray Quarter can be found within the city of Windhelm, predominantly inhabited by the Dunmer.

Originally hailing from Morrowind, the Dunmer arrived at the city following a devastating volcanic explosion. In time, they established their quarter within the city, which came to be known as the “Cold District” or simply “The Snow Quarter.

Instead, the city’s inhabitants started calling it the “Gray District” as a disparaging term due to the Dunmer’s gray complexion.

In contrast to the residents of the Gray Quarter, neither the citizens from the Nord part of the city nor supporters and followers of the Stormcloaks show them much concern or friendliness; instead, they display open contempt and wariness towards them.

5. Pauper’s Drop

BioShock 2

Before the storyline of BioShock unfolded, when they were constructing the Atlantic Express undersea railroad, there was a demand for short-term accommodation for all the construction workers involved.

Underneath the railway tracks, flophouses were constructed, yet when the Atlantic Express was completed, none of the construction workers could manage to relocate to the heart of Rapture as they couldn’t afford it.

The outcome was known as Pauper’s Drop, a vast urban area plagued by poverty, which was among the city’s worst neighborhoods even before and following the Rapture Civil War. It remained largely unattractive throughout those periods.

In BioShock 2, as Sinclair describes, there’s nowhere more twisted or misguided than beneath the train tracks.

4. Zaun

League Of Legends

In the realm of League of Legends, the radiant metropolis of Piltover embodies cutting-edge science and artistic creativity.

Regrettably, just as every beam of light has its shadow, the glimmer of Piltover is dimmed by the presence of Zaun – the place that nurtures champions such as Jinx, Vi, and Ekko.

Previously, the district of Piltover was known as an anonymous part of the city’s underbelly, serving as a catch-all for industrial debris and societal castoffs.

In time, Zaun expanded significantly until it matched the size of Piltover, eventually asserting its own independence.

As a gamer immersed in the world of Runeterra, I’d like to clarify that Zaun isn’t just a rundown area; it’s a city with a unique culture and bustling commerce, albeit somewhat volatile. It may often seem overshadowed by Piltover, but it definitely stands on its own two feet.

3. Saint’s Row

Saints Row (2006)

In the initial Saints Row video game, the main setting is a fairly compact area known as the titled district, situated on the eastern part of the urban landscape called Stilwater City.

Once upon time, it was quite a comfortable living space – that is, until the Los Carnales began causing destruction everywhere.

As the Vice Kings and West Side Rollerz emerged and began carving out their territories within the city, the Row found itself at the center of a fierce three-way struggle for control over the streets.

By the beginning of the first match, the neighborhood was almost uninhabitable, as local stores were closed and homes were rundown.

Julius established the 3rd Street Saints with the aim of freeing the Row from gang rule. Later, he expanded his efforts to take control of the rest of the city.

2. The Lower Quarter

Tales Of Vesperia

In Tales of Vesperia, the story starts in the Imperial Capital of Zaphias.

The city is divided into four areas: one for the royal family, another for the nobility, a third for the middle class, and the final area for the less fortunate.

Apart from being extremely congested at the lower end, it’s challenging to find a place with clean water throughout the area – that single source is the Aqua Blastia centrally located.

Swiping the core of the Blastia causes the clean water to cease flowing, leading to the lower quarter being inundated with sewage instead.

Yuri embarks on a long journey across the country, taking up the role of a vigilante, primarily to retrieve the core, as only then will his fellow residents in the lower quarters be able to secure a consistent water supply.

1. Pacifica

Cyberpunk 2077

Almost the entirety of Night City within Cyberpunk 2077 is persistently marked by chaos and decay, labeling even a single area as a “shantytown” or “ghetto” implies a significant observation.

If any part of the city were a slum, though, it’d be the seaside district of Pacifica.

Initially designed as a vast recreational area featuring shopping centers and theme parks, the entire district eventually lay dormant when the financial backers decided to withdraw their investments.

The remaining slum is so lawless, the NCPD doesn’t bother with patrolling it.

Pacifica doesn’t appear on the officially published map of Night City. This is due to the fact that the city’s mayor has declared it as an autonomous district, thereby excluding it from the city’s overall crime statistics.

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2025-02-10 17:10