Best Games At World Building, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Video games offer unique, immersive worlds that could arguably be impossible to portray in other ways.
Titles such as the Xenoblade series and The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind stand out for worldbuilding.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Bioshock showcase powerful, personal narratives.

As a seasoned gamer who has journeyed through countless digital landscapes over the years, I must say that each of these games holds a special place in my heart for their remarkable world-building prowess.

Video games, while drawing inspiration from movies, TV shows, and books, present themselves uniquely within the entertainment landscape. The combination of stunning visuals, captivating music, and immersive storylines creates interactive, virtual realms that players step into.

In video games, world-creation spans from dynamic psychological narratives to the intricate structure of an extraterrestrial faith system. This versatility offers a wide range of tools, leading to experiences that can be captivating and endearing, arguably surpassing even the finest offerings in other forms of media.

8 Xenoblade Chronicles

The Titanic Series’ Time-Twisting Return Under New Ownership

Before Nintendo bought Monolithsoft in 2007, the Japanese RPG developer’s Xeno series was already creating a stir within the gaming industry. Titles like Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean showcased impressive world-building, but it was their first original title under Nintendo that truly made an impact, not just for the Xeno franchise, but also in terms of their partnership with their new publisher.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary RPGs that emerged from the Xenoblade Chronicles series during the seventh generation. The breathtaking landscapes of these games, which seem to be supported by the colossal backs of two titans, create a world that pulses with life beneath our feet.

7 The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind

A Fantasy World That Lies, Forgets, & Is Biased Like Our Own

As a devoted fan, I must admit that even with some missteps like the rocky debut of Fallout 76 and Starfield receiving mixed reviews, Bethesda Game Studios continues to stand tall among the most respected developers in the RPG realm. But let me tell you, when The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind was released at the turn of the millennium, Bethesda’s status as an industry titan was nearly unmatched.

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to highlight one captivating aspect of Bethesda’s masterpiece, Morrowind: the intricate web of believable systems they meticulously crafted for their Western RPG. They designed a world where my choices matter, and if I were to align with multiple factions in Northeast Tamriel, each would have distinct, unyielding attitudes towards me. This sense of realism is heightened by NPCs who can be swayed but aren’t always trustworthy, providing misinformation at times.

6 Disco Elysium

Branching Narratives Flesh Out This Off-The-Wall RPG

Most video games – although they may be space operas or fantasy dungeon-crawlers – usually have a solid foothold in the real world. While ZA/UM’s 2019 RPG Disco Elysium may seem relatively grounded at first glance, any further inspection provides a fictional setting that is incredibly far removed from our own.

Peering at its gritty, noir-style appearance, it’s evident that nearly everything – from everyday symbols and geographical features to their functions – operates differently in the fragmented world of Elysium. For instance, lungs are no longer just for breathing but serve as emblems of love instead of hearts, while the very landscape is enshrouded in the pale gray tissue known as the Pale. Every aspect of life – art, fashion, politics, and culture – is twisted by even the slightest alterations, much like our own world, yet Disco Elysium‘s setting feels nothing like what we’re accustomed to.

5 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

An Expansive Yet Introspective Horror-Like Exploration

In a unique twist, Ninja Theory’s seminal game “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” presents a single setting yet offers two distinct landscapes. Although the physical terrain remains constant beneath Pictish warrior Senua’s feet, her battles with psychosis serve to alter and distort the surroundings. As she reflects on her painful past and encounters the gruesome visions of Helheim, her mission to vanquish the underworld Norse goddess Hela leads her on a deeply introspective voyage.

Over time, Senua perceives and experiences multiple interconnected versions of the past simultaneously, each distorted by memories of her traumatic past. The twisted environments are populated by Senua’s fear-fueled interpretations of the Norse invaders who ravaged her homeland. She must confront these adversaries as she struggles to assert control over her sorrow and her mental state.

4 Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game

An Isometric Exploration Of An Alt-Future Post-Apocalypse

Over almost three decades since its initial launch, the Fallout series stands as perhaps stronger than it has ever been. With numerous critically acclaimed video games under Bethesda’s recent guidance and the unexpected triumph of its live-action adaptation, there is more Fallout content accessible today than at any other time.

1997’s inaugural “Fallout” game, titled “A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game“, laid the groundwork for the series by introducing its narrative and thematic elements, as well as setting a high standard for the franchise to follow. Interplay’s 1950s-inspired retrofuturism is embodied in bottlecap currency, complex underground vaults, and surviving communities after a nuclear catastrophe. Although Bethesda’s RPGs have preserved the visual style of the franchise, the original “Fallout” games not only depicted the alternative past of their world, but also portrayed humanity’s resilience in overcoming a post-nuclear future.

3 Halo 2

An Explosion Of Worldbuilding From Microsoft’s Biggest IP

In Microsoft’s renowned Halo series, a first-person shooter franchise often considered the benchmark for the genre, there appears to be a divide in the storytelling – one that existed before the release of Halo 2 in 2004 and another after. Prior to Halo 2’s launch, games like Halo: Combat Evolved immersed players in the grueling fight between humanity and the Covenant war machine. However, following the release of Halo 2, the narrative scope broadened dramatically.

In Eric Nylund’s literary works, the events leading up to and following the storyline of “Combat Evolved” were detailed. However, with “Halo 2”, Bungie had an opportunity to significantly expand upon that foundation. The Covenant’s rule by the Prophets was fully developed, revealing internal conflicts within their theocratic regime that would escalate throughout the game. New characters like the Brutes and the Ark were introduced, adding both a narrative and gameplay challenge for Master Chief. This was all achieved during one of the most challenging development periods in gaming history.

2 Diablo 2

The Dank, Dark Successor To Blizzard’s Genre-Defining Dungeon Crawler

2023’s Diablo 4 has been highly praised by fans for its meticulous design and rich mechanics, but it’s challenging to surpass the legendary world-building achievements of Diablo 2, which was released at the dawn of the new millennium. Diablo 2 is one of the studio’s most respected games.

Continuing directly from the grim events of its 1997 action-RPG dungeon crawler predecessor, Diablo 2 finds players experiencing the deterioration and apparent demise of their character from the initial game. Guided by Marius’ ongoing narration, a witness to the hero’s possession by Diablo, the storyline exudes his fear-tainted madness. With a somber atmosphere heavy with desolation and sadness, the Gothic architecture and dark dungeons of Diablo II create a landscape that players continue to be captivated by.

1 Bioshock

An Arguable Masterclass Of Worldbuilding From The Seventh-Generation

Initially, when gamers collided with the lighthouse encircled by waves in 2007 within Bioshock, it was unforeseen how significant an influence their journey through the underwater Rapture dystopia would become. Since then, this series has resurfaced three times, each time delving back into Andrew Ryan’s warped vision of the future based on Objectivism as depicted in the game titles, and a popular novel authored by esteemed science fiction writer John Shirley.

In a world overrun with the remnants of a devastated cityscape, Bioshock’s world creation serves as a compelling example of how video games can effectively convey a narrative. Critically acclaimed and groundbreaking, Bioshock introduced audio logs to narrate a series of deeply human stories set in Rapture before its downfall. The game also utilized environmental storytelling and engaging dialogues to maintain the ongoing development of the world during its 12-hour playtime.

2024-10-26 11:34