Discover the Top Fantasy Games Set in Enchanting Urban Landscapes!

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Summary

  • Massive cities make unique fantasy settings in video games, offering players crowded streets and markets to explore.
  • Games like Jak 2, Dragon Age 2, and Guild Wars: Factions immerse players in sprawling, intricate urban environments.
  • Urban settings like Dunwall in Dishonored and Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake blend magic and technology for immersive gameplay.

In fantasy, it’s not only about tranquil landscapes dotted with enchanted woods; bustling, colossal urban centers made of stone and wood, housing a magical or alchemical industry, can also fit perfectly within the genre. However, due to their intricate social structures and architectural complexity, depicting such cities in fantasy video games can sometimes be challenging.

As a passionate gamer, I must say that certain studios have undertaken an epic endeavor: crafting an urban backdrop for a magical journey. Unlike traditional games where a city serves as a hub in a broader fantasy landscape, these games make the city the primary playground, occupying most of the explorable space. Throughout the game’s span, you navigate through crowded, vibrant streets, markets, and slums, immersing yourself in the heart of the city life.

Jak 2: Renegade – Haven City

Prophecies, Inner Demons, And Ecopunk

Following the success of the captivating, seamless platforming experience in The Precursor Legacy, Naughty Dog drew inspiration from what they envisioned as the future of gaming – the open-world city sandbox of Grand Theft Auto. In stark contrast to the pristine charm of Sandover Village and its surrounding landscapes, Jak 2 led the team on a journey through an enigmatic portal into Haven City.

In this revised version, the massive metropolis blends elements from both magitek (or ecopunk) genres, much like in “The Precursor Legacy,” showcasing characteristics such as zip-lining vehicles, environmental harmony, and primal beasts. However, it presents a gritty, oppressive dystopia under the tight grip of an autocratic regime. The protagonist, Jak, navigates this urban jungle, commandeering airborne cars, firing enchanted weapons, interpreting ancient prophecies, and maneuvering through the tangled web of crime lords and rebellious outlaws to rescue the city and liberate its inhabitants from a tyrant and impending attack.

Dragon Age 2 – Kirkwall

The Highs And Lows Of Urban Living

Instead of venturing far and wide like in the original game, Dragon Age 2 primarily unfolds within the boundaries of Kirkwall, a city state that houses both the wealthiest and poorest inhabitants. Some fans of Dragon Age have voiced concerns that the walls of Kirkwall feel restrictive, particularly in contrast to the expansiveness they experienced during their journey in Origins.

Players are certain to get well-acquainted with the “City of Chains” and its denizens, as there’s a wealth of areas to delve into and revisit across numerous playthroughs. This ranges from the downtrodden, impoverished workers in Lowtown or Dawktown, all the way up to the affluent merchants and politicos residing in their grand mansions and opulent homes in Hightown.

Guild Wars: Factions – Kaineng City

Urban Sprawl To Extreme Levels

When someone hears the phrase “fantasy city,” they might envision a grand city made of gleaming white marble with lofty towers and beautifully planned streets. But others could imagine a grimy, medieval slum filled with hardworking peasants amidst squalor, with a few grand mansions perched high above. Contrary to expectations, Guild Wars Factions‘ Kaineng City falls into the latter category, yet it’s far from being small. In truth, Kaineng is impressively vast, even by today’s contemporary standards. The city is characterized by its dirtiness, confusion, oppressiveness, and struggle against poverty and bureaucracy, as it sprawls in every direction.

Buildings are piled high like Jenga towers, with streets spreading out rapidly over nature before it can recede. Scattered pockets of extreme wealth contrast sharply with many who’ve resorted to dwell in the extensive underground sewer network. Tragically, a baffling illness has swept through numerous districts, claiming lives and transforming victims into grotesque, tumor-ridden creatures that roam aimlessly. However, escapes to the icy expanse of the Jade Sea or the stone forest cathedrals of Echovald provide moments of relief in the otherwise grim reality of Kaineng.

Dishonored – Dunwall

Steampunk And Void Magic Collide

In contrast to their advanced industrial and technological advancements, the Victorians in reality had a profound fascination with the supernatural, encompassing ghosts, spirits, and magic. The setting of the game “Dishonored” resembles a grimy, soot-covered London at its peak, yet this city is fueled by whale oil rather than coal and steam. Due to the processed blubber from the whales, the city is populated with remarkable (albeit unsettling) steampunk inventions.

In this rapidly advancing technological era, the powerful figures in society continue to grapple with matters of spirits and superstition, as they should. Through Corvo’s perspective, we learn that an entity beyond human understanding, known as The Outsider, possesses significant control over the tangible world. As a representative of The Outsider, Corvo is endowed with magical abilities, enabling him to move effortlessly across the city’s tall rooftops, landmarks, factories, and disease-ridden streets in Dunwall.

Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2 – Meridian

The Vampire Underground Versus The Nosgoth Capital

In simpler terms, the Legacy of Kain series boasts some of the most intricate (and effectively delivered) background stories. Essentially, Blood Omen 2 is set in an alternate reality where Kain is deprived of his vampiric divinity for multiple reasons and must adapt to this situation. Waking up from a long sleep of centuries, Kain finds himself surrounded by the fruits of technological advancement that emerged through magical symbols.

In my gaming world, a faster pace in technology means more urban development. So, it’s no surprise that most of Blood Omen 2 unfolds within a vast cityscape. As Kain, I’m blazing through vampire hunters and treacherous vampires alike, draining the life out of Nosgoth one river at a time. My quest? To establish my own dominance as a self-serving ruler among vampires.

MediEvil 2 – London

Taking A Spooky Tour Of London Town

In the sequel to MediEvil, Sir Daniel Fortesque, who had been preserved for five centuries at the British Museum, is reawakened once more by a tempestuous surge of dark magic. The skeletal knight finds himself drawn into a conflict between Lord Palethorn, a sorcerer summoning demons, and Professor Kift, a brilliant inventor along with his spectral ally, Winston.

Sir Dan, along with his newly formed companions, embarked on a mission to prevent Palethorn, the demon-faced industrialist, from achieving his goal of dominion. They aimed to retrieve the spellbook pages belonging to Zarok, an immortal foe of Sir Dan, before Palethorn or his minions could claim them. The journey unfolded in various well-known Victorian London locations, such as Kensington streets, Whitechapel, Greenwich Observatory, and areas once haunted by Jack the Ripper.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake – Midgar

A Metropolis Leeching On The Soul Of The Planet

Although “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” suggests a traditional fantasy setting, it ventures beyond that with its urban fantasy backdrop, Midgar. In the original FF7, Midgard and its ecological and economic struggles took center stage in the first of three discs. The remake significantly expands upon its importance and geographical scope.

In this city, you’ll find motorbikes, business professionals, railways, and power stations that might appear ordinary, but they run on an extraordinary source – magic or the planet’s life force. The party members harness crystalized Lifesteam energy to launch spells like bolts of lightning, shards of ice, and fiery explosions at their foes. Creatures lurk in the sewers and forgotten corners of the city, but it’s rare to spot mercenaries wielding greatswords on their backs.

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2025-03-14 05:35