Nature enthusiasts know that Earth has so much to offer beyond spending money on frivolous things. From hikers exploring National Parks to surfers enjoying the great blue oceans, there is lots of natural beauty to see in the world. That said, traveling can be expensive, which is a luxury not everyone can afford.
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That’s why video games can be a fun form of escapism that can take players to far-out worlds beyond our own. They can also explore real-life locations in the modern era, or even go back in time to ages past. The following games have worlds so lush and gorgeous that they can often rival the real beauty of Earth, even making the real world seem dull by comparison.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Horrors Everywhere, But Beauty Underneath
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes place in a high fantasy open-world that pulls from European folklore, or is at least inspired by it. Players will face all manner of creatures in action combat, which looks great, especially when using spells. There is a day-night cycle, so some of the prettiest scenery can be captured while riding on a horse at sunset.
There are lush forests with haunting monsters, large populated towns brimming with life, tall cliffs overlooking vast seas, and deep water that is crystal blue. The coloration of the world is rich, making it feel more inviting than taking a simple trip through Europe to see the sights on Earth.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Life Outside Of Midgar
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is an open-world action game that is segmented into different zones, each one more unique than the last. For example, the starting area is a mixture of grasslands and large cliffs overlooking the ocean. Other regions include a seaside city with a wrecked shipyard outside, a beach town that looks like a great vacation spot akin to the Bahamas, an amusement park with mini-games galore, and so on.
Every area and set piece is highly detailed, with characters looking beyond realistic in both contexts. The game mixes fantasy with sci-fi technology well, giving it an otherworldly Earth effect that can feel familiar and foreign at the same time.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Breaking Reality
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Released
- June 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the most recent entry in the Ratchet & Clank series of action platformers. The titular duo finds themselves mixed up with their female alter egos from another universe, Rivet and Kit, and they must work together to stop a threat of collapsing the multiverse in on itself. The game is a technical showpiece for the PS5, demonstrating how the console can load zones of completely different planets without any loading screens breaking up the action.
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Like the other games in the franchise, players will traverse a diverse set of foreign planets filled with wonders that Earthlings can only dream of seeing in space one day. Since much of the gameplay is platforming-based, it allows players to take in the beauty of rich vegetation, starry skies, futuristic cities, and more. It has Pixar-level quality in its animation, too.
God Of War Ragnarok
Behold, The Rainbow Bridge
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
God of War Ragnarok is the latest God of War game, a series that was initially influenced by Greek mythology before moving on to Norse mythology for this game and its 2018 predecessor. Players will retread similar areas from the 2018 game, although many of them are changed thanks to the upcoming winter apocalypse that is Ragnarok.
Players explore icy forests, lakes, and valleys in the main hub area of Midgard, but there is also a gateway that can transport them to the other nine realms. There are deep caverns, gloomy forests with mushrooms galore, and the cream of the crop is ascending to the high mountain top of Asgard, which scales beautifully in the game. Of course, the visual reinterpretation of legendary Norse monsters and gods is also a treat.
Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
Reforming The World
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Released
- September 21, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Kena: Bridge of Spirits has a Pixar-like quality to it, much like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, complete with cute mascot characters called the Rot. Players will explore this rich fantasy land as a spiritual healer, Kena, who is on a mission to heal the forest, which is becoming corrupted by a blight.
The scenery isn’t as varied as some other games, but this forest area is beyond breathtaking, with vibrant greens and dazzling blues in the rivers that run through it. By exploring, solving puzzles, and fighting monsters, Kena can restore the forest to its former glory. Players will wish they could weave a spell to restore the Earth to its former glory someday, too, but life isn’t as literally magical.
Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
Empty, But Mesmerizing
Shadow of the Colossus
- Released
- February 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bluepoint Games, JapanStudio, Team Ico
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus is technically set in an open-world, but one that is crumbling and more haunted than most. As the hero, Wander, players are tasked with finding 16 giant Colossi to kill, so that they may help revive a girl, Mono. There are no other enemies to fight or characters to interact with, as it’s an action-adventure game all about exploring and fighting bosses.
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The world is vast, with many plains, valleys, and ruins to explore, which adds to the haunting vibe as players have no context for their surroundings. The stars of the show are the varied Colossi, though, which tower over Wander and take on beastly, aquatic, and bird-like forms. There is nothing else like it in video games, nor is there an equivalent on Earth with such mystery.
Horizon Forbidden West
The Future Is Grim And Green
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
Horizon Forbidden West is based on the real world, as it is an open-world game set hundreds of years after an apocalyptic event. Thanks to a robotic uprising, most of humanity has died out, but small pockets have endured as the land rebuilt itself, even though robotic creatures still roam the Earth.
The first game took place in Colorado, while this game ventures to the West Coast, hence the name. It’s one of the more interesting takes on a post-apocalyptic setting, exploring what human ingenuity is capable of, as these robotic creatures are both frightening and ingenious. Being able to explore, or at least look upon, famous pieces of architecture from Earth that have been reclaimed by nature, like the Golden Gate Bridge, is awe-inspiring.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
A History Lesson
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Released
- October 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
The Assassin’s Creed series prides itself on being able to recreate famous eras of history at the height of their importance, from Egypt to Japan to Italy and so on. Sans time travel, this is the best way players can experience real-world history, albeit twisted, in a video game. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey takes place largely within ancient Greece, which is a Mediterranean wonder of the 400 BC era.
There are some cool cities and seaside villages to explore on land, but the sailing aspect of the gameplay is what will truly draw players in. The ocean and the adjoining rivers and lakes have some of the best-looking water in video games to date. The ability to swim underwater to look for hidden treasure, and the DLC that adds paranormal aspects of mythology (like Atlantis), all make Assassin’s Creed Odyssey one of the most engaging entries to explore beyond all the assassination-based gameplay.
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