Summary
- Ruins in open-world games add depth to storytelling through histories of past civilizations.
- Games like The Sinking City and Elden Ring incorporate diverse ancient and modern ruins.
- Horizon Zero Dawn and Fallout: New Vegas showcase how nature and decay shape ruins.
There is no doubt that the best open-world games have a sense of history about them. The worlds feel lived in, if not currently inhabited. One of the most effective ways to do this is through the ruins of previous civilizations.
Ruins can be a crucial part of brilliant environmental storytelling and take a variety of forms. They may be the ruins of times we consider ancient, like ancient Greek monuments, similarly ancient fantasy ruins, or the ruins of contemporary society as found in far-flung video game dystopias.
1 The Sinking City
20th Century & Ancient Alien Ruins
The Sinking City
- Released
- June 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frogwares
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
The Sinking City takes place in a world where the apocalypse is looming. Flooding has caused much of the town of Oakmont to be abandoned, turning buildings into ruins. The rapid ruination of these buildings is in part due to the ocean life that appears to be slowly consuming the buildings. Giant coral formations cling to brick walls and wooden structures have begun to rot away.
But underneath the early 20th-century ruins of the fishing port, another type of ruin lies on the ocean floor. These are the ancient ruins of temples built to worship impossibly ancient eldritch creatures. In this case, it is primarily dedicated to Cthylla and the Fecund Mother.
2 Mad Max
The Ruins Of 21st Century Society
Mad Max
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Mad Max is a criminally underrated open-world game that takes place in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Australia. While the vast map is dominated by sprawling deserts in every direction, exploration is made all the more satisfying by the ruins of “pre-fall” civilization, which act as markers.
These ruins of familiar structures, such as the airport of Underdune, and the concrete and metal skeletons of affordable housing, remind the player that this was once their world. It adds a sense of vulnerability, especially as there are landmark feats of human engineering such as massive ships and planes simply rusting and decaying in the wasteland.
3 Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Layers Of Ancient Greek History
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Released
- October 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Quebec
- Franchise
- Assassin's Creed
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been chosen as an ideal representation of a series known for its fantastic ruins. It is a series utterly immersed in history and the legacy of the people who came before, so it’s no surprise that the games engage with the ruins of civilization before their respective historical settings.
The ruins of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey show the layers of history that these games engage with. There was always something before. Towns and cities were often built on the foundations of other towns and cities. This is exemplified by the ruins of the Minoan, Mycenaean, and even Atlantian civilizations among other ruins scattered about the expansive open world of 5th century BCE Greece.
4 Fallout: New Vegas
What Is Left Of 20th Century Las Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout has some of the best ruins in any video game franchise. This entry could have easily been any of the Fallout games from three onward, but the torn-down glitz and glamor of Fallout: New Vegas has a very distinctive charm. Obsidian has managed to capture the retro-futurism of the Fallout series and incorporate elements of 1950s Las Vegas in the design.
Part of the appeal of Fallout ruins is the intriguing possibilities that lie within. Not all franchises let players pick through abandoned rooms and corridors of a lost society. However, the environmental design and found documents within Fallout: New Vegas are an important part of the storytelling and world-building.
5 Horizon Zero Dawn
The Ruins Of Southwestern USA
Horizon Zero Dawn
- Released
- February 28, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Franchise
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Again, this could have easily been the second major installment of the series, Horizon Forbidden West, but nothing quite beats the mystery and intrigue of those first modern human ruins. What sets the Horizon games apart in terms of their ruins is the way that nature has reclaimed these buildings. Yes, there is decay, but primarily the ruins are beautiful spectacles of nature healing.
Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn You Need To Play
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of Playstation's best games. For those looking for something similar, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Rather than a dystopic depiction of the world post-apocalypse, the Horizon series shows an idealistic vision of how nature could thrive after modern civilization has fallen. The diversity of the ruins according to location adds another layer of world-building to the game.
6 Elden Ring
The Ruins Of The Lands Between
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While many of the most intriguing ruins on this list arise from the decay of civilization as we know it, Elden Ring offers players the chance to experience elaborate fantasy ruins from times long before. From the open-air temples and structures that sit on the clifftops, to the oppressively dark and claustrophobic catacombs, Elden Ring does so much of its world-building through abandoned structures. They tell stories of the tragedy and hubris that led to the downfall of society.
The enemies that are found in these ruins are often extremely tailored to their environment, with barely living stone creatures guarding long-forgotten places and once proud regal enemies in the ruins of their domain.
Best Open-World Games Set In High Fantasy Worlds
With plenty of magic, strange creatures, and an epic underlying story, what these open-world games have in common is a beautiful, high-fantasy world.