While we don’t have the luxury of simply going wherever we want right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t take yourself on a journey. While we’re stuck in our homes, video games can provide the escape from the real world that everybody needs every now and then. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to get away sometimes. Video games let you do this in a safe and entertaining way. However, not all games are made equal for this purpose. Some games just seem to have a world that we want to get sucked into. The next time you need to get away, consider this list of the best video game worlds to get lost in.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
While you certainly wouldn’t want to live in the world of The Witcher, visiting this expansive and fleshed-out world is a treat on its own. Not only are the landscapes beautiful and the cities vibrant, but you simply can’t beat The Witcher when it comes to atmospheric music as well. Whether you’re in the swamps of Velen or the fjords in the Isles of Skellige, the Witcher universe is one that you can easily get swept away into.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If there’s one game that can transport you to a whole new way of living, it’s definitely Animal Crossing. The game’s aesthetic is so jolly and positive that it’s the perfect getaway from the chaos of the real world. You can just relax with a few animal friends, go fishing down by the ocean, or even just catch butterflies if you want. Animal Crossing has always prided itself on being a soothing escape from the real world and you can feel it from the moment you start up the game.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Another example of a world that is better observed than lived in is the one present in Horizon: Zero Dawn. A beautiful, sprawling world is laid out before you and all you really need to do is deal with a couple of giant mechanical dinosaurs to enjoy it. That’s not much of a challenge for your average gamer. Still considered a revolutionary title by many when it comes to story and worldbuilding, Horizon: Zero Dawn is a game you can count on to sweep you away.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
If you haven’t got on the Zelda bandwagon at this point, you are missing out severely on one of the best games of this generation. Breath of the Wild takes a hard turn away from the more linear aspects of the Legend of Zelda franchise and completely open the world of Hyrule up to you. You can literally climb almost everything you see; you can surf down mountains on the back of your shield, and all of it is done in a gorgeous, almost painterly art style. If you need to wile away some hours in another world, you could do far worse than Breath of the Wild.
Assassin’s Creed
Whether you’re playing Valhalla, Odyssey, or Origins, the Assassin’s Creed series has always been about showing you places in our world through a new lens. The latest three games, which we just mentioned, take a much more open-world approach to the whole game. You can explore ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and even Viking-occupied England in a way that really opens the world to you. There’s no shortage of things to do in Assassin’s Creed games, so enjoy all the hours that you’ll sink into their worlds.
Red Dead Redemption 2
One of the best video game worlds to get lost in is definitely Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2. If you’ve ever wanted to be a true, blue cowboy outlaw, this game has the world where you can be just that. Taking you through a modified version of the Old West, Red Dead Redemption 2 is almost a simulation game as much as it is an action game. Go hunting for meat and skins, rob a bank or two, and gallop through the sun-swept plains on your horse for a while. You’ll forget all about the real world while you’re playing in this cowboy fantasyland.
No Man’s Sky
If your tastes tend a little more to the stars rather than a real-world parallel, No Man’s Sky has got you covered. With billions of procedurally generated planets to explore and a similar amount of strange and exotic creatures to check out, No Man’s Sky is the game to play if you’ve always wanted to be a space explorer. Rather than just a world to explore, it gives you an entire universe to traverse in your starship. There’s no better way to get away than to leave the planet entirely.
Divinity: Original Sin II
For the more tactically minded gamer, Divinity: Original Sin II might be more your speed. A rich fantasy world with quite a few interesting takes on classic fantasy tropes, Divinity: Original Sin II is a turn-based, top-down roleplaying game for those that want to dig deep into somewhere new. With deep lore, great characters, a fantastic story, and a unique world to explore, this game is a total package of a getaway experience.
Super Mario Odyssey
If there’s one character you can trust in all of video gaming, it’s everyone’s good friend Mario. Super Mario Odyssey may not be as open world as some of the games on this list, but it makes up for that by having an aesthetic and charm that isn’t found anywhere else. There are also more hidden objectives and secrets than you can shake a stick at, so you’ll be on the lookout for a while, even after you finish the main story.
The best part about all the games on this list is their ability to transport us somewhere new, even if we’re stuck in our bedroom or living room. All you have to do is not let yourself get so swept up in these worlds that you forget about yourself. If you’re planning for long gaming sessions in your future, Glassy Eyewear’s computer gaming glasses are a must-have to prevent eye strain and painful headaches. Don’t get lost in your next world without a pair!
