There are tons of video games out there that have amazing storylines and fantastic gameplay, but if you’re a world building enthusiast like I am, you’re probably also looking for video games that have amazing world building as well! There are so many great world building examples that we can find in video games, and today, I’ll be listing 15 games with amazing world building that you definitely need to check out right now! These aren’t in any particular order and I recommend all the games on this list equally if you want a great world building experience in a video game.
One of the first ways I got introduced to the complexity of world building was through video games, and you might be able to find some video game inspiration or references hidden throughout my books, such as The Fallen Age Saga.
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1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
When it comes to world building, The Witcher 3 stands out for its staggering attention to detail and its ability to make every corner of its vast map feel purposeful. Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, the dark fantasy world of Temeria is full of conflict, political intrigue, complex societies, and engaging ancient lore. Throughout The Witcher 3, you get to explore can a variety of landscapes, from bustling cities to war-torn fields and quaint villages. The living world is dynamic, reacting to Geralt’s actions, with NPCs carrying on conversations or acknowledging past events, making it feel as though the world continues even when you aren’t watching. It’s also one of the best fantasy RPGs out there and if you’re looking for a game that’ll be a lot of fun at any time of the day, then you need to check out The Witcher 3.
Check Out Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Here:
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It wouldn’t be a world building list if I didn’t mention Skyrim. The world of Skyrim is legendary in both its scope and complexity. From the snowy mountain peaks to ancient ruins and dense forests, Bethesda’s fantasy world is ripe with history, magic, action, and adventure. The lore of Tamriel spans thousands of years, with deep narratives written into its books, artifacts, and ancient religions. The world is teeming with cultures, races, political factions, and mystical elements. What makes Skyrim particularly compelling is how the world seems to breathe on its own. NPCs go about their daily lives, dragons randomly attack towns, and dynamic weather adds to the sense that this is a living, breathing universe. What’s really neat about Skryim as well is that it has great mod support and a lot of fans have added really cool and unique things that make the world building in Skyrim even more complex and more exciting. I will never stop recommending Skyrim any day!
Check Out The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Here:
3. Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn definitely has a unique form of world building for video games. The world is a post-apocalyptic one where there are robotic dinosaurs and tribal societies. The game blends nature and technology in a really unique and interesting way and it’s definitely cool to see. Guerilla Games was able to craft a landscape filled with lush forests, arid deserts, ruined cities, and incorporate the old technology and the new reality. It’s a very interesting game that is full of lots of lore and is definitely worth checking out if you want something a bit different than a pure fantasy example of world building.
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4. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t just a game; it’s a living world filled with remarkable attention to realism and historical detail. It’s also very different because the game isn’t a fantasy or a sci-fi, but it’s actually historical fiction. However, its depiction of the American frontier during the late 1800s is amazing and incredibly immersive. Rockstar put a ton of work into the map and the world as well as the story and lore. Each location has its own distinct culture, wildlife, and social norms. The characters that you encounter and interact with are also really well developed and the cast of the main characters are very compelling and memorable. I absolutely loved Red Dead and I think it’s a great video game that anyone should check out.
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5. Bioshock
Bioshock‘s underwater city of Rapture is one of the most iconic settings in video game history and the story is absolutely fantastic. This dystopian city, built on the ideals of libertarianism, slowly decays into chaos. Immediately, you are thrust into the thick of the story where the stakes are high and the world is hostile. You get to piece together the city’s downfall through audio logs, environmental storytelling, and atmospheric design. Every hallway, room, and broken-down structure tells a piece of the tragic history of Rapture, making it a chilling and unforgettable world.
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6. Mass Effect Trilogy
The Mass Effect series offers some of the most intricate and expansive world-building in any science fiction universe. BioWare’s deep lore spans entire galaxies, filled with diverse alien races, each with their own cultures, histories, and political structures. The narrative choices you can make throughout the trilogy affect the entire galaxy, and as Commander Shepard (you can pick Shepard’s gender and customize their look as well) , you actually get to feel the weight of their decisions. The world-building in Mass Effect is so detailed that even the codex, filled with information on alien species, technologies, and the universe’s history, is something you can spend hours looking at.
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7. Dark Souls 3
The world of Dark Souls 3 is bleak, mysterious, and dripping with atmosphere. From the gothic architecture to the ruined landscapes, every area feels connected to the game’s intricate lore. What makes Dark Souls world-building unique is its reliance on environmental storytelling. Much of the lore of Lothric is hidden within item descriptions, character dialogue, and the design of the world itself. FromSoftware’s games often are designed with the idea of exploration in mind and you don’t necessarily get the full picture by just exploring the designated areas of the game. Dark Souls 3 is also a challenging game, but one of the most fun games you might ever get a chance to play as well.
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8. God of War (2018)
God of War reimagines the original franchise in the world of Norse mythology, delivering a world-building experience that is nothing short of breathtaking. The game’s seamless, continuous-shot camera immerses players in a beautifully crafted landscape filled with mythological creatures, gods, and realms. Midgard, the home realm of Kratos and his son Atreus, is only the beginning—you get a chance to also visit other realms like Alfheim, Helheim, Muspelheim. Each realm is rich with its own lore and backstory, steeped in Norse mythology but reinterpreted through the lens of God of War’s narrative. The gameplay is also exciting and definitely a lot of fun!
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9. Elden Ring
Elden Ring takes the immersive world-building from FromSoftware’s previous games and advances it in a way that I personally didn’t see coming. Set in the vast and mysterious Lands Between, this world is a dark fantasy dream, filled with sprawling castles, ancient ruins, and forgotten kingdoms. Created in collaboration with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, the game’s lore is rich, subtle, and often hidden within item descriptions, cryptic dialogue, and environmental storytelling. You must piece together the history of the Lands Between yourself, making every discovery feel earned. There are so many realms, stories, fights, bosses, and more. With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC as well, Elden Ring is probably one of the best games to ever release and is my personal favorite video game of all time as well. I’ve mentioned it before in another blog post about creating lore because it’s just that good.
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10. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition is another fantastic fantasy game that has a world full of political intrigue, ancient magic, and complex characters. The world of Thedas is vast, with different regions, races, and religions that all play crucial roles in the narrative. As the Inquisitor, you are cast into the center of a world at war, where you must navigate the politics of the land while uncovering ancient secrets. BioWare excels at building a living, breathing world filled with historical depth, and Thedas feels like a place where past, present, and future are all inextricably linked. It’s pretty clear that the storytelling abilities at BioWare are top-tier.
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11. Cyberpunk 2077
Despite its rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City is a marvel of world-building. The sprawling, neon-lit metropolis is a dystopian playground that feels alive with bustling streets, towering skyscrapers, and dark alleyways. The game’s world reflects its themes of corporate control, cybernetic enhancement, and societal decay. Every corner of Night City tells a story, whether through its graffiti-covered walls, NPC interactions, or hidden details about the corporations pulling the strings behind the scenes. I think that if you want a story with some really interesting commentary about the world today and the potential of extreme corporatization while being set in an immersive sci-fi world, then Cyberpunk 2077 is the perfect game for you.
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12. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus is a masterclass in minimalistic world-building. The game has a vast and desolate landscape full of massive beasts, telling the story of a forgotten civilization. The word feels both empty and alive all at once, with the Colossi towering over you as you play. The world building is done via minimal dialogue and exposition, allowing you to get an immersive and interesting experience.
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13. Bloodborne
If there’s one company that gets fantasy world building, it’s FromSoftware, which is why nearly every soulslike they’ve ever released got added to this list. Bloodborne has quickly become one of my all-time favorite video games ever released and it’s absolutely fantastic. I genuinely enjoy everything about this game. Bloodborne builds a world of gothic horror that blends the Victorian architecture with Lovecraftian monsters in the city of Yharnam. The lore is woven into every aspect of the game, from the design of the creatures to the cryptic NPC dialogue. If you like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, play Bloodborne, you won’t regret it.
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14. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Set in Ancient Greece, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers a sprawling, detailed world that beautifully captures the landscape, architecture, and culture of the time. Ubisoft’s attention to historical accuracy, combined with the mythological elements that gradually weave into the story, create a fascinating world to explore. You can play as Alexios or Kassandra as a mercenary during the Peloponnesian War and can travel across the Aegean Sea, visit iconic cities like Athens and Sparta, and interact with figures from Greek history and mythology, making it a captivating world-building experience. It’s also a great game if you enjoy games like The Witcher.
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15. Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima is set during the Mongol invasion of Japan, and the game’s world is nothing short of breathtaking. The island of Tsushima is lush with forests, mountains, and golden fields, all meticulously designed to reflect the beauty of feudal Japan. The world-building here isn’t just about creating a beautiful environment; it’s about capturing the cultural and historical essence of the time. The game’s focus on honor, loyalty, and the conflict between tradition and change adds depth to the world, making it one of the most immersive historical settings in recent memory. Jin Sakai is also an amazing protagonist for a video game and the story is fantastic, set against the amazing world, this is definitely a must-play for writers.
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Conclusion
Hopefully these games help inspire you with your books and let you find some great tips and ideas for your own world building projects. I personally find that because video games have immersion to them, it makes world building more exciting because you can actually feel the world around you and you aren’t just writing it down.
Before you head on out, be sure to check out my series, The Fallen Age Saga, and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you can get updates on all my latest WIPs, book releases, posts, and more!