Unveiling the Ultimate Open-World Adventure: 10 Astonishing Real-Life Locations You Can Explore Virtually!

Highlights

Virtual tourism through open-world games allows people to explore exotic locations from the comfort of their own homes, giving them a taste of the sights, sounds, and culture.

Games like

Euro Truck Simulator 2

and

Sleeping Dogs

provide players with the opportunity to explore realistic renditions of cities, allowing them to see more of the continent or experience Hong Kong.

Open-world games like

Watch Dogs 2

and

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

offer immersive and accurate recreations of real cities, allowing players to explore famous landmarks and hidden gems while forgetting about the main plot.

In recent years, traveling has been quite challenging. Apart from significant global events, the high cost of living coupled with low earnings has limited people from venturing beyond their own cities. Even for those residing in bustling urban centers, the allure of well-known destinations can fade, let alone for individuals residing in upscale suburban areas or small villages. This is where the concept of virtual tourism comes to the rescue.

By means of games and applications, whether through virtual reality (VR) or other formats, individuals have discovered ways to explore exotic destinations without stepping foot outside their homes. While it may not completely replicate the experience of being physically present, these digital platforms offer immersive encounters that provide a glimpse into the sights, sounds, and culture of these locations. Open-world games, in particular, excel in delivering this experience, making them the cream of the crop.

8 Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre

This content fragment describes the Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre, which can be considered a non-traditional video game due to its educational nature. Released in 2012, it was originally intended for use with the Louvre's rental 3DS devices. However, it later became available for digital download on the 3DS eShop, allowing users to explore the famous French gallery and plan their own routes. Physical copies are rare and expensive since they are Europe-only and have not been restocked in years.

7 Euro Truck Simulator Games

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Platform(s) PCReleased October 18, 2012Developer(s) SCS Software

Simulation games have paved the way for virtual tourism. It was fascinating to get a taste of realistically flying a plane or seeing cities from a bird's-eye view. These games expanded into more unconventional territories, such as recreating Thomas the Tank Engine in Trainz 3D, and even parodying themselves like in Goat Simulator.

One standout example in this genre is the Euro Truck Simulator games. On paper, the concept of duplicating the experience of a truck driver's journey from London to Bern may seem dull. However, in practice, these games captivate players by accurately modeling the roads across the entire continent. The primary objective is to deliver goods on time, but players have the freedom to choose their own routes and explore more of Europe. Only two games were created in this series, with Euro Truck Simulator 2 being considered the superior one.

6 Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs

Platform(s) PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PCReleased August 14, 2012Developer(s) United Front Games

When it comes to virtual tourism in open-world games, people often envision exploring cities through the perspective of a human protagonist. Examples include Cole McGrath traversing New Marais (a fictional New Orleans) in InFamous 2, Tommy Vercetti cruising through a Miami-like city in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, or Wei Shen hunting down Triads in Sleeping Dogs. Besides the main story missions, players can roam and discover what Hong Kong (specifically Hong Kong Island) has to offer. Although not 100% accurate, the game provides a scaled-down version of the real place, capturing the essence of the Pearl of the Orient. In addition to sightseeing, players can engage in activities such as karaoke and mahjong, reminiscent of other Asian crime games.

5 Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2

Franchise Watch DogsPlatform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, StadiaReleased November 15, 2016 See at Amazon

The Watch Dogs series received a negative first impression with the initial game due to its graphics downgrade and a lackluster story. However, the game still provided enjoyable stealth and hacking gameplay, and the depiction of Chicago, though compacted, was surprisingly accurate.

In an attempt to redeem itself, Watch Dogs 2 introduced a new protagonist, Marcus Holloway, and a new setting in San Francisco. The hacking mechanics continued to be entertaining, and critics were particularly impressed with the game's portrayal of the Bay Area, describing it as an immersive and visually stunning experience. While the game's streets, landmarks, and map were more faithful to real life than those in Sleeping Dogs' representation of Hong Kong, they were still condensed for the sake of convenience and faster travel.

4 L.A Noire

LA Noire

Platform(s) PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PCReleased May 17, 2011Developer(s) Team Bondi See at Amazon

The same can be said for Los Angeles, its fellow Californian metropolis. Many close replicas, such as Los Santos in GTA5, have been inspired by the city. However, Team Bondi and Rockstar took it a step further in their attempt to recreate the 1940s Los Angeles for L.A Noire, even incorporating old street names, albeit with some condensing for gameplay purposes. Unfortunately, this did not benefit the Bondi staff.

L.A Noire provides players with a solid immersion into the past, resembling an old film noir, especially when the black-and-white filter is turned on. However, outside of the main missions and pursuing criminals, there isn't much to do in the city. Nevertheless, for those who simply want to explore and see the nostalgic sights, there are numerous options, including the La Brea Tar Pits, the Brown Derby, Grauman's Chinese Theater, and Macarthur Park.

3 Marvel’s Spider-Man

Marvel's Spider-Man

Platform(s) PS4, PS5, PCReleased September 7, 2018Developer(s) Insomniac Games

New York City is undeniably a popular setting in video games, with various titles featuring its likeness under different names. Liberty City in GTA3 & 4, Empire City in InFamous, and Metro City in Street Fighter 6 all bear striking resemblances to the Big Apple. Furthermore, there are numerous games that actually take place in New York City, such as Max Payne, Prototype, Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Metal Gear Solid 2. Marvel’s Spider-Man stands out as an excellent choice for virtual tourism, as it encourages players to meticulously navigate the streets of Manhattan, uncovering hidden treasures and capturing photographs of both real landmarks like the Flatiron Building and Statue of Liberty, as well as fictional locations such as Avengers’ Building and Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum. Keen-eyed players may even stumble upon iconic spots like the Ghostbusters’ firehouse and Hamilton’s Grave. The game's immersion is so captivating, players often lose themselves in exploration, temporarily setting aside the main storyline.

2 Yakuza/Like A Dragon series

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Franchise YakuzaPlatform(s) Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS4, PS5, PCReleased November 10, 2020Developer(s) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio See at Steam

The locales in Yakuza/Like a Dragon are fictional, but they closely resemble real places to the point that tourists can use them as a guide. For instance, Kamurochō, based on Kabukichō in Tokyo, has a square of cinemas in its northwest area and a district of alleyways filled with dive bars in the east. However, instead of being called the Champion District, it is referred to as the "Golden Gai" or "Golden Street."

RGG Studio excelled at recreating real places so well that Japanese fans wanted to see their own cities featured in the games. Yakuza 5 included Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Nagoya, while Yakuza 6 introduced the modest town of Onomichi. Each city had its own unique attractions, activities, and minigames. It would be great to see the trend continue with the inclusion of Waikiki, Hawaii in Like a Dragon 8: Infinite Wealth, which would mark the first international setting for the series.

1 Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Franchise Assassin's CreedPlatform(s) PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, macOS, SwitchReleased November 16, 2010Developer(s) Ubisoft

Visiting virtual replicas of present-day places is one thing, but recreating long-extinct ones is a different story. While it's possible to explore the Coliseum in Rome, the Acropolis in Athens, or the Egyptian Pyramids, these ancient marvels are now mere remnants of their former glory. With the exception of historical records and drawings, no one has truly experienced these sights in their prime since ancient times.

However, certain video games have come remarkably close to capturing the essence of these lost wonders, such as the Assassin's Creed series. Through meticulous research and on-site studies, the developers have gone above and beyond to revive these historical landmarks. While Assassin's Creed: Origins and Odyssey have garnered admiration for their depiction of Egyptian and Greek settings, it is arguably Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood that reigns supreme. This game, the second installment of a trilogy set in Renaissance Italy, flawlessly recreates Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice, and other iconic locations.