Best Games Set In The Desert

With endless dunes, jaw-dropping oases, and mysterious ruins, it is no surprise that plenty of game developers choose to set their games in the desert. From the deserts of Africa and Asia to North America and of course fantasy deserts, there are plenty of iconic deserts that have been brought to life in video games.

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The best games set in the desert take advantage of the uniqueness of the biome, presenting players with game mechanics that reflect the challenges of surviving in such arid conditions. They also highlight the rewards, benefits, and beauty of desert life.

1 Total War: Pharaoh

While the gameplay of Total War: Pharaoh might not hold a candle to the best Total War games, it is easily one of the best-looking entries in the series, largely thanks to the beauty of the deserts of Ancient Egypt.

Each map, where battles are fought out in this strategy game is incredibly immersive and full of detail and players will see many great shots featuring the ever-present sun. When controlling their units and ordering them into battle, players will have to take the layout of the land and the nature of the desert into account.

2 Assassin's Creed Mirage

While the medieval city of Baghdad is arguably the greatest feature of Assassin's Creed Mirage, the desert that surrounds the city is just as beautiful. Throughout the course of the game, players will have plenty of opportunities to explore the Arabian desert, and they can do this atop a camel or other mounts.

Out in the sand dunes, players will find dangerous wildlife, oases, outposts, and small settlements as well as ancient ruins they can scale to gain new vantage points.

3 Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed Origins is set in Ancient Egypt and as an RPG it is one of the best games for exploring Africa and desert landscapes. The expansive world is absolutely stunning and players will find endless hours of fun in the desert, particularly when analyzing the mysteries of the ancient pyramids.

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One feature of the desert in Origins that will certainly linger in the minds of players is the fact they will occasionally see visions or mirages when traversing the endless dunes on their camel or preferred mount. These visions are often dark and sobering, especially when they disappear.

4 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

While not all of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 campaign takes place in the deserts of Afghanistan, many of the game's most iconic moments do, including the captivating finale where all is settled in the sand.

Despite its age, Modern Warfare 2 is still considered one of the best first-person shooters of all time and as such, features many memorable maps, including maps set in the desert such as Afghan, Rust, and Scrapyard. These maps capture the simple beauty of the desert and make for some exciting gameplay.

5 Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is without a doubt one of the best and most realistic racing games of all time and as the game is set in a fictionalized version of Mexico, players can expect to race through vast swathes of open desert.

As one of the best graphical games, players will get breathtaking views of the desert from any one of over 700 vehicles as they race around the open world for the pure joy of it. The desert also serves as a backdrop for multiple racetracks.

6 Red Dead Redemption

Much of the original Red Dead Redemption takes place in the deserts of a fictionalized land based on northern Mexico and the western United States of America. As one of the best open-world games of all time, players will have endless hours of fun exploring the arid landscape, although other biomes are also present in the game.

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Despite the setting, players will find new adventures behind every canyon and low-setting sun, as they traverse the desert on horses they may have captured and tamed themselves.

7 Journey

Journey is by far one of the best short games that can be completed in under 5 hours and also happens to be primarily set in the desert. Though simple, Journey is considered a piece of art and players will cherish every moment spent gliding over the dunes.

The soundtrack is just as beautiful as the game's aesthetic and all these elements work together in harmony to create a truly memorable interactive experience. Journey truly captures the desolate nature of the desert, the beauty, and the emotions it can stir.

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