Best Landmarks in Open-World Games

Open-world games are all about exploration and seeing all its setting has to offer. Whilst mainly about the violence that can be caused, open-world games include some unique set pieces here and there, the joy in chaos would quickly run out, and some set pieces are more picturesque than others.

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The beauty of Hong Kong in Sleeping Dogs contrasts with the banality of Steelport in Saints Row the Third. The jungles of Far Cry 3 offer more than the deserts of Metal Gear Solid 5. Assassin's Creed brings history to life, while Crackdown focuses on the near future. Each offers something different to the table. But some are more stunning than others, and these open-world games offer the best landmarks in the genre.

8 inFamous 2

The Colorful New Orleans-Inspired New Marais

InFamous was fun, though it came out when most games’ settings and graphics were as gritty as their tone. Empire City was beige, grimy, and didn’t get any color until the player maxed out their Good or Bad Karma, turning the sky blue or red respectively. InFamous 2 stepped things up by taking the electric-power protagonist Cole McGrath to a New Orleans-inspired city called New Marais.

It was much more colorful and varied in its locations, with bayous, rideable tram lines, tricolor banners, balconies, and grand churches players could climb all over. The waterlogged, hurricane-ravaged homes even offered a challenge to the water-prone hero. The only downside is the final industrial area, which was a dull note to go out on.

7 Saints Row 2

Despite Being Dangerous to Live In, Stilwater Offers Beautiful Locations

Stilwater first appeared in Saints Row 1, though it was arguably as improved in Saints Row 2 as the gameplay and creative options. Its different districts are so recognizable that, after a while, players might not even need the mini-map to tell them where they are. They’ll recognize the locations from their distinct features, like Chinatown's ornate gates and architecture, and their positions relative to each other.

For example, from Chinatown, they’ll know the preppy university with its sarcastic cheerleaders is just a short drive northwest. Then one drive on the highway north from there will take them to the grungy trailer park, which is just east of the suburbs where Johnny Gat’s girlfriend Aisha lives. It’s a town rich in variety that the more generic Steelport from Saints Row the Third and Saints Row 4 couldn’t top.

6 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Bringing the Decadence of 1980s Miami to the PS2

It’s hard to pick out an individual Grand Theft Auto game for this list. GTA 4 stepped up on GTA 3 in replicating and mocking New York City. GTA5’s Los Santos has entertained players for over a decade with a wide variety of things to do and see. Though some still prefer its incarnation in GTA: San Andreas, which had more towns and landscape to explore.

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However, the series has yet to return to the Miami-esque splendor of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Sure, it’s making its return in GTA 6, but that’s a while away. Even then, it’ll be set in the modern day compared to GTA: Vice City’s 80s setting. It sounds like a minor difference, but cruising past the beaches and palm trees with classic music on the radio gave GTA: Vice City a unique vibe.

5 Yakuza 2/Kiwami 2

Memorable Japanese Cities That Feel as Real as Their Counterparts

If picking out a single GTA game for this was hard, it’s harder still for the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. They’ve got a lot of standout locations, though some offer more to do than others. The most common locations in the series are the original home base, Kamurochō in Tokyo, and Sōtenbori in Osaka, which debuted all the way back in Yakuza 2.

Both cities resemble their real-life counterparts, Kabukichō and Dōtonbori respectively, from the former’s plaza of cinemas to the latter’s Kani Doraku crab restaurant. The remake, Yakuza Kiwami 2, offers more to do and explore. But the original gets props for including Shinseicho, based on Osaka’s infamous Shinsekai district. It's famous for its Tsutenkaku Tower, though neither it nor Shinseicho has reappeared in the series since Yakuza 2.

4 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Immersive New York City Landmarks, With a Marvel Twist

Plenty of games have used proxy cities based on New York City, and some have even used the real deal. Marvel’s Spider-Man games aren’t even the first ones to replicate the Big Apple. Those games just encourage players to check out all the classic landmarks (and a few Marvel-exclusive ones like Avengers Towers) by snapping photos of them for a little XP and a remark from Spidey.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 skips these Photo Ops for snapping people, yet it adds more landmarks than before thanks to its expanded reach beyond Manhattan. Maimonides Park, the Coney Island Boardwalk, and Brooklyn’s Brownstones join Madison Square Garden, Central Park, and the Guggenheim Museum as reasons to see NYC without needing an air ticket.

3 Red Dead Redemption 2

Explore an Expansive Frontier for Treasure and Natural Beauty

Games don’t need urban sprawls to catch people’s eyes, as Red Dead Redemption 2 is stunning without big cities. The wilderness of the Wild West provides some stunning views of the lakes, rivers, and mountains that few games could match. However, it still offers some enigmatic sights among the woods, particularly in the ‘Landmarks of Riches’ Treasure’ quest.

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If players want an excuse to go beyond the town, this quest gives it to them as they go on the trail for treasure maps. It’ll lead them to all sorts of oddities, like the tiny church east of Lakay, a hobbit-like hill house in Grizzlies East, and a sundial on top of Mount Shann. Aside from a shot at getting some gold, it’ll give players a tour of RDR2’s nicest sights.

2 Assassin’s Creed Origins

See Ancient Egypt's Legendary Icons Before They Became Ancient

Practically any Assassin’s Creed game is good for checking out classic landmarks in any historical location. The Ezio Trilogy (Assassin’s Creed 2-Brotherhood) offers an in-depth look at the sights and sounds of Renaissance Italy. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla recreates Dark Ages England, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey brings the Athenian Ruins back to life.

That said, as nice as a pristine recreation of the Acropolis is, it can’t beat the sights of Ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins. The sight of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx in their prime, paint, gold capstone, and all, are stunning enough alone. It also has plenty of sights for players who want something different, like Krokodilopolis, Nitria, the Library of Alexandria, and Memphis.

1 Elden Ring

Fantasy Sights That Are Equally Beautiful as They Are Dangerous

Fromsoft’s Soulsborne games offer wide worlds with plenty to see in them, though few would call them ‘picturesque’ in the traditional sense. Even the nicest sights have something twisted or eerie about them. Elden Ring is different as its locations manage to be stunningly beautiful while still being surreal.

For example, the Underground sounds like it would be a dingy series of caves, but instead looks like a broad series of ornate ruins under a starry sky. Liurnia of the Lakes comes straight out of a Gothic novel with its mists, castles, and rocky outcrops. Meanwhile, the dark turquoise skies of Limgrave contrast nicely with the golden trees. If players can handle the dangers, it would be worth going off the beaten track in Elden Ring.

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