Highlights
- North America is a popular setting for games, offering players the opportunity to explore iconic locations and cityscapes.
- From post-apocalyptic wastelands to futuristic dystopias, these games provide diverse and detailed landscapes for players to navigate.
North America is perhaps the most popular setting for games to explore, with some of the best games out there choosing a city or location within North America to allow players to explore. This exploration can come within the open-world design of the areas available, or simply from the large-scale areas that players will venture through to see bold, iconic, or recognizable sights.
Many of these games set in North America take place in various cities and towns, some, more fictional than others. However, they all strive for an element of realism, even if they are not within such iconic locations as New York City. The ability to explore these city-scapes adds to the immersion.
8 The Last Of Us
When a fungal virus infects humanity, reducing them to zombified states, the world falls into ruin and is overtaken by nature in The Last of Us. During the game, players will develop emotional bonds with the characters of Joel and Ellie as they venture across North America in search of the Fireflies, a group of freedom fighters that could potentially create a vaccine to stop the virus decades after it destroyed society.
Throughout The Last of Us, players will not only experience thrilling combat, nail-biting scares, and an intense story, but they will venture across North America through a variety of locations, such as Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, and Colorado.
7 Fallout 4
Being the Sole Survivor of Vault 111, players embark on a journey through the apocalyptic wasteland of Boston, centuries after the atomic bombs ravished the war in a world long gone. Fallout 4 isn’t shy to dedicate itself to its roots, and plenty of real-life Boston locations feature in-game, providing some interesting and detailed landmarks for players to explore.
Players will also be faced against many adversaries in this sprawling open-world game from Bethesda, with Super Mutants, bandits, and even Snyths causing a ruckus in the new Boston. There was even a resurgence of Minutemen for the Commonwealth in the late 23rd century.
6 Infamous Second Son
Getting superpowers never felt so good as Infamous Second Son. The game features Delsin Rowe, a Conduit who has recently discovered his new abilities as a superhuman. Players can use these powers for good, or for bad, or even a little bit of both as they explore Seattle. There are some great locations brought to life from Seattle, including the Space Needle observation tower.
Not only are the sights and graphics impressive for this early PS4 title, but Infamous Second Son features a great cast of characters, and a thrilling enhancement of a story, considering players make life-changing decisions based on their preference of play, affecting the people and city around them.
5 Grand Theft Auto 5
Although most Grand Theft Auto games take place in North America, it is perhaps Grand Theft Auto 5 that is the most defined by its location. Grand Theft Auto 5 is unapologetic about Los Santos being a fictional parody of Los Angeles, with many real-life locations from Los Angeles still causing some impressive surprises among Grand Theft Auto 5 players when they see the real counterpart to this day.
Grand Theft Auto 5 prides itself on satire of American culture, and where better to do it than in Hollywood? Or, as Grand Theft Auto 5 calls it, Vinewood. There’s a lot to love about GTA 5. Whether it’s in the freedom to commit endless crimes or to explore its vast North American open-world map.
4 Assassin’s Creed 3
Assassin’s Creed 3 exists in an interesting time amongst the flagship Ubisoft franchise. It had to impress, considering it was coming hot off the heels of the conclusion of the iconic Ezio Trilogy. Assassin’s Creed 3 may not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s hard to deny the experience of the American Revolution through the eyes of Connor Kenway, a Native American Assassin.
Assassin’s Creed 3 takes place near Boston and New York, covering perhaps the most important period in American history with the war for independence that took place between 1775 and 1783. The American Revolutionary War takes center stage, but players can easily get lost in the developing cities and snowy forests of North America.
3 Cyberpunk 2077
Taking place in the heart of California, Night City is a place where everyone wants to leave, but no one can escape in Cyberpunk 2077. This futuristic dystopia shows a world dependent on consumerism and technology, and players can walk the streets of Night City, not knowing if a rogue bullet from a gang member, or a stab wound from a Cyberpsycho will take their life too soon.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a great game, with a great location to explore. Players can get lost in the somewhat claustrophobic and bustling cityscape of Night City, in which corporations seem to have infinite and intimidating power. Even looking up in Night City, there seems to be no end to the greed that plagues it.
2 Death Stranding
After a cataclysmic event severs the connection humanity has with one another, Sam Porter Bridges is tasked with the impossible mission to embark across America, to deliver hope once again. Sam’s mission in Death Stranding involves traversing the harsh terrains and environments of the United States of America, connecting the survivors and their shelters to try and reunite the world one step at a time.
Although there is combat in Death Stranding, the center stage belongs to the mission to connect humans, and try and bring light back to a shattered world. Across Death Stranding, players will see the ruins of America, as well as the landscapes that made it such a desired frontier to begin with.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Being an outlaw in the Wild West has never been so inviting thanks to Red Dead Redemption 2. Players will follow the story of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, a family of misfits, on the run from federal agents as they rob, steal, scam, and fight their way through North America to find the peaceful life that they want whether that’s harboring more cash than the military, or eating mangos in the sun.
Red Dead Redemption 2 contains 5 states for players to explore. Although these are fictional states, they do take real-life inspiration. The states of West Elizabeth, New Austin, Ambarino, New Hanover, and Lemoyne are all explorable, with different gangs, settings, and themes for each one, providing players with an immersive sense of exploration.