Gamers Can Get Their Wanderlust Fix With These Top Picks

Get your wanderlust fix with these video game versions of real holiday destinations

If like many of us, your summer travel plans have been put on hold, why not take a holiday from your sofa instead?

If you’re suffering with unrequited wanderlust, then you’re in luck. As part of their Lockdown Load Time Report, the team over at Uswitch have put together a list of video game equivalents to real world holiday destinations. So don’t mope at home. Fire up the PS4, Xbox or Switch, and take a virtual vacation instead.

Kyoto Prefecture

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild  – If you’re missing out on a trip to Japan this summer, get your fix in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Tourists visiting Kyoto Pred the series way back in 1986, took inspiration from exploring the foreefecture are struck by their sense of discovery – turn a corner, climb a crumbling staircase and you’ll find an centuries-old temple, or an untouched lake nestled at the bottom of a ravine.

Arashiyama is a mountainous forest populated by crystal clear rivers, canyons and ancient temples, all of which is reflected in the game’s topography. The architecture of Kakariko Village takes inspiration from the iconic Fushimi Inari shrine – deep oranges, curved roofs and rich woods. Take a dip in the game’s hot springs and you’ll feel like you’re visiting your own onsen.

The city of Kyoto is flat and central, surrounded by gorgeous mountain temples, all of which have become famous tourist attractions. But because central Kyoto doesn’t have a subway, it can be time-consuming to get from one attraction to the other. The game’s director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi used this as the basis for his game – spacing out the sights to mimic those around Kyoto, and keeping the same real world distances to make his game feel sprawling and giant.

Norway – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 



Norway is known for its endless pine forests, bold peaks and snakey inlets and fjords. Often considered one of the most beautiful, and most rugged, countries in the world, you can get your own Norweigian fix by touring Skyrim instead.

The land has much in common with Scandavia, with many in-game locations having direct equivalents with those in Norway. The icy tundra of Whiterun shares many similarities with Northern Norway. Falkreath Hold, with its deep pine forests and thick conifers takes its inspirations from Norway’s central forests. Skyrim even has its own fjords with the Reach – perfect if you’re missing the real thing!

Maybe you were planning to visit Norway this year to see the Aurora Borealis? Well you’re in luck – you can see the same phenomenon in Skyrim. Ok – it’s not quite the same as the real thing. But it should tide you over until you can get there!

New Orleans – Read Dead Redemption II

Were you looking forward to a wild time in New Orleans this summer? If you’re sadly missing out on the smell of gumbo and wafting sounds of balcony jazz, you can get your virtual fix by visiting Saint Denis in Rockstar’s epic adventure Western, Red Dead Redemption II.

The game’s creators actually toured New Orleans for inspiration, and so many of the buildings in Saint Denis have direct real-world equivalents. Gorgeous southern houses with pillars and eerie, Gothic flourishes like pointed roofs alongside low-French inspired buildings adorned with those classic, black wrought iron balconies.

The creators included many little touches to recreate an authentic New Orleans experience. So the classic iron horse head posts you’d find in the real city? You’ll find them all over Saint Denis too. Plus, temperatures in the game mimic those of actual New Orleans – that thick, Southern humidity, and as such they never drop below single figures, even at night. If you can’t get to Bourbon Street this summer, Saint Denis may be the next best thing.

Greece – Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Greece is one of the world’s foremost holiday destinations and it’s not hard to see why. Some of the clearest seas on the planet, constant sunshine and wild, volcanic topography. Visiting makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time – get the same feeling by playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

The game’s creators examined Ancient Greece through movies set in that region, but quickly realised that if they wanted to create an authentic version of Greece, they’d need to speak to an expert. They brought on Dr. Stéphanie-Anne Ruatta, professor of Greek history, whilst scouting the country who came on as their very own historian, and helped the team capture the feel of Ancient Greece through architecture.

As Greece is made up of so many islands, the in-game version reflects this – up to 60% of the game’s map is water. So if you’re missing out on swimming in the Aegean this summer, take a dip with Assassin’s Creed instead.

Poland – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 

Polish culture, architecture and landscapes were a huge influence on the development of The Witcher, so if you were planning an Eastern European escape this summer, why not take it in-game instead?

Many of the game’s locations draw from real world places. The city docks of Novigrad – with colourful, wood-beamed houses hanging over wide water – bear more than a passing resemblance to Gdańsk. Many of the towns and villages take direct inspiration from the look of Poland.

The biggest inspiration comes from Zalipie. For those who don’t know, Zalipie is a tiny town in southern Poland, and many tourists visit to see the colourful little houses with thatched roofs. It’s Poland at its rustic and its finest, with real warmth and old world charm. Zalipe was a huge influence on the general look of The Witcher – note the flower ornaments around the doors which give the game an authentic Polish flavour.

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