Best Video Games that Inspire Travel: Options for Every Travel Lover!

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Hi, I’m Kay, and I’m a gamer girl through and through. For some reason, my obsession with video games is somewhat novel in the travel blogging realm. Which…surprised me. Like…does no one else play video games around here?? I also have a full-time non-remote job, so traveling 24/7 is just not an option for me. And currently, I don’t want it to be. I’m too much of a homebody! Buuut, who says you can’t travel while at home? YEAH, that’s right. Today I’m bringing you the BEST video games that inspire travel.

From parkouring over rooftops in Italy to horseback riding in the wild west of the Americas, I guarantee that it’ll practically feel like you’re exploring the world in real-time! Yanno, without all the baggage fees!

Red Dead Redemption 2

The Red Dead Redemption Franchise is honestly one of the best in the video game world. So, obviously, the only rational choice to kick off this list of the best video games to inspire travel. Taking you back to the American and Mexican Wild West, you follow the storyline of the game as well as endless opportunities to branch out and explore on your own. RDR2, in particular, is breathtakingly beautiful. ALSO, hands down one of THE BEST stories ever created in the gaming world. It’s a little bit of action a little bit of drama a little bit of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Plus, you can play multiplayer!

Available on PS4, Xbox One, PC : Buy it here!

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda series have ALWAYSS been of breath of fresh air (no pun intended), with unique and engaging story arcs that take you across the land. But, Breath of the Wild will leave you speechless with the beautiful graphics, and the open world concept will scratch any adventure itch you may be having. Plus, there are sooo many tiny hidden Easter Eggs embedded in the game, you can play over and over and still not find all of them. For instance, if you wear the wind waker shirt, you can sail faster. WHO KNEW??

Available on Nintendo Switch, Wii U : Buy it here!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Obvioussslyyyy, I had to include my latest obsession, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This game follows the loved theme of Animal Crossing, which is simply…living, but with an added twist. In New Horizons, you are populating and developing a deserted island, all under the watchful eye of Tom Nook and his gracious and never-ending home loan offers. You can explore other islands, as well as visit your friend’s islands! With new and exciting seasonal and regional events, the ability to play online and locally with up to eight friends, you can tune out all the bad things in your life by fishing and watering flowers.

Available on Nintendo Switch : Buy it here!

Pokemon Snap (or any other Pokemon game)

Throwbackkk!!! Okay, if y’all didn’t play Pokemon Snap, you sincerely missed out. The entire premise of the game is that you are a photographer tasked with riding around in a little cart taking photos of Pokemon. Yup. That’s it. During the game, you get to travel through different landscapes to see Pokemon in their natural habitat. So, that’s the travel aspect of it. Buuut, if you REALLY want something more recent, try checking out Pokemon Sword/Shield for updated graphics and super fun gameplay! Actually, any Pokemon game would work well! In other words, just play Pokemon.

Available on Nintendo 64 : Buy it here! (or try looking at your local used game store!)

Far Cry 3

It’s debatable which of the Far Cry games is the best, and honestly, all of them could work for this list. But for me, just for travel’s sake, I went with Far Cry 3, which beautifully displays the tropical world the game is set in. The premise of the game is to rid the island of the bad guys and take it all for yourself. So, expect gunplay. In other words, it’s pretty violent. But the scenery is pretty! Plus, the characters and story arc are fantastic, and the open-world concept is super fun to explore. Though, if you’re not feeling the tropics, Far Cry 4 is set in the Himalayas.

Available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One : Buy it here!

The Sims 4

This list would not be complete without The Sims 4. Truly, one of the ultimate games ever created, but The Sims 4 especially adds an element of travel that makes it personal. With expansion packs like Jungle Adventure, Outdoor Retreat, and even Realm of Magic, the opportunities for your sims to explore and travel have never been greater! Well. The Sims 3 had a whole expansion pack dedicated to travel – World Adventures – but alas. EA has never been on the side of players. In any case, you can create a sim just like yourself, or someone completely different, and live out your travel dreams!

Available on PC (“travel” expansion packs not available on other consoles): But it here!

Portal Runner

This was actually the second game I ever beat in my life (after Metal Gear Solid 2). Once you get past the slightly dated graphics, it’s an incredible game with a fantastic story. So, the premise is that you have to travel through different dimensions to save the galaxy. Yeah, it sounds outlandish, but it’s really fun! Plus, you get a cool tiger companion without having to spend two thousand dollars, so that’s a win in my book! In conclusion, the game is quirky and witty. You’ll have a great time playing.

Available on PS2 : Get it here!

Journey

Okay, I’ve used the word beautiful a lot in the post, but THIS GAME is breathtaking. Journey is an indie game that wordlessly capture the experience travel evokes. It makes you feel so small, in the grand scheme of life, but inspires your soul with the vastness of the world. During the game, you control a robed figure in the desert, heading towards a giant mountain in the distance. There is even a multiplayer option, where you wordlessly join other travelers, weaving in and out of each other’s journeys. It is an extremely calming game, with incredible cinematics and a soundtrack that will pull at your heartstrings.

Available on PS3, PS4, PC, iOS: Buy it here!

Super Mario Sunshine

A CLASSICC!! So really, any of the Super Mario games (Odyssey, Galaxy, 3D Land, etc) are a great option. But honestly, my favorite is still Super Mario Sunshine. The plot follows as Mario, Peach, and the toads go on vacation to the tropical location of Isle Delfino. Though due to a mishap, Mario is blamed for the island becoming polluted and its natural charm wasting away under the oil and smudge. Is this Nintendo’s way of shoving the global climate crisis in our faces so that we can no longer ignore the irreversible damage unchecked corporate and political greed? Huh. But I digress. One of the best games on the console.

Available on the GameCube : Buy it here! (I’d suggest looking into you local used game store, it will definitely be cheaper)

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Oh mannn, Naughty Dog never disappoints. And over the last decade, they have brought the world the Uncharted series. It was hard to pick which one to include for this particular list. I would have to say Uncharted 2 is probbbably my favorite. However, for the travel aspect, I think Uncharted 4 takes the cake. Therefore, here we are. The game is full of puzzles and combat that seamlessly integrate action into the storyline. Gameplay is dynamic, with the ability to explore the open world’s stunning visas. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder how Uncharted 4 didn’t win game of the year. It’s travel element is just icing on the cake.

Available on PS4 : Buy it here!

Katamary Damacy

The Playstation 2 is arguable one of the best consoles ever invented. And from this great era of video games, Katamari Damacy swept the world by storm. The premise is that you are the son of the King of All Cosmos, so a prince if you will, and you are sent to Earth to roll up every day household items in order to turn them into stars. Yeah…it’s….strange. However, the game is fun. That’s all that matters, right? Plus, it’s a surprisingly fun way to explore the streets of Japan and -eventually when your ball gets big enough to roll into other continents – the world.

Available on PS2 : Buy it here! (there is also a new version for the Switch, but I haven’t played it yet)

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Yo, if you didn’t have a crush on Ezio Auditore, then we didn’t have the same adolescence. Assassin’s Creed is an iconic franchise, and one of the best video games that inspire travel. My favorite game in the series is Assassin’s Creed 2. But for the purpose of this post, I would recommend Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. My favorite part of this game is that you can be a masculine or feminine character as you explore ancient Greece. There’s no super-secret spy brotherhood organization game that also allows you to see perfectly crafted recreations of cities. Literally, they send out their designers to the cities to capture the essence, history, and culture of the places featured in the game.

Available on Xbox One, PS4, PC : Buy it here!

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 2

Errr…okay, I know how this looks. BUT HONESTLY IT’S A GREAT VOLLEYBALL GAME OKAY?!?! Sure, the jiggle physics in this game is enough for any logical person to shake their head and walk away from the screen, but no other game has made me want to round up my friends and take a girls vacation to a cute tropical island and just have a ball! And, granted, there is the occasional unwarranted moan here and there, but if you look beyond the swimsuits and slowmo pool shots, the game is about gaining the friendship of your fellow women. It’s ridiculous, but really fun. Plus, the soundtrack is unbeaten. This game even taught me how to play poker. But uhh..don’t play the DoA Xtreme 3….. that one is gross.

Available on Xbox 360 : Buy it here!

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

All hail the Czar of open-world gameplay! Truly, it was a game graphically before it’s time. In fact, I have an annual event on my calendar to watch the trailer on YouTube so I can finally feel something again inside of me. If you’re missing the great mountains of Europe, Skyrim gives the general sense of Roman/Nordic/Viking vibes, but set in a fictional land. In addition, the scenic backdrop is only the cherry on top of an amazing story. If you’re into adventure and folklore, Skyrim is one of the best video games that inspire travel!

Available on PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, PC : Buy it here!

Afrika

Have you ever wanted to go on an African safari without going on an African safari? Well. Then this game is for you! You are literally just a photographer on an African safari. That’s it. That’s the game. It’s very chill and wholesome, with the occasional gazelle getting chased down by a lion. You just cruise around in a jeep, looking for wildlife on the African plains. Although it was released almost a decade ago, the graphics are pretty darn good! This game is backed by National Geographic, so you can’t harm any of the animals or plants, so that’s nice.

Available on PS3 : buy it here!

ABZU

I wasss debating whether to include Endless Ocean or Abzu in this round up. They are both fantastic games that explore the deepest ocean depths. Buuut ultimately, I went with Abzu because I like the graphics better. I’m a sucker for pretty and relaxing scenery. I mean, it IS made my the same team as Journey (listed above), so it shouldn’t be surprising that every scene is leaves you speechless. Literally, the biomes and eco-communities created throughout the game is spectacular. Lovers of diving, snorkeling, and basically any water activity would love this game!

Available on the PS4, Xbox One : Buy it here!

Video Games that Inspire Travel: Conclusion

We all love traveling, but some times it’s not feasible to travel 24/7. Plus, that can get mega expensive if you’re not a remote worker. So, why not do the next best thing and play some video games that let you travel the world from your couch! Or bed! Or the driver’s seat as you wait in your car in the parking lot of the grocery store because you don’t want to turn off your switch and get out of the car. Yanno, wherever. Besides, video games are awesome! They help you de-stress, as well as have fun with friends and family. In conclusion, play more video games. You get the picture.

And, while you are at home, check out these other posts I’ve written that let you travel without putting on pants!

• Travel Books that You Need for Your Coffee Table (in progress)
• How to Host a Backyard Camping Adventure (in progress)
• At-Home Date Ideas for Travel Lovers (in progress)
• Best Books by __ Authors: Cuban | Native American | Singaporean

So what about you? Are you a video game player? What are your favorite video games that inspire travel? Did I miss any on the list?

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