Video games have a knack for turning real-world places into digital playgrounds. While players often gawk at fantasy landscapes, they sometimes forget that the grimy streets of Hong Kong or the mossy cliffs of Iceland-inspired America can be just as breathtaking. As of 2026, many titles continue to offer some of the most faithful and creative recreations of real locations. So, which games let you wander through a near-perfect version of a real city or region? Let’s take a look at ten standout examples.
1. Death Stranding’s Iceland-Inspired America
Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is set in a fragmented United States, yet it looks more like a moss-covered alien world than the country it claims to be. Why is that? The game explains that a cataclysmic event called the Death Stranding triggered void-outs and a deadly phenomenon known as Timefall, which accelerates the aging of everything it touches. As a result, the landscape resembles Iceland’s rocky cliffs and mossy mountains rather than American landmarks. Still, eagle-eyed players can spot nods to real cities: Capital Knot City mirrors Washington D.C., while Edge Knot City draws inspiration from Los Angeles. Have you ever tried to reconnect America on foot?
2. Washington D.C. in The Division 2
Ever wondered what it would be like to walk through a pandemic-ravaged capital? Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 answers that question by dropping players into a Washington D.C. that has been devastated by a deadly virus known as the Dollar Flu. The game replicates many real-world landmarks, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, but all of them show the scars of societal collapse. Defaced monuments and crumbling buildings create a haunting atmosphere. Even if the real city isn’t as dangerous as the game’s Dark Zones, exploring this digital version feels surprisingly familiar.
3. San Francisco in Watch Dogs 2
San Francisco becomes an urban hacking playground in Watch Dogs 2. Ubisoft didn’t try to recreate every single street, but the studio clearly paid attention to the city’s cultural quirks. Players can stroll near Fisherman’s Wharf and even encounter the legendary Bush Man—a panhandler who hides behind leaves and jumps out at unsuspecting tourists. It’s details like this that make the game feel alive. For locals, there are Easter eggs around every corner; for outsiders, it’s a love letter to the Bay Area. Would you trust a hacker to show you the sights?
4. Tsushima Island in Ghost of Tsushima
Few games earn official recognition from a real tourist board, but Ghost of Tsushima did just that. Set during a fictionalized version of the 13th-century Mongol invasion, the game takes place on the real Japanese island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture. Instead of pursuing perfect historical accuracy, Sucker Punch Productions drew inspiration from the island’s geography and blended it with creative liberties. The result is a breathtaking world filled with windswept fields and ancient shrines. Players can even visit Komoda Beach, the site of the prologue and one of the most historically significant locations in the game. What does it take to get a city’s official seal of approval?
5. Revolutionary Paris in Assassin’s Creed Unity
Paris during the French Revolution is the star of Assassin’s Creed Unity. The game turns the late 1700s into a living, breathing historical tour. Players can experience the storming of the Bastille and explore iconic locations like the Palace of Versailles, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and even the Catacombs. It’s a history lesson wrapped in parkour and stealth. Instead of just reading about the Revolution, gamers can climb its barricades and walk through its opulent halls. Who wouldn’t want to see the French Revolution unfold from a rooftop?
6. Seattle in The Last of Us Part 2
Thanks to the linear storytelling of The Last of Us Part 2, Naughty Dog was able to capture Seattle with remarkable precision. The city is overgrown and abandoned, but its bones remain recognizable. Players wandering through Ellie’s Day 1 can spot the Space Needle and the Seattle Central Library, both rendered in painstaking detail. The overgrown streets and crumbling buildings create a melancholic beauty. It’s a post-apocalyptic postcard that makes you ask: what would your own neighborhood look like after the world ends?
7. The Kingdom of Bohemia in Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Most medieval games stick to England or France, but Kingdom Come: Deliverance takes players to 1403 Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. Warhorse Studios went to great lengths to be historically accurate, modeling areas like the Sázava Monastery on their real-world counterparts. Players can explore every nook and cranny of the monastery—only to later discover that the real location is overgrown and ignored. It’s a fascinating blend of education and entertainment. Can a video game teach you medieval history without putting you to sleep?
8. Kabukicho in Yakuza 0
Kamurocho, the fictional district in the Yakuza series, is almost a one-to-one recreation of Tokyo’s real Kabukicho area. In Yakuza 0, players can wander past SEGA arcade centers, the Don Quijote discount store, and countless neon-lit restaurant corners. It’s the perfect place for would-be tourists to get a taste of Tokyo’s nightlife without leaving the couch. The attention to detail is so sharp that locals have used it as a virtual tour guide. Where else can you find a Don Quijote and an arcade on the same block?
9. New York City in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
What’s more iconic than New York City combined with the world’s most recognizable superhero? Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 recreates the concrete jungle at an almost 1:1 scale, letting players swing past the Empire State Building and the High Line. Insomniac Games even swapped out certain real-world landmarks for Marvel originals due to licensing: a bronze statue of Lockjaw replaced the Charging Bull, and Fisk Tower sits suspiciously close to where Trump Tower should be. It’s a playful remix that still feels unmistakably like the Big Apple. Have you ever taken a selfie while hanging upside down from a skyscraper?
10. Hong Kong in Sleeping Dogs
For many players, Sleeping Dogs is the definitive virtual trip to Hong Kong. The game captures the city’s soul with its dense traffic, hanging neon lights, and the constant hum of Cantonese phrases in the background. It doesn’t just replicate the scenery—it preserves the culture, from modern landmarks to old traditions. The developers clearly poured effort into accurate accents and dialogue, making the city feel authentically alive. Even if you can’t afford a plane ticket, this game offers a surprisingly complete sensory experience of the Fragrant Harbor. Could a video game ever replace real travel? In this case, it comes incredibly close.
These ten games show that real-world locations can be just as thrilling as any fictional universe. Whether it’s the post-apocalyptic ruins of Seattle or the neon glow of Kabukicho, each title offers a unique digital portal into places that many people only dream of visiting. So, the next time you boot up a game, remember: you might be walking through a carefully crafted version of someone’s backyard—and that’s part of the magic.