the video mentioned boulders gate and i thought i would check steam for that game, it doesn't exist on steam, which means it's probably on one of the consoles oh well, better luck next time i guess. sad story when you find out a game is not on your gaming machine.
No game has ever enveloped me and captivated my imagination like Mass Effect. Played all three games back to back many years ago and it was such an amazing experience.
OH I am super late to the Mass Effect party but I just started playing it recently. It's early days, but it's pretty sweet so far! RPGs are just so much fun. I love getting to be someone else in a different world. It's so well developed, with so much lore, it's pretty amazing!
Well said. I really don't think we will get such a trilogy anymore in our lifetimes. Played through the entire trilogy back to back couple months ago, and I still think of the world and characters all the time.
It's one of the few series I can still do a no-lifer run through. Last year I booted it up again, after a pretty long time of me not playing games anymore when I bought the Legendary Edition at a discount, I lost track of time and ended up doing 12 hours straight through the first game, and was almost late for work. I still do an hour every so often until now.
Let me tell you something that happened to me in CP 2077: I was going through Corpo Plaza (the one with the holographic fishes), when I saw there was a Tarot Graffiti nearby. So I decided to get it, when I realized it was inside a museum for the victims of Johnny's bomb. So I walked around it, saw the ruins of the old Arasaka building, checked the info and saw the exit left me in the main entrance of the Arasaka Building, so I walked around Corpo Plaza to have a better look at it and the other corpo buildings, saw their architecture, the Fishes, the plaza... and then two hours later I realized I've been walking around the city like some kind of tourist, grasping every detail of the city, the people, buildings, vehicles... It was one of the most immersive moments in any game I've ever had
Fallout 4 and Witcher 3 worlds made me fall in love with RPGs. They have changed my life and shaped my love for video games on a level other games never could.
Mass Effect is my favourite universe hands down. I love the characters, the world building, everything. I've played through the trilogy multiple times and never feel bored of it. If I could as a one off transcend dimentions and start life in any fictional world, I think it would be Mass Effect.
It is pretty unrivaled in terms of world building and just the stakes of it all. I still replay the trilogy at least once a year, and the remaster really did a lot to make the whole trilogy feel like a cohesive experience. By far my favorite sci fi universe in gaming.
You eloquently summarized my feelings about the worlds of Fallout, Skyrim, Witcher, RDR2, and especially CP2077. The latter is, hopefully, nearing the completion of its redemption arc with the Phantom Liberty release. I so desperately want people to play this gorgeous melancholy game -- to experience the unique emotional depth of the writing and the ambition of its dystopian themes. Most games don't even try for this level of story complexity and elegance. RDR2 is likewise a game about ideas, and like any great work of art (literary, film, etc.) every image and encounter of the game is pointing towards the game's central questions and the heartbreaking answers Arthur finds on your journey through his rugged disappearing world. Really well-done essay here. Thanks for putting so much thoughtful effort into it!
Gotta agree nothing has really done it for me like CP2077 and i stopped playing until Phantom Liberty because of the overhauls to the graphics, wanted/police system, and cyberware. I feel like almost 3 years later the game is finally ready to deliver on it's initial promise. Nothing comes close to that world imho
I am sad that Bioware went downhill due to various reasons but I gotta say, I fell in love with Mass Effect and Dragon Age. It bittersweet too because there was no one else I could share it with because everyone else at the time in our place was crazy on CoD, Counter Strike, L4D, MMOs, and DOTA 1. Nevertheless, I had so much fun. It wasn't an open world game but you can feel it was BIG.
Tim Cain, man. He's got his own channel right here on RUclips where talks about all the games he's worked on, shares tips for creating games, etc. Highly recommended.
I don't know what magic was infused into bloodborne, but it is utterly captivating for me. The atmosphere is just unmatched. And the Witcher 3 is my all time favourite open world game.
Spot on about CP2077, instantly became my all time favorite too. I was lucky it ran well on my pc. But still, it's the best gameworld yet, not the most interactive but the best. If you do the side missions you will be surprised by how much interior variety there is. And the story is amazing.
Another world I personally love is that of Horizon. The different machines, their visual beauty and ferocity. The different tribes and their cultures. Like the perfect combination of past and the future.
Horizon is one of that really hit me. Yes the robot animals and tribes were fun, but it was the small stories you picked up of the old world as you went along that really cut deep. Some funny, some tragic, some heartbreaking. Like Cyberpunk it's one that left me thinking and remembering many of the small things and feelings along the way.
@@teleportingfatso6089Ive had all 3 stalker games constantly installed since the day they came out. Plus some mods (especially Gamma). No other game had utterly blown me away with the atmosphere like vanilla stalker. Wow, i love it so much.
I'dd add DIsco Elysium and Planescape Torment to this list. Both those worlds are so incredible. The best part is that the world are part of the sotry, the nature of the world represents the internal turmoil of the characters, and that works beautifully.
Death Stranding! The world of DS is incredible and swept me away for weeks of playing and in my dreams and thoughts for years after. I still just keep on keepin’ on
I have never ever had anyone make me think that they were a slave to machines but here we are. You are almost addicted to fake realities by the way you speak. It’s funny because the most loyal are usually the most blind
It’s hilarious to me to see people calling one of the most over-hyped and heavily advertised games in history “under appreciated” like it’s some unknown indie gem. The game cost like 300 million dollars to make lol
@@lt_johnmcclane And it was a game so broken it was deemed an unplayable mess for 2 years. They finally fixed most things like a year ago and even though a lot of people have 'rediscovered' it, it's still been struggling to shake that stigma. It has done the best job of worldbuilding and character building of any game I've ever played, and I've also played Prey, Mass Effect, BioShock, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 and all 3 Witcher games when they all first came out. I have a love for all of them (except for the ending of ME3 ... and Witcher 1 was pretty janky), but Cyberpunk sits comfortably at the top. It is most definitely under appreciated. You should give it a shot.
@@baffledalien5397I agree that it isn't bad anymore but you extremely oversell the character writing and World building, it's okay but not slightly as good as you say.
Kinda missing Dragon age. There are few games who convey the feeling of exploring acient ruins and discover forgotten secrets like DA does. With all the Lore behind it and the beautiful Artstyle i think DA deserves a place on this list. Though It is difficult to make video about this topic because it all depends on personal experience and preferences. I for example really like AC origins. But when it comes to captivating worlds i prefer Black Flag. It may not deliver the best feeling of being an Assasin in a ancient world but it certainly gives you the feeling of being a kick ass pirate. World can be captivating by so many factors: Artstyle, story, interactions and so on. You could let 10 people make a video about the most captivating worlds and you would always get other games.
I talk about dragon age in the Witcher section it’s the only one I kinda wish I just had another section for, so many great games deserve it too. Thanks for watching!
Very glad to see Tyranny mentioned here. Of all the games I've played it has had by far the most fascinating take of playing as an evil character. It's a unique world, and a shame that it didn't sell well enough to earn a sequel or spin-off
@@cpt191021 Tyranny was made by Obsidian, the studio is now owned by Microsoft. If a new Tyranny should come from them, MS will be funding it. Maybe in the future!
@@RuthwikRao Tyranny IP is stuck with Paradox though. So it's messed up situation like with Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, where IP is being in hands of Activision to this point.
I loved in Mass Effect just reading about the different planets. Generally there wasn't much to be gained game-wise from that knowledge but it added such a cool dimension to the backdrop.
I think you might like Control watching this whole video and the things that peak your interest the world of Control is wild mysterious and horrificly brutal its one of my all time favorite game worlds where you never know what would happen next
I played all Rockstar, activision, bethesda games. Outerwilds is still a masterpiece in open world immersion The amount of excitement and sense of achievement playing outerwild and subnautica I simply can't explain in words.
thank you so much for including outer wilds! definitely one of the games my friends cant get me to shut up about lol. Thank you so much for showing this underrated gem to more people
I was so lucky to have experience the Mass Effect Trilogy. It's just perfect. I became so attached to all the characters. My other favorite is Cyberpunk. I'm just a sucker for good world building and story line.
I totally agree on Cyberpunk. It is my personal favorite game of all time too. I can literally get lost in the city, not even use a car most of the time, and slow walk around just taking in the vibe of the city. What I learned was that the game opens up to you when you take it slow, and the whole experience gets another layer. I went to Jig-Jig Street and spent a while just walking around exploring, and the level of effort that went in just to do that little bit of the city was incredible. The look of the place, the people around you, the dynamic of the city, the conversations around you, the advertisements screaming at you at every corner just give Night City that unique vibe that I did not experience anywhere else. I can't wait to see what awaits us in Phantom Liberty.
CP77 is a game that rewards players when they take the time to stop and smell the roses so to speak. There are so many little details in the game that adds a lot to the player's experience especially if they're heavy into role-playing. It's also why I also don't drive a lot because mostly I just wanna soak in the vibes of the city, see the sights and details, and there are also small secrets to be found throughout the city. The exposition is so well done too because you can really get what the city and the world is all about through listening to random npc conversations, the news on the tv, radio, etc.
@@TheMarcHicks Agreed, or should I say "gonklords". The amount of times that i could have missed out on great experiences if I had listened to them. It's always best to ignore what people say and find out for yourself.
Cyberpunk 2077 absolutely fked me up. And no other game pulled me that much in before or after. I completely agree with you, it is my absolute favourite, too, and hasn’t been replaced to date.
Thanks for the Dragon Age reference in the Wither part Frank! This video is dangerous for the backlog though, you're talking about thousands of hours of gameplay here !!
For me the world of Red dead, mass effect, witcher 3, harry potter, AC Odyssey and trails series. These games make me want to live in their worlds. Wild west, space sci-fi, medieval fantasy, a magical school, a historic civilization and simple towns with memorable npcs you will get to know the more you play.
Whenever Assassins Creed's OST (ezios family) starts playing, it always brings out memories from my teenage, some sad, some beautiful. Ezio's voice start to play in my head from different games and by the end of the music, it always goes to the letter that ezio wrote for sophia in embers. Call it nostalgia but I don't think I will ever have this much affection for any other character. requiescat in pace Ezio.
I remember the first time I used sonar in subnautica. Had just made the cyclops sub, and was heading down towards a distant place on the map. In the darkness I saw a giant leviathan swimming around in the distance and just noped right back to the surface. Great times
I finally finished Horizon Zero Dawn this year and wow. The storyline and world were quite thought provoking. Especially given the developments in technology recently.
Really great video and i completely agree on Cyberpunk being such a memorable game because of what it makes you feel, it did to me too. On the other hand, since you put Prey in it, also one of my favorite game ever, i'm surprised Dishonored from the same studio isn't in the list too, because in terms of World and Universe it really is one of the most memorable i have seen.
@@acev3521 I find that the GTA games have interesting "game" worlds, but are not interesting worlds themselves. They are so over the top and bombastic that they lack a certain personal element to the storytelling. They are great worlds to play in, but not great worlds to learn about and immerse yourself in. There is no lore, the cities themselves are not trying to tell a story, they are not concerned with the individual experiences of its citizens; they are merely a playground or sandbox for the player. It may seem cliche, but unlike the games mentioned in this list, I believe that the GTA series lacks meaning and heart, which for me is core for a believable and immersive world.
Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines will, for me, be the original RPG video game that all other strive to match. The voice acting, the vampire world, the story captured what made the PnP game so good.
@@bigzachful If they kept the plot, the voice acting and just did it on the latest engine they could sell the game again at full price and it would make bank. I'd certainly buy it again. Especially as the second attempt to make VTMB2 seems to have died, like the one before that.
An underrated gem, and incredible game. All the characters felt like real people with real motivation, despite being fantasy. And the music is probably the best game music of any game.
My one addition to this list would be Dragon Age series. The first game (so old now) world was so captivating. Second game was not as good but fully redeemed with Inquisition. So much humour, fully developed characters. Another more recent addition would be Horizon Zero Dawn... amazing game.
Gothic series is by far the winner for me. It says a lot that an unfinished game is able to pull you into the life of the character and the struggles they go through so well. Particularly their rise from weakling to hero. I still replay Gothic more than Witcher, Mass Effect, or any other
I've been playing so many games since the 90s so I'm not really sure if Cyberpunk 2077 is also my favorite game of all time, but it's probably in my top 5, which is saying a lot since I've played a lot of great games. But since a lot of the other comments and you already pointed a lot of things to love about Cyberpunk 2077, I wanna talk about another game featured in the video - Arcanum. I'm so happy that it is included in this video because it's a game that I played during my high school years and you know what, I don't even remember its story, but the great feeling I had playing it stayed with me throughout all these years and from time to time I would still remember that game.
I really think that you should look at Disco Elysium, if you haven't yet. Seemingly a small game of self reflection and murder mystery, if you read carefully and ask the right question it will reveal a complex world that is only hinted at and told of, never shown. And yet what an interesting, touching, funny and tragic world it is. Just like your own personal story in this game. Can definitely make it to this list IMHO.
Yep. The game was sad and depressing but it was exciting. It was true rpg and there aren’t many of those so I couldn’t wait to play it when it released on console
For me The Last of Us, Mass Effect, Cyberpunk, and Fallout are the Mount Rushmore of gaming worlds. Games that even if they made an iteration that wasn’t that good are just so inherently interesting with their actual worlds that you can’t help but be completely captivated by them and want to give them another try. With these games the appeal really goes beyond whatever cast of characters you’ve previously met or any of the things that usually make a game memorable. A lot of games are a lot less so if you aren’t the person you are in their worlds; going to Arkham is a lot less cool if you aren’t Batman. But with these four games even when the story is finished, when all the tales of V, Ellie, commander Shepard and your Vault Dweller are told you would still just want to come back, and that person and everyone they met along the way really don’t even have to be there. But *YOU* want to be. If I had to pick a favorite I think it’d be Cyberpunk because when the game dropped it wasn’t even good-I was lied to about it’s features and I could barely even play it-yet I was hooked. Completely enamored with this world from the visual design to the way the society is setup to the culture. The world just feels so real.
I agree with you 100% on cyberpunk. I find myself going back to it again and again. And I can't put my finger on it. I just truly enjoy getting lost in it.
This channel has become my favorite gaming experience channel. The quality, the information given, and the opinions on each subject are spot on and this channel will go very far. Keep up the great work!
@FranklyGaming I have been a gamer my entire life. That's going all the way back to Pong and the Atari 2600. I worked for Electronics Boutique for a long time. I was there for the launch of the Dreamcast, PS2, original Xbox. It's in my blood. I found your channel and I was so impressed I subscribed straight away. I am excited to see where this channel takes you. I hope nothing but success for you sir! Keep it up!
I'm so glad people are finding and falling in love with Cyberpunk. I tried it when it first came out and chose to wait til the fix and finally got around to it in January this year and its up there in my top five game worlds of all time while also just having kickass writing and bad ass characters. Great music too. My only gripe was they could have added more races because I LOVED the driving mechanics in this game. It just felt so fluid. To go from glitchy mess to one of my favorite games of all time is a testament to the CDPR devs who didn't give up and put in the work. Its damn near flawless to play now, at least on the PS5 anyways. I already ordered the DLC.
Very well done, you can tell with the fallout and Bethesda worlds you actually played these masterpiece's so i watched the entire video didn't skip a thing, earned a sub, very well executed content..
I'm currently playing Grounded and am in love with this world that is a large yard where I'm a shrunken kid. The details is what pulls me into a world like many of those you listed here, Fallout, Mass Effect, Subnautica, etc... Of course, the act of exploration that never ends where each session brings something new to my experience. Gaming is incredible.
My personal number one is Mount & Blade: Bannerlord. Unlike most worlds in video games, this one is truly alive. Characters grow up, gain skills, marry, have kids and die, kingdoms ally and wage wars, borders change, families rise to power and fall... True, it's all rather low key and takes a lot of time to truly unravel, but it gives you this rare feeling of the world existing independently of player's character.
I wish they make all of the from Mount and Blade and make it in Kingdom Come Deliverance. Would be the most realistic game ever and so immersive. Kind of like RDR 2 but more
It just warms my heart to see AC Origins in this list. I miss Bayek and me wandering around in vast ocean of sands and discover unknown places by accident. This video is enough for me to subscribe to your channel.
Outer Worlds was good, but if we're being real, the world was not all that great. Rather the worlds plural, as there wasn't much on the planets aside from quest givers and generic bandits. The DLC's were utterly amazing though, especially the detective one.
Great video man, NEVER apologize or feel the need to explain why Cyberpunk is your favorite game, from day one it earned the title for me. Beautiful game, I have zero issues with it minus not keeping the apartment at the end. You showing my baulders gate made me wishlist that, it looks sop cool.
You did it. You put words to the feelings I couldn’t articulate when I play Cyberpunk 2077. It’s one of the few games we’re I don’t bother with fast travel so I can experience every facet Night City has to offer.
Great video, great analysis and great words for summarizing awesome gaming experiences in ME, CP2077, TES and others. I'd have added "The Outer Worlds", also a dystopic universe, where from Corporate POV, no life matters. During the walkthrough, as it happens with CP2077, you meet the other half of the coin, with characters clinging to life and awesome stories. Thank you Frank! You have a new sub BTW.
I just started the outer worlds and was hoping that it would be mentioned in this list, just so I could feel more confident that I'd enjoy it haha, but I'm glad it was at least mentioned by someone here.
I never heard a so well written/spoken game review. It makes you really want to get this game and just sink in. I even had tears in my eyes as you were describing my favorite game❤ mass effect for life❤
problem with Night City in Cyberpunk was it was mostly vending machines and doors that went nowhere. It was only a thin veneer of city you cant really interact with.
Finally, someone who understands why CyberpUnk is one of the best RPGs. It’s not the garbage gameplay mechanics, the lack of choices, and underutilized AI. It’s the narrative and world. The world is so enthralling and the narrative so tight that once the credits rolled, I only had one game that made me feel like that….Mass Effect.
Dragon Age and Divinity Original Sin 2 has some great worlds as well. I love the story of the Grey Wardens and Darkspawn in DA and the way Blood Magic and Demons tie into that world. I also found the story of the Sorcerours and Godwoken in DOS2 really interesting. The brutality in that what world was sobering to play through. Edit: Also, I can't wait for BG3. Most hyped for a game I've been in a long time.
To add to a very incredible world, I must congratulate SureAI in their development of both Nehrim and Enderal. They managed to create a world with its own incredible lore and characters, and Enderal is just an exquisite experience to play at least once in your life.
Cyberpunk 2077 is also my personal favorite game of all time, and I'm so happy to hear that I'm not alone on this. I do think though that the choices are meaningful, it only depends on how you define meaningful. Some, if not most, think that if the choices do not alter the world itself, then they're not meaningful, but to me, they're very meaningful as they really change my experience of the game. For example, some of the clips shown in the CP77 segment of this video have characters or scenes that I didn't meet or experience because I chose differently in my first playthrough. During my first playthrough, my friend talked to me about Jackie's ofrenda, and I was wondering if it's a bug that made me not experience it. Only to find out in my second playthrough that I didn't experience it because in my first playthrough, I chose to send Jackie's body to Vik's and that in turn allowed Arasaka to get his body and attempt to make a construct out of it, which you'll meet at the end game if you chose the Arasaka ending. In my first playthrough, Mama Welles just simply sent me they key to Jackie's arch instead of giving it to me personally during his ofrenda. I could think of many other examples but this comment would be too long.
Great point actually I totally agree here, I meant more on just a permutations standpoint but to me they mean a lot too. Thanks for supporting my work! P
@@FranklyGaming I know they mean a lot to you, too, because I watched your "It Doesn’t Matter What You Pick" video, which is a very underrated video in your channel and I hope more people get to watch it because you present a lot of really great points there :)
@@beige_projectiongood for you guys that you found this in cyberpunk 2077. Many (myself included) sadly did not. And among the best game worlds cyberpunk 2077 will not be on my personal list. With that said do not get me wrong there is a lot to like about this game the world map is great from architecture perspective, there are part of the story I like, there are a few nicely done side quests. But for each thing I like I can find thing I really do not like, which reduces the enjoyment. Some part of me envy you guys the enjoyment you found in this game. But hey after all difference in opinion in natural, not every gamer likes the same and even if not necessarily to the same extent. Have a nice time gaming!
@@mravg79 I agree with you. The handcrafted side quests with the meaningful side characters and the main story missions along with the amazingly written characters is what made the game great for me personally. Soon as I stopped playing the game they promised and just played it for what it is, the story and characters really gripped me. The only thing that kinda urked me was the rushed romances, with little to no build up.
The various endings in Cyberpunk were mindblowing. They were really meaningful because you actually got to see how your choices played out, in life. Too many games (like the Fallout games) just have some voiceover and pictures at the end.
I was on the wrong side of 30 when I first played Mass Effect. It was two years ago, and I played it because it was on Gamepass (Legendary Edition). I had heard good things about the franchise but wasn't very interested in playing it for whatever reason. And when I finally decided to give it a shot... oh my god. All the superlatives in the world could not capture how enraptured I felt when I first played ME1. The franchise has since become my favorite video-game experience, no contest. The feeling you describe of seeing the Citatel for the first time, exploring the presidium and wards... I was in awe. ME1 often made my jaw drop. I simply could not believe that a game like this exists. Despite all that, ME2 is my favorite (sorry). Something I couldn't believe would even be possible given how transcendent the experience of playing ME1 was. In fact, in retrospect, ME1 is my third favorite ME game, and I love it to death! (which should give you a good idea how much I love the trilogy as a whole). As for the other games featured in the video: Prey: Love it so much! It's a shame we didn't get a sequel like was teased. RDR2: Didn't play the first. Enjoyed the sequel, but it's not in my all-time favorites. Witcher 3: My favorite open-world game. Team Triss lol. Cyberpunk 2077: The city is beyond amazing, but everything else... not as amazing. I liked the story, but I didn't love it. I liked the characters, but I didn't love them. And I straight up hated the ending (I also hate Judi lol). So much wasted potential (only my opinion of course). Fallout/Elder Scrolls: Tried playing them. Bethesda games don't appeal to me. Hoping that Starfield will be the first Bethesda game that grabs my attention. AC: It's whatever. I'm so over this franchise. In conclusion, love the video! You are an incredible presenter/storyteller. Eagerly anticipating your next video.
Nirn from the Elder Scrolls is my favorite fantasy realm of all time. its just the most lived in if that makes sense, its real in a very tangible way as you play through. If a genie granted me the wish to go to any fantasy world, it would be there
Aesthetically Cyberpunk is my favorite. For me, choice and consequence is something that makes a world feel real to me which is why I prefer The Witcher over it. Outer Wilds might be the most memorable world ever in a videogame for me because you don't just discover a new area or read a journal or data cube to learn about it. You actually discover how the worlds themselves work and have realizations and gain insight into them a way no other game has come close to IMO. It definitely encapsulates the "I hate I'll never experience this for the first time again" feeling for me. Fallout is probably my overall favorite.
Saw this in my recommendations and decided to check it out on the off chance that it mentions Arcanum. Didn't actually expect this video to be so based.
Sleeping Dogs is most definitely one of my most favorite games. It had such a good world and a there was even a game mechanic (face level) that encouraged you to interact with the npc encounters, which were interesting for the most part.
Nice list. I would just add Pillars of Eternity's world of Eora - For me one of the most "belivable" fantasy worlds due to politics having an actual impact on the world, religion vs science substories and overall mood and lore that is captivating and grounded while at the same time fantastical and weird.
RDR 2 and Witcher 3 will always be my favorite 2 games I have played. The story of rdr 2 especially affected me the most. The story was one of the best if not the best one out there. Witcher 3 doesn't need any explanation. That is simply a masterpiece.
My favourite setting is, by a long shot, the Divinity series. DOS and DOS2 have some of it, but being far-past prequels, they are really missing the best parts presented in Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity. Second is probably Gothic, specifically the original game. Actually, in general, most of my favourite settings come from the early Euro RPGs. Part of it undoubtedly is that I grew up with them, but I also think they do a good job of tapping into the vast lore and history of Europe. JRPGs are similar in that regard, using the equally varied east Asian traditions.
Main thing about the older CRPGS is that they have no voice acting and it may partly be my ADD, but I just cannot read large amounts of texts without zoning out of it all. I envy those who can maintain that focus incredibly hard though.
I love the Divinity series, but it's more like a fantasy parody and it's lore are all over the place and far too inconsistent. Usually the main stories are pretty bad and generic, but the side stories are interesthing and the lore are well presented in the games. I wish Larian would've focus more to the divinity series, but with BG3 and if it's going to be a succes, I don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon, which makes me sad tbh.
Amazing video, you pick some amazing worlds, Fallout and then to a lesser degree, Witcher and Elder Scrolls would be my top 3 favorite franchises. Again amazing content in this video. Thank you, Subbed
Mass Effect is the most eye-opening and carefully designed universe in gaming. Nothing in it felt like it didnt belong there. It also beautifully told both personal stories and galactic-scale timeless stories at the same time. It's truly one of the best titles in sci-fi genre regarless of medium
Man, that triggers memories. Driving the Mako under alien skies. Making camp on a pillar of the Ghostfence in a storm. Travelling the snowy wilds of the Grizzlies trying to get away from it all, bound by a loyalty I knew in my heart was misplaced, but couldn't quite shake nonetheless. Sitting on a concrete balcony talking to Johnny, and suddenly knowing what to do, becoming whole by accepting my fate. Yes, I also think worlds are often the true stars of our games, and you only realize the profound effect they've had years after the fact.
Prey is my favorite game of all time. The world they made might be the most believable world ever made into a game. Talos 1 just feels so lived in and real.
@@FranklyGaming Cyberpunk 2077's world absolutely drew me in and still does. While I found out about quick travel quite early, I sometimes load the game just to have a drive around Night City. It's not perfect but feels real.
Would totally date this guy seems so great
Thank you me
Get a room you 2! (This is becoming a running joke)
Can we make it a triple?😍
the video mentioned boulders gate and i thought i would check steam for that game, it doesn't exist on steam, which means it's probably on one of the consoles oh well, better luck next time i guess.
sad story when you find out a game is not on your gaming machine.
@@5226-p1e it’s on steam in early access! Releases in a couple weeks
No game has ever enveloped me and captivated my imagination like Mass Effect. Played all three games back to back many years ago and it was such an amazing experience.
The best sci fi universe out there for sure in my opinion, thanks for watching!
OH I am super late to the Mass Effect party but I just started playing it recently. It's early days, but it's pretty sweet so far! RPGs are just so much fun. I love getting to be someone else in a different world. It's so well developed, with so much lore, it's pretty amazing!
@@Vaytra Its never too late to experience Mass Effect! Not just play, experience!
Well said. I really don't think we will get such a trilogy anymore in our lifetimes. Played through the entire trilogy back to back couple months ago, and I still think of the world and characters all the time.
It's one of the few series I can still do a no-lifer run through. Last year I booted it up again, after a pretty long time of me not playing games anymore when I bought the Legendary Edition at a discount, I lost track of time and ended up doing 12 hours straight through the first game, and was almost late for work. I still do an hour every so often until now.
Let me tell you something that happened to me in CP 2077: I was going through Corpo Plaza (the one with the holographic fishes), when I saw there was a Tarot Graffiti nearby. So I decided to get it, when I realized it was inside a museum for the victims of Johnny's bomb. So I walked around it, saw the ruins of the old Arasaka building, checked the info and saw the exit left me in the main entrance of the Arasaka Building, so I walked around Corpo Plaza to have a better look at it and the other corpo buildings, saw their architecture, the Fishes, the plaza... and then two hours later I realized I've been walking around the city like some kind of tourist, grasping every detail of the city, the people, buildings, vehicles... It was one of the most immersive moments in any game I've ever had
Real shit
Fallout 4 and Witcher 3 worlds made me fall in love with RPGs. They have changed my life and shaped my love for video games on a level other games never could.
Such great worlds for sure and a lot more coming this year too. Thanks for watching!
Witcher 3 and mass effect for me 💗
Witcher 3 is an action adventure game not an rpg.
Haven’t played Witcher 3 yet but agreed on Fallout 4!!!!
@@cesargatica2630 highly recommend it! An amazing RPG with a beautiful world, complex lore and story that resonates with you for a really long time
Mass Effect is my favourite universe hands down. I love the characters, the world building, everything. I've played through the trilogy multiple times and never feel bored of it. If I could as a one off transcend dimentions and start life in any fictional world, I think it would be Mass Effect.
It’s such an amazing universe for sure the story is awesome too. Thanks for watching!
Meh
@@spark556 meh to you too
It is pretty unrivaled in terms of world building and just the stakes of it all. I still replay the trilogy at least once a year, and the remaster really did a lot to make the whole trilogy feel like a cohesive experience. By far my favorite sci fi universe in gaming.
i wish they made a star trek game that would function like mass effect, but nope they never accomplish this in any of the games they have made.
Personally I REALLY like the Dishonored world.
Ya dishonered is a great world for sure hard to decide between that and prey, thanks for watching!
You eloquently summarized my feelings about the worlds of Fallout, Skyrim, Witcher, RDR2, and especially CP2077. The latter is, hopefully, nearing the completion of its redemption arc with the Phantom Liberty release. I so desperately want people to play this gorgeous melancholy game -- to experience the unique emotional depth of the writing and the ambition of its dystopian themes. Most games don't even try for this level of story complexity and elegance. RDR2 is likewise a game about ideas, and like any great work of art (literary, film, etc.) every image and encounter of the game is pointing towards the game's central questions and the heartbreaking answers Arthur finds on your journey through his rugged disappearing world. Really well-done essay here. Thanks for putting so much thoughtful effort into it!
Really appreciate the kind words and thanks for taking the time to watch and comment
Witcher skyrim, rdr2, horizon zero dawn and hoqwarts legacy and stray (tha catgame) are the top for me. Feel you bro
Gotta agree nothing has really done it for me like CP2077 and i stopped playing until Phantom Liberty because of the overhauls to the graphics, wanted/police system, and cyberware.
I feel like almost 3 years later the game is finally ready to deliver on it's initial promise. Nothing comes close to that world imho
@@tch2296 yup
Odyssey was 3x better than Origins
The Mass Effect universe is amazing. I can never not fall in love with them even on new play throughs.
So glad you included Prey in this video! A disgustingly underrated game.
100% agree such a great game, thanks for the support!
It's got 9/10 on steam, so I'd hardly call it underrated. It's maybe not as well known as it should be, but it's defo not underrated.
@@mathiaschristensen1194overlooked would be a more appropriate term. It's definitely highly rated among the people who have played it
That fake prey is trash, real prey is 2006 one which is much better
@@InternalxHD no it's not, it's an extremely dated mid 2000s shooter with some cool ideas but otherwise forgettable, hence why it's mostly forgotten
I am sad that Bioware went downhill due to various reasons but I gotta say, I fell in love with Mass Effect and Dragon Age. It bittersweet too because there was no one else I could share it with because everyone else at the time in our place was crazy on CoD, Counter Strike, L4D, MMOs, and DOTA 1.
Nevertheless, I had so much fun. It wasn't an open world game but you can feel it was BIG.
You mean the rest of your friends where mainstream gamers. NOT TRVE NERDS LIKE US!
I didn't expect to see Arcanum on the list. Such underappreciated gem.
Such a great story and great open world for exploring, one of my all time favorites.
Tim Cain, man. He's got his own channel right here on RUclips where talks about all the games he's worked on, shares tips for creating games, etc. Highly recommended.
I don't know what magic was infused into bloodborne, but it is utterly captivating for me. The atmosphere is just unmatched. And the Witcher 3 is my all time favourite open world game.
Spot on about CP2077, instantly became my all time favorite too. I was lucky it ran well on my pc. But still, it's the best gameworld yet, not the most interactive but the best. If you do the side missions you will be surprised by how much interior variety there is. And the story is amazing.
Another world I personally love is that of Horizon. The different machines, their visual beauty and ferocity. The different tribes and their cultures. Like the perfect combination of past and the future.
Horizon is one of that really hit me. Yes the robot animals and tribes were fun, but it was the small stories you picked up of the old world as you went along that really cut deep. Some funny, some tragic, some heartbreaking. Like Cyberpunk it's one that left me thinking and remembering many of the small things and feelings along the way.
I think the game world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R really deserved a mention. Feels so immersive
Stalker would have be an amazing thing to add actually would of if I thought of it
@@FranklyGaming Yh its one of my favourites. Well maybe you can include the stalker games in a future video
The Division 1 also, one of the most graphically immersive game worlds ever created
@@erwaldoxLooking forward to Avatar and Star Wars from Massive.
@@teleportingfatso6089Ive had all 3 stalker games constantly installed since the day they came out. Plus some mods (especially Gamma).
No other game had utterly blown me away with the atmosphere like vanilla stalker.
Wow, i love it so much.
I'dd add DIsco Elysium and Planescape Torment to this list. Both those worlds are so incredible. The best part is that the world are part of the sotry, the nature of the world represents the internal turmoil of the characters, and that works beautifully.
Planescape is gold. The writing and world building are top notch.
Yes and those are true RPGs
Torment is still my favorite.
disco elysium is crazy creative in its world design and it doesn't even show most of it in game
I think Dying Light 1 had a good world design too. Felt quite believable and realistic to the story and mechanics
Yeah man I agree.
DL2 is just as, if not better world wise. I think they both deserve to be here.
the environmental storytelling even
Outerwilds is an incredible and moving game, such a hidden gem! if you haven’t played it give it a go
That's the next on my list to play, alot of people give it praise
@@dougsteele5387 not to be confused with outer worlds, I’ve tried both and they don’t even compare
Death Stranding! The world of DS is incredible and swept me away for weeks of playing and in my dreams and thoughts for years after. I still just keep on keepin’ on
Fuck if I had thought of this would have been an amazing one to add
I have never ever had anyone make me think that they were a slave to machines but here we are. You are almost addicted to fake realities by the way you speak. It’s funny because the most loyal are usually the most blind
Thank you. Someone who finally understands the true meaning and beauty of underappreciated games like Cyberpunk 2077.
It’s hilarious to me to see people calling one of the most over-hyped and heavily advertised games in history “under appreciated” like it’s some unknown indie gem. The game cost like 300 million dollars to make lol
Glad others think so too!
@@lt_johnmcclane And it was a game so broken it was deemed an unplayable mess for 2 years. They finally fixed most things like a year ago and even though a lot of people have 'rediscovered' it, it's still been struggling to shake that stigma. It has done the best job of worldbuilding and character building of any game I've ever played, and I've also played Prey, Mass Effect, BioShock, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 and all 3 Witcher games when they all first came out. I have a love for all of them (except for the ending of ME3 ... and Witcher 1 was pretty janky), but Cyberpunk sits comfortably at the top. It is most definitely under appreciated. You should give it a shot.
@@baffledalien5397I agree that it isn't bad anymore but you extremely oversell the character writing and World building, it's okay but not slightly as good as you say.
If you think that Cyberpunk is a good game then i recommend you a psychologist..
Never been lost in a world quite like Skyrim,one of a kind
Kinda missing Dragon age. There are few games who convey the feeling of exploring acient ruins and discover forgotten secrets like DA does. With all the Lore behind it and the beautiful Artstyle i think DA deserves a place on this list.
Though It is difficult to make video about this topic because it all depends on personal experience and preferences. I for example really like AC origins. But when it comes to captivating worlds i prefer Black Flag. It may not deliver the best feeling of being an Assasin in a ancient world but it certainly gives you the feeling of being a kick ass pirate.
World can be captivating by so many factors: Artstyle, story, interactions and so on. You could let 10 people make a video about the most captivating worlds and you would always get other games.
I talk about dragon age in the Witcher section it’s the only one I kinda wish I just had another section for, so many great games deserve it too.
Thanks for watching!
Very glad to see Tyranny mentioned here. Of all the games I've played it has had by far the most fascinating take of playing as an evil character. It's a unique world, and a shame that it didn't sell well enough to earn a sequel or spin-off
never say never may one day we can a Kickstarter going or something.
@@cpt191021 I hope you're right brother
@@cpt191021 Tyranny was made by Obsidian, the studio is now owned by Microsoft. If a new Tyranny should come from them, MS will be funding it. Maybe in the future!
@@RuthwikRao Tyranny IP is stuck with Paradox though. So it's messed up situation like with Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, where IP is being in hands of Activision to this point.
@@cracmar03 ooh didn't realize Paradox owns it.
Arcanum will soon be Microsoft's in that case haha.
I loved in Mass Effect just reading about the different planets. Generally there wasn't much to be gained game-wise from that knowledge but it added such a cool dimension to the backdrop.
I think you might like Control watching this whole video and the things that peak your interest the world of Control is wild mysterious and horrificly brutal its one of my all time favorite game worlds where you never know what would happen next
I played all Rockstar, activision, bethesda games.
Outerwilds is still a masterpiece in open world immersion
The amount of excitement and sense of achievement playing outerwild and subnautica I simply can't explain in words.
thank you so much for including outer wilds! definitely one of the games my friends cant get me to shut up about lol. Thank you so much for showing this underrated gem to more people
Thank you for supporting my channel!
I was so lucky to have experience the Mass Effect Trilogy. It's just perfect. I became so attached to all the characters. My other favorite is Cyberpunk. I'm just a sucker for good world building and story line.
I totally agree on Cyberpunk. It is my personal favorite game of all time too. I can literally get lost in the city, not even use a car most of the time, and slow walk around just taking in the vibe of the city. What I learned was that the game opens up to you when you take it slow, and the whole experience gets another layer. I went to Jig-Jig Street and spent a while just walking around exploring, and the level of effort that went in just to do that little bit of the city was incredible. The look of the place, the people around you, the dynamic of the city, the conversations around you, the advertisements screaming at you at every corner just give Night City that unique vibe that I did not experience anywhere else. I can't wait to see what awaits us in Phantom Liberty.
So excited for phantom Liberty too, and thanks for watching!
CP77 is a game that rewards players when they take the time to stop and smell the roses so to speak. There are so many little details in the game that adds a lot to the player's experience especially if they're heavy into role-playing. It's also why I also don't drive a lot because mostly I just wanna soak in the vibes of the city, see the sights and details, and there are also small secrets to be found throughout the city. The exposition is so well done too because you can really get what the city and the world is all about through listening to random npc conversations, the news on the tv, radio, etc.
I'll never understand how people think that night city is empty.
@@spikey288 they're edgelords looking for stuff to hate on to fill the empty space in their lives.
@@TheMarcHicks Agreed, or should I say "gonklords". The amount of times that i could have missed out on great experiences if I had listened to them. It's always best to ignore what people say and find out for yourself.
Cyberpunk 2077 absolutely fked me up.
And no other game pulled me that much in before or after.
I completely agree with you, it is my absolute favourite, too, and hasn’t been replaced to date.
Thanks for the Dragon Age reference in the Wither part Frank! This video is dangerous for the backlog though, you're talking about thousands of hours of gameplay here !!
That’s what I’m here for 😂
For me the world of Red dead, mass effect, witcher 3, harry potter, AC Odyssey and trails series. These games make me want to live in their worlds. Wild west, space sci-fi, medieval fantasy, a magical school, a historic civilization and simple towns with memorable npcs you will get to know the more you play.
Whenever Assassins Creed's OST (ezios family) starts playing, it always brings out memories from my teenage, some sad, some beautiful. Ezio's voice start to play in my head from different games and by the end of the music, it always goes to the letter that ezio wrote for sophia in embers. Call it nostalgia but I don't think I will ever have this much affection for any other character. requiescat in pace Ezio.
If I haven't played Mass Effect I'd have never come to know that games could have such wonderful storytelling and great characters.
I remember the first time I used sonar in subnautica. Had just made the cyclops sub, and was heading down towards a distant place on the map. In the darkness I saw a giant leviathan swimming around in the distance and just noped right back to the surface. Great times
I finally finished Horizon Zero Dawn this year and wow. The storyline and world were quite thought provoking. Especially given the developments in technology recently.
Really great video and i completely agree on Cyberpunk being such a memorable game because of what it makes you feel, it did to me too.
On the other hand, since you put Prey in it, also one of my favorite game ever, i'm surprised Dishonored from the same studio isn't in the list too, because in terms of World and Universe it really is one of the most memorable i have seen.
Ya dishonered probably deserves a place here I just picked between it and prey since my list was already getting so long
I’m really glad Cyberpunk is on here. It’s surprisingly my favorite game so far
Happy to see cyberpunk getting more love these days
@@FranklyGaming You put in Cyberpunk but not a single GTA game? cmon dude
@@acev3521 I find that the GTA games have interesting "game" worlds, but are not interesting worlds themselves. They are so over the top and bombastic that they lack a certain personal element to the storytelling. They are great worlds to play in, but not great worlds to learn about and immerse yourself in. There is no lore, the cities themselves are not trying to tell a story, they are not concerned with the individual experiences of its citizens; they are merely a playground or sandbox for the player. It may seem cliche, but unlike the games mentioned in this list, I believe that the GTA series lacks meaning and heart, which for me is core for a believable and immersive world.
Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines will, for me, be the original RPG video game that all other strive to match. The voice acting, the vampire world, the story captured what made the PnP game so good.
And that is truly the best rpg ever! The only one to beat that ik of is this recently released Baldurs Gate 3. Lydian Studios is amazing
@@bigzachful If they kept the plot, the voice acting and just did it on the latest engine they could sell the game again at full price and it would make bank. I'd certainly buy it again. Especially as the second attempt to make VTMB2 seems to have died, like the one before that.
Great commentary, I personally loved the first Mass Effect much more as well, the voiced Codex was so immersive and interesting.
Thanks for watching!
Thronebreaker was such a good game and added so much to the Witcher universe. Plus, it has some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in a game.
An underrated gem, and incredible game. All the characters felt like real people with real motivation, despite being fantasy. And the music is probably the best game music of any game.
It's not everyday I get to see someone talk about almost every one of my favorite video game worlds. You sir, are deserving of more subs.
Thanks for the support means a lot!
My one addition to this list would be Dragon Age series. The first game (so old now) world was so captivating. Second game was not as good but fully redeemed with Inquisition. So much humour, fully developed characters. Another more recent addition would be Horizon Zero Dawn... amazing game.
Gothic series is by far the winner for me. It says a lot that an unfinished game is able to pull you into the life of the character and the struggles they go through so well. Particularly their rise from weakling to hero.
I still replay Gothic more than Witcher, Mass Effect, or any other
I've been playing so many games since the 90s so I'm not really sure if Cyberpunk 2077 is also my favorite game of all time, but it's probably in my top 5, which is saying a lot since I've played a lot of great games. But since a lot of the other comments and you already pointed a lot of things to love about Cyberpunk 2077, I wanna talk about another game featured in the video - Arcanum. I'm so happy that it is included in this video because it's a game that I played during my high school years and you know what, I don't even remember its story, but the great feeling I had playing it stayed with me throughout all these years and from time to time I would still remember that game.
Ya I had to put in some lesser talked about classics too some do the worlds in older games are awesome.
Thank you for supporting what I do!
I really think that you should look at Disco Elysium, if you haven't yet.
Seemingly a small game of self reflection and murder mystery, if you read carefully and ask the right question it will reveal a complex world that is only hinted at and told of, never shown. And yet what an interesting, touching, funny and tragic world it is. Just like your own personal story in this game.
Can definitely make it to this list IMHO.
Yep. The game was sad and depressing but it was exciting. It was true rpg and there aren’t many of those so I couldn’t wait to play it when it released on console
For me The Last of Us, Mass Effect, Cyberpunk, and Fallout are the Mount Rushmore of gaming worlds. Games that even if they made an iteration that wasn’t that good are just so inherently interesting with their actual worlds that you can’t help but be completely captivated by them and want to give them another try. With these games the appeal really goes beyond whatever cast of characters you’ve previously met or any of the things that usually make a game memorable. A lot of games are a lot less so if you aren’t the person you are in their worlds; going to Arkham is a lot less cool if you aren’t Batman. But with these four games even when the story is finished, when all the tales of V, Ellie, commander Shepard and your Vault Dweller are told you would still just want to come back, and that person and everyone they met along the way really don’t even have to be there. But *YOU* want to be. If I had to pick a favorite I think it’d be Cyberpunk because when the game dropped it wasn’t even good-I was lied to about it’s features and I could barely even play it-yet I was hooked. Completely enamored with this world from the visual design to the way the society is setup to the culture. The world just feels so real.
I really like Cyberpunk. It’s such a good vibe and even just walking at night in Night City is sometimes therapeutic.
I agree with you 100% on cyberpunk. I find myself going back to it again and again. And I can't put my finger on it. I just truly enjoy getting lost in it.
I can’t wait for phantom liberty it’s going to be awesome, and thanks for supporting my channel!
It was breathtaking to hear about all these projects, adventures I lived through, and emotions I felt.
The Trails series has an immense reputation for worldbuilding. You will want to look into them since great worlds are a big thing for you.
I second this. They are a bit of a slow burn though.
cyberpunk is possibly the most incredible game ive ever played. and the upcoming 2.0 update makes it look like a dream game
Thought this till I played baldurs gate
@@vest4802 i agree. while i still love CP, baldurs gate 3 is just special
@@KulveTarothsNightGown filled my cyberpunk void
This channel has become my favorite gaming experience channel. The quality, the information given, and the opinions on each subject are spot on and this channel will go very far. Keep up the great work!
Really appreciate the support thank you!
@FranklyGaming I have been a gamer my entire life. That's going all the way back to Pong and the Atari 2600. I worked for Electronics Boutique for a long time. I was there for the launch of the Dreamcast, PS2, original Xbox. It's in my blood. I found your channel and I was so impressed I subscribed straight away. I am excited to see where this channel takes you. I hope nothing but success for you sir! Keep it up!
I'm so glad people are finding and falling in love with Cyberpunk. I tried it when it first came out and chose to wait til the fix and finally got around to it in January this year and its up there in my top five game worlds of all time while also just having kickass writing and bad ass characters. Great music too. My only gripe was they could have added more races because I LOVED the driving mechanics in this game. It just felt so fluid. To go from glitchy mess to one of my favorite games of all time is a testament to the CDPR devs who didn't give up and put in the work. Its damn near flawless to play now, at least on the PS5 anyways. I already ordered the DLC.
great video!
I hope this turns into a series
Thanks so much! and kind of I have the most profound questions in games video already and next one is about the most memorable moments
Very well done, you can tell with the fallout and Bethesda worlds you actually played these masterpiece's so i watched the entire video didn't skip a thing, earned a sub, very well executed content..
Really appreciate that!
I'm currently playing Grounded and am in love with this world that is a large yard where I'm a shrunken kid. The details is what pulls me into a world like many of those you listed here, Fallout, Mass Effect, Subnautica, etc... Of course, the act of exploration that never ends where each session brings something new to my experience. Gaming is incredible.
My personal number one is Mount & Blade: Bannerlord. Unlike most worlds in video games, this one is truly alive. Characters grow up, gain skills, marry, have kids and die, kingdoms ally and wage wars, borders change, families rise to power and fall... True, it's all rather low key and takes a lot of time to truly unravel, but it gives you this rare feeling of the world existing independently of player's character.
I wish they make all of the from Mount and Blade and make it in Kingdom Come Deliverance. Would be the most realistic game ever and so immersive. Kind of like RDR 2 but more
It just warms my heart to see AC Origins in this list. I miss Bayek and me wandering around in vast ocean of sands and discover unknown places by accident. This video is enough for me to subscribe to your channel.
You mentioned most of my favourites-especially Cyberpunk 2077 & Baldur's Gate 3.....but I would definitely include The Outer Worlds in the list too.
I love the outer worlds for sure great game
Outer Worlds was good, but if we're being real, the world was not all that great. Rather the worlds plural, as there wasn't much on the planets aside from quest givers and generic bandits. The DLC's were utterly amazing though, especially the detective one.
Do you mean the Outer Wilds? Or actually Worlds?
Outer *Wilds* is a fantastic game. In my top 3 of all time.,
@@mduckernz no, Outer Worlds, by Obsidian.
Havent played arcanum, but i always got the feeling that those who did have a deep burning hatred for all things gnome
Great video man, NEVER apologize or feel the need to explain why Cyberpunk is your favorite game, from day one it earned the title for me. Beautiful game, I have zero issues with it minus not keeping the apartment at the end. You showing my baulders gate made me wishlist that, it looks sop cool.
Glad you enjoyed! And thanks a lot for the support
thank you for this video, i still haven't finished half of the games here so watching this inspired me to play them again.
Thanks for supporting my work!
Morrowind and Skyrim are majestic ❤
You did it. You put words to the feelings I couldn’t articulate when I play Cyberpunk 2077. It’s one of the few games we’re I don’t bother with fast travel so I can experience every facet Night City has to offer.
Love cyberpunk will touch on the biggest reason in my next video so I can always point to it
Great video, great analysis and great words for summarizing awesome gaming experiences in ME, CP2077, TES and others. I'd have added "The Outer Worlds", also a dystopic universe, where from Corporate POV, no life matters. During the walkthrough, as it happens with CP2077, you meet the other half of the coin, with characters clinging to life and awesome stories. Thank you Frank! You have a new sub BTW.
Thanks so much for the support! And ya I love the outer worlds I talked about it in my underappreciated games video it’s so good I think
I just started the outer worlds and was hoping that it would be mentioned in this list, just so I could feel more confident that I'd enjoy it haha, but I'm glad it was at least mentioned by someone here.
"That's the way it is" playing in the background during the RDR2 segment got to me a little bit. Such a great game and story.
Totally agree, and I always try to focus on music in the videos for sure glad you noticed
I never heard a so well written/spoken game review. It makes you really want to get this game and just sink in. I even had tears in my eyes as you were describing my favorite game❤ mass effect for life❤
problem with Night City in Cyberpunk was it was mostly vending machines and doors that went nowhere. It was only a thin veneer of city you cant really interact with.
Subnautica really surprised me with it's gameplay, story, depth and storytelling.
Mass Effect will forever be my favorite series of all time, because it represents a very possible future for humanity
I agree with most but I miss Pillars of Eternity 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, both which have beautifull and vibrant worlds.
Finally, someone who understands why CyberpUnk is one of the best RPGs. It’s not the garbage gameplay mechanics, the lack of choices, and underutilized AI. It’s the narrative and world. The world is so enthralling and the narrative so tight that once the credits rolled, I only had one game that made me feel like that….Mass Effect.
Dragon Age and Divinity Original Sin 2 has some great worlds as well. I love the story of the Grey Wardens and Darkspawn in DA and the way Blood Magic and Demons tie into that world. I also found the story of the Sorcerours and Godwoken in DOS2 really interesting. The brutality in that what world was sobering to play through.
Edit: Also, I can't wait for BG3. Most hyped for a game I've been in a long time.
To add to a very incredible world, I must congratulate SureAI in their development of both Nehrim and Enderal. They managed to create a world with its own incredible lore and characters, and Enderal is just an exquisite experience to play at least once in your life.
The musical score in Skyrim is just Magnificent and really makes the game so immersive
Cyberpunk 2077 is also my personal favorite game of all time, and I'm so happy to hear that I'm not alone on this. I do think though that the choices are meaningful, it only depends on how you define meaningful. Some, if not most, think that if the choices do not alter the world itself, then they're not meaningful, but to me, they're very meaningful as they really change my experience of the game. For example, some of the clips shown in the CP77 segment of this video have characters or scenes that I didn't meet or experience because I chose differently in my first playthrough. During my first playthrough, my friend talked to me about Jackie's ofrenda, and I was wondering if it's a bug that made me not experience it. Only to find out in my second playthrough that I didn't experience it because in my first playthrough, I chose to send Jackie's body to Vik's and that in turn allowed Arasaka to get his body and attempt to make a construct out of it, which you'll meet at the end game if you chose the Arasaka ending. In my first playthrough, Mama Welles just simply sent me they key to Jackie's arch instead of giving it to me personally during his ofrenda. I could think of many other examples but this comment would be too long.
Great point actually I totally agree here, I meant more on just a permutations standpoint but to me they mean a lot too.
Thanks for supporting my work! P
@@FranklyGaming I know they mean a lot to you, too, because I watched your "It Doesn’t Matter What You Pick" video, which is a very underrated video in your channel and I hope more people get to watch it because you present a lot of really great points there :)
@@beige_projectiongood for you guys that you found this in cyberpunk 2077.
Many (myself included) sadly did not. And among the best game worlds cyberpunk 2077 will not be on my personal list.
With that said do not get me wrong there is a lot to like about this game the world map is great from architecture perspective, there are part of the story I like, there are a few nicely done side quests. But for each thing I like I can find thing I really do not like, which reduces the enjoyment.
Some part of me envy you guys the enjoyment you found in this game.
But hey after all difference in opinion in natural, not every gamer likes the same and even if not necessarily to the same extent.
Have a nice time gaming!
@@mravg79 I agree with you. The handcrafted side quests with the meaningful side characters and the main story missions along with the amazingly written characters is what made the game great for me personally. Soon as I stopped playing the game they promised and just played it for what it is, the story and characters really gripped me. The only thing that kinda urked me was the rushed romances, with little to no build up.
The various endings in Cyberpunk were mindblowing. They were really meaningful because you actually got to see how your choices played out, in life. Too many games (like the Fallout games) just have some voiceover and pictures at the end.
omg 7 min this guy bring all my rpg emotions out of me, making me miss these typ of games and the storys
Glad you enjoy! Thanks for supporting my content
I was on the wrong side of 30 when I first played Mass Effect. It was two years ago, and I played it because it was on Gamepass (Legendary Edition). I had heard good things about the franchise but wasn't very interested in playing it for whatever reason. And when I finally decided to give it a shot... oh my god.
All the superlatives in the world could not capture how enraptured I felt when I first played ME1. The franchise has since become my favorite video-game experience, no contest. The feeling you describe of seeing the Citatel for the first time, exploring the presidium and wards... I was in awe. ME1 often made my jaw drop. I simply could not believe that a game like this exists.
Despite all that, ME2 is my favorite (sorry). Something I couldn't believe would even be possible given how transcendent the experience of playing ME1 was. In fact, in retrospect, ME1 is my third favorite ME game, and I love it to death! (which should give you a good idea how much I love the trilogy as a whole).
As for the other games featured in the video:
Prey: Love it so much! It's a shame we didn't get a sequel like was teased.
RDR2: Didn't play the first. Enjoyed the sequel, but it's not in my all-time favorites.
Witcher 3: My favorite open-world game. Team Triss lol.
Cyberpunk 2077: The city is beyond amazing, but everything else... not as amazing. I liked the story, but I didn't love it. I liked the characters, but I didn't love them. And I straight up hated the ending (I also hate Judi lol). So much wasted potential (only my opinion of course).
Fallout/Elder Scrolls: Tried playing them. Bethesda games don't appeal to me. Hoping that Starfield will be the first Bethesda game that grabs my attention.
AC: It's whatever. I'm so over this franchise.
In conclusion, love the video! You are an incredible presenter/storyteller. Eagerly anticipating your next video.
Thanks for the kind words and support!
I love the Star Wars Old Republic World, the music and the iconic landscapes gives me chills.
Pretty good video. Love the list. I would also add Vampire the masquerade bloodlines, Dishonored and Disco elysium
Thanks for watching!
you described each game so beautifully holy shti
especially loved cyberpunk
Really appreciate that thanks!
Nirn from the Elder Scrolls is my favorite fantasy realm of all time. its just the most lived in if that makes sense, its real in a very tangible way as you play through. If a genie granted me the wish to go to any fantasy world, it would be there
What world was that in? Skyrim, Morrowind?
@@bigzachful Nirn is the world, Tamriel is the continent the games all take place in.
Nirn = Earth, Tamriel = Eurasia
Aesthetically Cyberpunk is my favorite. For me, choice and consequence is something that makes a world feel real to me which is why I prefer The Witcher over it.
Outer Wilds might be the most memorable world ever in a videogame for me because you don't just discover a new area or read a journal or data cube to learn about it. You actually discover how the worlds themselves work and have realizations and gain insight into them a way no other game has come close to IMO. It definitely encapsulates the "I hate I'll never experience this for the first time again" feeling for me.
Fallout is probably my overall favorite.
Saw this in my recommendations and decided to check it out on the off chance that it mentions Arcanum. Didn't actually expect this video to be so based.
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks
Sleeping Dogs is most definitely one of my most favorite games. It had such a good world and a there was even a game mechanic (face level) that encouraged you to interact with the npc encounters, which were interesting for the most part.
Nice list. I would just add Pillars of Eternity's world of Eora - For me one of the most "belivable" fantasy worlds due to politics having an actual impact on the world, religion vs science substories and overall mood and lore that is captivating and grounded while at the same time fantastical and weird.
RDR 2 and Witcher 3 will always be my favorite 2 games I have played. The story of rdr 2 especially affected me the most. The story was one of the best if not the best one out there. Witcher 3 doesn't need any explanation. That is simply a masterpiece.
My favourite setting is, by a long shot, the Divinity series. DOS and DOS2 have some of it, but being far-past prequels, they are really missing the best parts presented in Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity.
Second is probably Gothic, specifically the original game.
Actually, in general, most of my favourite settings come from the early Euro RPGs. Part of it undoubtedly is that I grew up with them, but I also think they do a good job of tapping into the vast lore and history of Europe. JRPGs are similar in that regard, using the equally varied east Asian traditions.
Main thing about the older CRPGS is that they have no voice acting and it may partly be my ADD, but I just cannot read large amounts of texts without zoning out of it all. I envy those who can maintain that focus incredibly hard though.
I love the Divinity series, but it's more like a fantasy parody and it's lore are all over the place and far too inconsistent. Usually the main stories are pretty bad and generic, but the side stories are interesthing and the lore are well presented in the games. I wish Larian would've focus more to the divinity series, but with BG3 and if it's going to be a succes, I don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon, which makes me sad tbh.
Amazing video, you pick some amazing worlds, Fallout and then to a lesser degree, Witcher and Elder Scrolls would be my top 3 favorite franchises. Again amazing content in this video. Thank you, Subbed
Agree with most all your picks. But for me, Rapture is the number one most captivating, imaginative world.
Thank you for sharing this great, great work. I've really enjoyed it.
Anytime! Appreciate the support
Mass Effect is the most eye-opening and carefully designed universe in gaming. Nothing in it felt like it didnt belong there. It also beautifully told both personal stories and galactic-scale timeless stories at the same time. It's truly one of the best titles in sci-fi genre regarless of medium
Man, that triggers memories. Driving the Mako under alien skies. Making camp on a pillar of the Ghostfence in a storm. Travelling the snowy wilds of the Grizzlies trying to get away from it all, bound by a loyalty I knew in my heart was misplaced, but couldn't quite shake nonetheless. Sitting on a concrete balcony talking to Johnny, and suddenly knowing what to do, becoming whole by accepting my fate. Yes, I also think worlds are often the true stars of our games, and you only realize the profound effect they've had years after the fact.
Thanks for taking the time to support my work!
Prey is my favorite game of all time. The world they made might be the most believable world ever made into a game. Talos 1 just feels so lived in and real.
this man writes such good scripts, it makes mid games look awesome, I feel like playing games I don't even enjoyed before.
Haha thanks for watching 😂
Cyberpunk 2077?
🎉😊❤❤❤
I know some people hate it but I love it for sure, thanks for supporting my channel!
@@FranklyGaming Cyberpunk 2077's world absolutely drew me in and still does. While I found out about quick travel quite early, I sometimes load the game just to have a drive around Night City. It's not perfect but feels real.
I know you posted this video before bg3’s release, but boy was that game worth it. One of the best games I’ve ever played.
I feel like no one will beat Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls in my heart
Such great worlds for sure, thanks for watching!
Mass effect? 🥴
Starfield may do just that, if it lives up to the hype.
Props for including Arcanum. That game truly deserves a sequel..