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Photo: Courtesy of Videogamer.com

7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Video games often get written off as bloody and violent (which, some of them are). But as technology advances, the backdrops and scenery have become increasingly complex– and stunning. Herewith are our picks for the best nature-filled video games.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

As a franchise, Assassin’s Creed is pretty beautiful. From Unity‘s cobbled Parisian streets to Revelation’s dusty alleys, very few of the games aren’t absolutely stunning. But Blag Flag— with its blue lagoons and jungle ruins– is hands down our favorite. Set in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, Black Flag is all your Pirates of the Caribbean fantasies come to life (but with more parkour).

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Mods aside, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was a breathtaking game (the original one– we didn’t need another remastered expansion, thank you very much Todd Howard), with a fair amount of diverse landscapes: Blackreach, the underground dwemer city; the monumental and character-defining Throat of the World; and the quiet, rocky reaches of Solitude, to name a few. Plus, there was nothing like pausing at the top of a mountain to take in a spectacular view, only to have a dragon thunder down and try to kill you.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Grand Theft Auto V

While the game begins along the urban streets of San Andreas (AKA a fictionalized Los Angeles), players can leave the city behind and head to the surrounding peaceful valleys, rocky hills, still lakes, and scenic beaches to enjoy their violence and crimes surrounded by the beauty of nature. Most of the map is based on real life locations you can visit, like the bridge over the gorge or the Alamo Sea.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Though The Witcher series as a whole has enjoyed popularity and positive reviews, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released to thorough critical acclaim (picking up a few awards along the way) and was particularly praised for its attention to detail and stellar scenery. The praise is well earned– the dazzling fantasy world full of snowcapped mountains, sloping green valleys, and old rivers offers is more than just a backdrop, immersing players in a hyper-realistic world of their own.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Battlefield 3

While the realistic beauty of nature isn’t a front and center concern in first-person shooters, Battlefield 3 is one of GC Social Media Manager Chloe Matera’s favorite scenic games. While the game is filled with statuesque mountains, Matera is particularly fond of the Damavand’s Peak location, which frames the action with rugged rises of the real-life Iranian location.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Ori and the Blind Forest

Created by indie developer Moon Studios, Ori and the Blind Forest is focused around two characters: the titular Ori, and the light and eyes of the titular Forest’s Spirit Tree. The surrounding landscape has a luminescent, dreamy quality that makes for a quietly charming adventure. During a press tour, the game’s director revealed that the assets for the game only appear once– so each branch, each bridge is completely unique.

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7 Beautiful, Nature-Filled Video Games

Never Alone

Though there isn’t much explicit nature in Never Alone— the game takes place along the planes of a snowy landscape– nature lies at the heart of the plot, as players work to restore balance in the wake of a dramatic and devastating blizzard. For the most part, players are surrounded by the swirling snow, but encounter various wildlife along the way; though the background has a bare quality, there is still a magic in its simple beauty.

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