Some of the most stunning open world games are not about fantasy or sci-fi worlds, but about recreating real places we already know. From ancient cities to modern skylines, these games let you walk through history or roam through familiar streets in interactive form.

Here are eight open world games that stand out for their faithful recreations of real-world locations, and what makes them worth exploring.

1. Assassin’s Creed Unity (Paris, French Revolution)

Few games bring a city to life as vividly as Assassin’s Creed Unity. Set during the French Revolution, its recreation of late 18th-century Paris is one of the most detailed historical cityscapes ever built in a game.

• Realism: Notre Dame, the Seine, and narrow Parisian streets are meticulously recreated, down to architectural details.
• Exploration: Climbing across rooftops or weaving through crowded markets feels like stepping into history.
• Historical Accuracy: Ubisoft worked with historians and architectural records to get Paris as authentic as possible.

What sets it apart: It is one of the most realistic virtual tours of Paris before modern changes.

2. Assassin’s Creed Origins (Ancient Egypt)

Assassin’s Creed Origins transports players to Ptolemaic Egypt, with deserts, oases, and bustling cities recreated with incredible detail. From Alexandria’s Lighthouse to the Great Pyramids, it feels like a living museum.

• Realism: The pyramids, temples, and Nile Delta are all recreated with archaeological accuracy.
• Exploration: You can climb the pyramids, sail the Nile, and explore ancient tombs.
• Historical Accuracy: The in-game Discovery Tour lets players experience educational tours of historical landmarks.

What sets it apart: A chance to see ancient Egypt as it might have looked in its prime.

3. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ancient Greece)

Ancient Greece comes alive in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, from the temples of Athens to the islands of the Aegean Sea. It’s not just about scale, but the atmosphere of a civilization at its peak.

• Realism: Recreates cities like Athens and Sparta alongside rural villages and islands.
• Exploration: Naval sailing across the Aegean adds to the authenticity.
• Historical Accuracy: While it blends myth and history, the architecture and geography are impressively faithful.

What sets it apart: Few games capture both city life and vast seas of the ancient world so well.

4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (England and Norway, Viking Age)

Ubisoft’s Viking saga takes players across England and Norway during the 9th century. Towns, monasteries, and landscapes echo the historical records of the time.

• Realism: Villages, rivers, and longhouses are modeled after Viking Age settlements.
• Exploration: Raiding monasteries by longship recreates the feel of Norse invasions.
• Historical Accuracy: While myth plays a role, the architecture and geography reflect early medieval England.

What sets it apart: The sense of scale and authenticity in its landscapes, from fjords to rolling English countryside.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2 (American Frontier, 1899)

While not based on a single real-world map, Red Dead Redemption 2 painstakingly recreates the feel of the late 1800s American frontier. Its fictional states combine elements of the Old West with real influences from states like Wyoming, Texas, and Louisiana.

• Realism: Small towns, railroads, and wilderness capture the era’s look.
• Exploration: Hunting, fishing, and random encounters make the world feel alive.
• Historical Accuracy: Costumes, weapons, and societal details mirror the period.

What sets it apart: The sheer immersion in a living, breathing version of the American frontier.

6. L.A. Noire (Los Angeles, 1940s)

Rockstar’s detective game takes you to post-war Los Angeles, with a meticulous recreation of the city during its golden age.

• Realism: Real streets, landmarks, and neighborhoods based on historical maps.
• Exploration: Driving through the city lets you see how Los Angeles looked before freeways changed it forever.
• Historical Accuracy: Many landmarks are faithfully reconstructed, such as City Hall and the Hollywoodland sign.

What sets it apart: A rare glimpse into Los Angeles as it looked in the 1940s.

7. Mafia: Definitive Edition (Lost Heaven, Chicago-inspired, 1930s)

Lost Heaven is a fictional city, but it is directly inspired by 1930s Chicago. The Definitive Edition remake brings it to life with authentic architecture, cars, and atmosphere.

• Realism: City blocks, elevated trains, and Prohibition-era details give it a realistic vibe.
• Exploration: Driving through neighborhoods highlights the city’s variety.
• Historical Accuracy: While fictional, it captures the feel of Prohibition Chicago perfectly.

What sets it apart: An authentic gangster-era world that feels both cinematic and believable.

8. Watch Dogs: Legion (London, near-future)

Ubisoft recreated London with striking accuracy, from Trafalgar Square and Big Ben to Camden Market and the Tower Bridge. While the setting is near-future and dystopian, the layout of the city and its neighborhoods feel true to life.

• Realism: Landmarks, architecture, and even the Underground are recognizable.
• Exploration: Every borough has its own character, and the ability to recruit NPCs adds variety to exploration.
• Historical Accuracy: Not historical, but one of the most faithful modern-city recreations in gaming.

What sets it apart: A chance to roam through a living, breathing London with a near-future twist.

Final Thoughts

Open world games that recreate real-world places let us time travel and explore cities or landscapes that might otherwise be unreachable.

• Assassin’s Creed Unity offers Paris in the 18th century.
• Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey bring ancient Egypt and Greece to life.
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla captures the Viking Age.
• Red Dead Redemption 2, L.A. Noire, and Mafia: Definitive Edition immerse us in American history.
• Watch Dogs: Legion lets us experience London in a modern, near-future setting.

Each shows that video games are not just entertainment but also a way to experience history and geography in interactive form.