Summary
RPGs are often lengthy games with worlds and narratives that grant both developers the freedom to explore various themes andplayers the chance to experience different lives. This makes it a genre filled with diversity, offering countless ways to tell compelling stories through its mechanics.
While many lean into fantasy settings, as seen inBaldur’s Gate 3orThe Elder Scrolls 5, others take inspiration from historical events or different cultures around the world. So, the best RPGs based in the real world are those that successfully blend fantasy with authentic elements, creating an adventure that remains engaging and immersive for players.
TheExpeditionsfranchise explores different historical moments of humanity, such as the conquest of the Americas and Viking voyages, but one of their RPGs that best embraces this realistic setting isExpeditions: Rome.Set in the Late Roman Empire, the game casts players as a young legatus whose father was assassinated, forcing him to flee in haste.
Thus, while gathering power to return to his homeland and avenge his deceased father, players embark on a journey through the military campaigns undertaken by Rome during that period, venturing into regions such as North Africa, Greece, and even Gaul. Another aspect thatExpeditions: Romehandles exceptionally well is showcasing the Roman culture of that era, carefully detailing the customs and social differences.
Parasite Eveis a JRPGset in one of the world’s most famous cities, New York, following the journey of Aya Brea. a police officer who, following events early in the game’s introduction, begins to undergo biological mutations and gains new powers. Through these abilities, she must try to save humanity from its demise.
Throughout the journey, players can even visit various well-known locations in New York, particularly Central Park ,while uncovering more about the scientific experiments taking place around the world and working to prevent Eve from executing her plans. In this way, the narrative combined with the game’s atmosphere creates a unique experience, making it a standout title on the PlayStation 1.
One of thebest tabletop RPGs successfully adapted from books to video gamesisVampire:The Masquerade - Bloodlines, which blends all the elements of traditional tabletop RPGs, including a dark fantasy setting based in Los Angeles. Here, due to a series of societal laws and customs, vampires must hide from humans while still vying for power.
Thus, even though the game does not offer a grand representation of Los Angeles, opting instead for smaller sections of the city. it still does an admirable job of conveying and simulating an urban environment. This grants players significant freedom to explore the story in various ways, considering that each available clan has access to unique powers that affect gameplay in different manners.
One of Ubisoft’sgreat traditions withAssassin’s Creedhas been to faithfully reproduce various historical moments and places in its games, as seen inAssassin’s Creed: Origins, which takes players on a journey to Ancient Egypt. Consequently, many buildings and monuments from that era are recreated in the RPG - even if on a smaller scale.
It is even possible to visit the pyramids of Egypt during their peak, experiencing the sites as they were originally constructed and planned - often even more beautiful and impressive than the ruins seen today. Other historical landmarks also appear inAssassin’s Creed: Origins, making the game perfect for those passionate about that era of civilization.
Fallout: New Vegas, like the other games in the franchise, portrays aretrofuturistic world devastated by nuclear war, combining this setting with Old West culture. Set in Las Vegas and its surroundings, players can explore places like the Mojave Desert and the Hoover Dam, experiencing the struggle between factions for control of the region amid post-apocalyptic chaos.
However, what is most interesting aboutFallout: New Vegasis that it takes the concept of a real-world-inspired RPG to another level by incorporating many elements of 1950s North American culture - whether as parody or in a more serious manner. In this way, the game is a perfect treat for fans of the genre who appreciate this type of setting.
One aspect theYakuza/Like a Dragonfranchise has always excelled at is portraying the widearray of activities available in Japan, offering players an authentic depiction of different cities across the country along with an enormous variety of minigames. This is also evident inYakuza: Like A Dragon, which features the Kamurocho district as one of its primary settings.
Thus, for players who enjoy JRPGs with a modern setting, especially those based in Japan, the game performs remarkably well by providing a strong focus in exploration and considerable freedom. Even though the district inYakuza: Like A Dragonis fictional, numerous references to Tokyo and local culture can be found throughout the map.
TheShibuya district is one of Japan’s most famous, serving as the setting for various games and animes, with one of the most popular beingPersona 5 Royal. Although free exploration of every corner of the neighborhood is not permitted, the locations depicted in the JRPG faithfully recreate several buildings and other structures found in the real world.
In addition to Shibuya,Persona 5 Royalalso features detailed recreations of Shinjuku and Kichijoji, broadening exploration opportunities within the JRPG. Thus, while battling demons and fighting societal injustices, players can visit various locales inspired by real-world places, making the experience even more immersive.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2is one of the greatest references and also one of the best RPGs inspired by real-world locations, as it takes players on a journey to the 15th-century regions of Trosky and Kuttenberg in Bohemia. Furthermore, the game places a strong emphasis on exploration, offering an open-world map filled with various missions and easter eggs to be discovered.
In addition to its focus on recreating Bohemian settings,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2also emphasizes realism not only in its environment but in its gameplay as well. Thus, during Henry’s journey, players must deal with some complex mechanics that greatly affect gameplay, such as the need to eat and keep the character clean at all times - adding survival elements to this RPG.
