10 Sci-Fi Video Games With the Best Worldbuilding
A gaming feature from Collider ranks ten sci-fi video games celebrated for their exceptional worldbuilding, arguing that games surpass films and TV in this respect because players can physically explore and interact with crafted settings rather than just observe them. Writer Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck notes that true worldbuilding goes beyond a unique setting, encompassing lore, culture, politics, religion and internal consistency, and the list judges each title on design, narrative depth and coherence.
The excerpt provided covers the first three entries: Deus Ex (2000), set in a pandemic-ravaged 2052 that weaves real conspiracy theories like the Illuminati and Area 51 into its plot; Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), praised for making the dystopian, capitalism-shaped Night City feel like a character in its own right; and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003), noted for expanding the franchise's established galaxy through detailed game-specific lore.
– Deus Ex (2000) — dystopian 2052 setting blending real-world conspiracy theories into its story
– Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) — Night City portrayed as a dense, capitalism-driven "villain" character
– Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) — expands the wider Star Wars galaxy's established lore
– Full list contains ten games in total, ranked for worldbuilding quality
- Collider lists ten sci-fi games praised for immersive worldbuilding
- Deus Ex blends real conspiracy theories into its 2052 setting
- Cyberpunk 2077's Night City treated as a character itself