7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
There’s never been a better time to get into video games. For this piece, we want to focus on the best representations of New York City in video games. Whether attempting to be an exact replica of the city or just trying to capture its essence, these are the best video games set in New York City.
Assassin’s Creed 3
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
Assassin’s Creed III features Manhattan as it was in 1776. Most games featuring New York are set in the modern era so seeing how the city as it used to be hundreds of years ago isrefreshing. This old-timey NYC is still familiar since it was filled with people (both rich and poor), markets, vehicles (horse drawn of course), and even tall(ish) buildings.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
When a new villain threatens New York City, Peter Parker and Spider-Man’s worlds collide. To save the city and those he loves, he must rise up and be greater. Swing through vibrant neighborhoods and catch breathtaking views of iconic Marvel and Manhattan landmarks. To present the vast New York City game area, the map was divided into 800 square sections, each representing approximately 128 m2 (1,380 sq ft).
Grand Theft Auto IV
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
GTA IV is perhaps the best game to feature New York in gaming history. This definitive title allowed players to roam freely around New York City. It may not have been a full-scale replica, but that didn’t break the feeling of driving through Times Square at the height of rush hour. Liberty City captured the essence of New York, from the gritty inner city communities, to the glitz and glamour of the more cosmopolitan regions. The diversity of communities present in the game is an impressive touch that helps to bring the game to life.
Mafia II
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
Like GTAIV, Mafia II takes place in a fictional version of NYC. What makes Empire Bay different from Liberty City is that it is set in the mid-1940s and early 1950s. A lot of old-school film noir and gangster movies took place in the NYC of this era, and Mafia II does an excellent job of letting folks experience that in video game form. Both Mafia II and Assassin’s Creed III should be appreciated for giving players versions of NYC that don’t exist anymore.
Prototype
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
Prototype wasn’t a great game, but its Manhattan was superb. It took lessons from Spider-Man 2 when it came to creating a superhero game based in NYC. While the game itself wasn’t all that, it was a blast to traverse the city and cause havoc. The latter sections of Prototype featured a city devastated by a mutant plague. Seeing familiar sights like the Empire State Building or Central Park covered in nasty mutant gunk was certainly disturbing for anyone familiar with the city.
The Division
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
Released in 2016, this title from Ubisoft brings to life a New York city that has recently faced a terrible scenario, which quickly turns the festive spirit into a horrifying epidemic. Bank notes laced with a virus quickly spread causing widespread chaos. Given the season, the environment is created with Christmas decorations and a snowy setting — it all looks visually brilliant. The highly detailed buildings deliver a realistic apocalyptic New York, even people who live in the city state that they are impressed with just how accurate the game is environment.
Metal Gear Solid 2
7 Best Video Games Set In New York City
Gaming veterans will remember the dramatic climax of Metal Gear Solid 2, where your arch nemesis Solidus Snake, crashes the colossal Arsenal Gear machine into New York. The combination of the original score and the falling debris are a particular highlight. In the final battle, you’ll be locked into a vicious duel with Solidus Snake on top of Federall Hall. However, it’s not just the finale that makes use of the historic city. At the beginning of the game, you’ll make a jump from George Washington Bridge in pursuit of a tanker hiding the metal gear weapon system.