Thirty years ago, no one could have imagined such a thing.
Filming locations for famous movies and TV series often become popular tourist destinations. In recent years, something similar has been happening with places featured in popular video games. As Euronews reports, gamers are becoming an increasingly important category of tourists, driving the demand for “gaming vacations.”
Unlike tourists who visit places from movies or TV shows, gamers want not just to see a real location that appeared in a cult game, but also to experience something like an adventure in that location, as if they were replicating their gaming experience in real life.
Instead of traditional excursions with banal contemplation of well-known landmarks, gamers seek an emotional experience in places related to their hobbies. Such an experience can be offered by augmented reality gadgets or mobile applications that offer to go through a quest at a location related to the game.
In some cases, local authorities notice the emergence of a new specific category of tourists and try to create appropriate conditions for them in order to attract more gaming guests.
If we talk about the most popular tourist destinations that gamers are interested in, the current list looks like this:
France: Assassin’s Creed and The Witcher
Paris is already the most popular tourist destination in the world. And since it has become the main setting for the popular game Assassin’s Creed Unity, it has also attracted the interest of gaming tourists. Additionally, Paris hosts major video game events such as the Paris Games Week, which further contributes to the growth of gaming tourists.
The south of France has become a prototype for the fictional country of Toussaint, the setting of the expansion “Blood and Wine” of the iconic game “The Witcher 3”. Here, travelers can explore vineyards, hills, charming Mediterranean coastlines, and olive groves. And it really does feel like Toussaint.
USA: GTA and Far Cry
In many games, events unfold in the United States. The cities of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami are particularly popular. In particular, the characters of the cult series Grand Theft Auto (GTA), Watch Dogs 2, Max Payne and others do their dark deeds there (or in fictional cities inspired by real US megacities).
Those who have played Far Cry 5 and Far Cry: New Dawn will be drawn to the lush landscapes of Glacier National Park in Montana, which also offers a variety of activities, including boat tours on Lake McDonald.
Italy: Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy
Several Italian cities feature prominently in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. However, other well-known game series have also attracted gaming tourists to Italy. For example, it is well-known that the city of Altissia in Final Fantasy XV was based on Venice. This city also served as inspiration for the creators of Tomb Raider 2.
Palmanova, a unique fortress city, inspired the creators of the game Gears of War 4.
Norway: God of War Ragnarök
Norwegian landscapes appear in one form or another in many games, including The Witcher and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. One of the most recent hits set in pseudo-Scandinavia is the action game God of War Ragnarök.
All gamers need to do is choose the first stretch of the Norwegian coast they come across to feel the spirit of Skellige. In fact, the game’s Lofoten has a real-life counterpart in the form of the Lofoten Islands.
The volcanic island of Jan Mayen in the North Atlantic is the setting for the game Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Japan: The Legend of Zelda and Ghost of Tsushima
Japan appears in various forms in many video games, including Yakuza, Persona 5, Akiba’s Trip, and Digimon Cyber Sleuth, to name a few.
The modern and futuristic Japan of Yakuza is the city of Osaka, especially the Dotonbori district. The natural mountain landscapes of Zelda are the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.
And we can’t forget about one of the most beautiful games of recent years, Ghost of Tsushima. This game, which allowed millions of gamers to immerse themselves in the dramatic pages of Japanese history, has sparked a real tourism boom on the island of Tsushima.