One of the most important yet underappreciated elements of computer games is the gameworld. As in any narrative medium - film, literature, and theater - the world in which a story unfolds is an integral part of its narrative structure; setting provides the context in which characters move, develop, play out their fantasies, or perhaps do nothing much. The representations of worlds range from places as mundane as everyday life to fantastical universes with their own logic, unique inhabitants, and histories.
When a world is particularly well developed or imaginative, it can often become a "character" in its own right. In the Western imaginary, Pern from Anne McCaffrey's fantasy novels, Tolkien's Middle-Earth, Orwell's 1984, and Frank Herbert's Arrakis are examples of worlds that have caught our attention and held our interest. Even a single edifice, like Kafka's castle or Hugo's Notre Dame, can project a certain individuality or a dynamic personality we would normally attribute to a character.
We assembled a large pool of candidates for this TenSpot, and we reviewed many intriguing gameworlds. During our selection process, we decided to restrict the finalists to worlds unique to games, thereby excluding the universes of Star Wars, Star Trek, and so on. While these worlds are rich and diverse, and have been successfully adapted from other mediums to games, they did not originate in a game. That said, we required gameworlds to be truly otherworldly - to be worlds in which you could suspend disbelief and lose yourself for a while. In addition, you'd actually have a hard time leaving them to rejoin real life. Finally, we required the gameworlds to be diverse and complete, to even change and evolve, which are especially remarkable qualities.
You may have already explored these gameworlds, but we think you will discover a few more that will enchant you.
Take me on a long journey
