9. The Magical Land
The landscape sets much of the tone for a game and as titles became more intricate and realistic, what used to be simple 2D scrolling backgrounds have become fully interactive and immersive 3d worlds. The beauty of gaming is that players can be transported anywhere, and in the early days - when most levels were basic platforms or maps - it was easier to craft visually rich and illogical worlds like Super Mario's Mushroom Kingdom or the seemingly gigantic world that was the Legend of Zelda's Hyrule, rather than more realistic backdrops. This idea of a strange and wonderful landscape has only improved with time, whether youre wandering through the mountains of Skyrim, stopping to glance at any breathtaking view or dashing thorough houses high above the Earth in Bioshocks Columbia, these places are what evolved from those early games. Regardless of genre, the conventions that built them still exist at the core of their design; these worlds have captured the imagination of gamers for years, and no doubt as trends lean toward new more immersive technologies, they'll become even better.