Video games have long been a popular at-home hobby, but they’re now also influencing the way people travel.
Gamers increasingly want to go beyond the screen and experience the real-life destinations that have shaped and inspired some of their cult-favourites. This has led to the rise of gaming vacations, or gami-vacations.
From visiting Japan to shadow the Pokémon and Final Fantasy worlds, to marvelling at the dramatic Norwegian landscapes behind Skyrim, gami-vacations have boomed as the latest hobby-based travel trend.
Demand for more experiential travel fuels gami-vacations
One of the biggest reasons behind the recent surge of gami-vacations is more travellers wanting experiential travel.
This means moving beyond traditional sightseeing to more memorable and novel activities, which provide authentic and emotional connections to hobbies and passions. Tech-savvy younger generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha are also drawn to themed travel, and gaming vacations fit perfectly.
A desire for immersion and excitement drives this trend, with many gamers already feeling a deep familiarity with these places when they visit, courtesy of thousands of gaming hours.
Tourism boards have even started collaborating with gaming influencers to create marketing campaigns and develop themed itineraries like Assassin’s Creed tours in Rome.
Many gamers want to ‘level up’ in real life by visiting these destinations, with several apps facilitating this with virtual reality and artificial intelligence features which offer challenges, rewards, quests and tailored itineraries. Big banner game releases such as Assassin’s Creed and Ghost of Tsushima have directly boosted tourism to places like Scotland and Japan.
So which are the most popular destinations for gami-vacations right now?
France: Get behind the scenes of Assassin’s Creed and The Witcher
Paris isn’t just the most romantic city in the world – it’s also the setting of many popular video games, like Assassin’s Creed Unity and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
These draw a steady stream of gamers annually, with major video game events like the Paris Games Week also contributing to Parisian gami-vacation numbers.
‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ featured a richly-detailed recreation of Paris during the French Revolution, highlighting iconic landmarks like the Palais de la Cité and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Similarly, the ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris’ expansion showcases a 9th-century version of the city, featuring the Seine river and the Sainte-Geneviève Church.
‘Pokémon Legends Z-A’, on the other hand, allows players to explore the rooftops of a fictional city heavily inspired by Paris.
Other games, both niche and breakout hits such as ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’, ‘Remember Me’ and ‘Valiant Hearts: Coming Home’, show Paris in a range of historic and cyberpunk futuristic settings.
Travellers can wander the city’s ancient cobblestone streets and relive their on-screen adventures, followed by a croissant and café au lait at a charming cafe like Au Canon des Invalides with iconic Eiffel Tower views.
Visit key museums like the Louvre and charming neighbourhoods like Le Marais or Montmartre – or treat yourself to a Champs Élysées shopping spree, before taking a stroll in Luxembourg Garden.
Beyond Paris, gami-vacationers also head to southern France, where you’ll find the setting for the fictional land of Toussaint in ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine’, while the indie game ‘Dordogne’ is set in the beautiful countryside of southwestern France.
Here, travellers can explore vineyards, rolling hills, glamorous Mediterranean coastlines and olive groves.
Far away from the coasts, the French Alps are another popular video game setting, also attracting fans of extreme sports and adventure games like ‘Steep’ and ‘Syberia’.
Apart from game landscapes, travellers can enjoy winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice-scaling, sledding and more, along with a range of après-ski activities.
USA: Visit the real-life cities behind GTA and Far Cry
The US is another popular location for gami-vacationers, with several cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami and more inspiring cult-classic games like ‘Spider-Man’ and the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ (GTA) series.
San Francisco features significantly in games like ‘Driver: San Francisco’, ‘Watch Dogs 2’ and ‘X:Men: Destiny’, highlighting its tech scene and iconic landmarks.
Visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Fishermen’s Wharf and Pier 39 while reliving your favourite on-screen moments. Take a ride on the famous cable cars, or pop over to Alcatraz for a thrilling adventure on a former maximum-security prison island.
Similarly, LA locations like the Santa Monica Pier and the Griffith Observatory feature in games like ‘GTA: San Andreas’ and GTA V’s ‘Los Santos’. The lesser known Oregon Coast has also grown in popularity lately as the setting for the fictional Arcadia Bay in ‘Life is Strange’.
Here, travellers can explore charming towns like Cannon Beach, Astoria and Bandon, or glimpse ocean wildlife at Sea Lion Caves and numerous tide pools. Take a scenic drive down the Samuel H. Boardman Corridor, or hike in the Ecola State Park. ‘Far Cry 5’ and ‘Far Cry: New Dawn’ players will love visiting the dramatic, lush landscapes of Montana’s Glacier National Park, where they can also hike, take historic boat tours on Lake McDonald, kayak, paddleboard and see wildlife like moose and grizzly bears.
The New York City has inspired a slew of games like the GTA series, ‘Spider-Man’, ‘Pokémon Black and White’, ‘Max Payne’ and ‘The Division’.
Visit iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Central Park. Soak in the Metropolitan Museum of Art or head to Top of the Rock for stunning city skyline and park views.
Italy: Bring Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy to life
Several of Italy’s Renaissance cities like Venice, Florence and Rome have featured heavily in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, along with niche destinations like San Gimignano in Tuscany.
Venice also inspired Altissia, a fantasy setting for ‘Final Fantasy XV’, while also appearing in ‘Final Fight 2’ and ‘Tomb Raider 2’.
Enjoy the country’s ancient art, history and spectacular landscapes by visiting spots like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Forum and Trevi Fountain in Rome, before heading to Vatican City for St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. In Florence, marvel at Renaissance art at Uffizi Galleries and the Florence Cathedral, or take a gondola ride as you soak up Venice’s old-world charm.
Palmanova, a historic, fortified town with a star fort also provided inspiration for ‘Gears of War 4’. Travellers can explore this charming town both on foot and by bike.
Moving to the coast, Capri offered the setting for the puzzle game ‘Anacapri The Dream’, which explores local legends. With quaint towns, stunning views and several hiking trails, Capri has something for every gami-vacationer.
Take a boat tour to the ethereal Blue Grotto, followed by a walk along the dramatic Via Krupp. Explore the beautiful Villa San Michele, or head to Capri Town for some people watching and high-end shops.
Norway: Discover the dramatic landscapes behind God of War Ragnarök
Several Norwegian landscapes and destinations have sparked creative vision for video games.
While the vast mountains of Jotunheim were showcased in ‘God of War Ragnarök’, Norway’s fjords, the village of Flørli and the island of Karmøy featured in ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’.
Hike famous trails like Besseggen in Jotunheim or take a glacier walk, with travellers also able to ski, raft on the Sjoa River and dogsled between January and April. In summer, visitors can enjoy cycling and horseriding too. In ‘The Witcher III’, the Viking-inspired island kingdom of Skellige is significantly based on the geography and cultural heritage of Lofoten and Larvik.
Travellers can kayak or surf at Unstad, explore fishing villages like Henningsvaer, learn more about Viking history at Lofotr, or take a walk in Norway’s largest beech forest Bøkeskogen.
The volcanic, largely uninhabited island of Jan Mayen, in the North Atlantic, is also the setting for the volcanic island in ‘Tomb Raider: Underworld’.
Japan: Venture into the worlds of ‘Yakuza’ and ‘The Legend of Zelda’
Japan is another popular destination for gami-vacationers, with Tokyo being the setting for games like the ‘Yakuza’ series, ‘Persona 5’, ‘Akiba’s Trip’, ‘Digimon Cyber Sleuth’ and more.
Travellers can visit the Tokyo Tower for panoramic city views, before heading to the Imperial Palace to take a tour of Japan’s Emperor’s grounds.
For a moment of peace after visiting the world’s busiest intersection, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, head to Tokyo’s oldest temple, the Senso-ji Temple, or the Meiji Jingu Shrine.
Parts of Osaka like Dotobori have also inspired ‘Yakuza’, while its vibrant, futuristic feel has been showcased in ‘Black Rain’ and other neon-lit gaming worlds. ‘The Legend of Zelda’, another cult-classic game, is based on the island landscapes of Honshu, as well as Hokkaido’s volcanic ranges.
Tsushima Island is another popular spot that featured heavily in ‘Ghost of Tsushima’. Along with tracing their favourite game’s paths, here travellers can try local sake breweries, visit shrines like Watatsumi Shrine and kayak around Aso Bay.
Explore observatories like Eboshidake for panoramic views or try to catch a glimpse of the endangered Tsushima Leopard Cat.