We Need More Open-World Urban Fantasy Games

This past weekend, during the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft showed off a cute, new creature-collecting game, Aniimo. They’re not the only ones to reveal a game along the same theme. Netmarble recently announced that its monster-taming action RPG, Mongil: Star Drive, is on its way into closed beta.

When I was writing about Aniimo, however, Reddit was comparing it to Pearl Abyss’ creature-collecting game DokeV, and I commented in my piece that while they both look adorable, I kinda prefer the character design of Aniimo – just a smidge, though.

That said, there is one thing that I really prefer about DokeV – provided the game does come out – and that’s the setting. In my opinion, we could do with more fantasy-ish games in open-world urban settings. Of course, I still play plenty of games set in what we think of as a typical fantasy world. Genshin Impact certainly has a fantasy setting with castles and ruins, and plenty of wide open areas filled with small villages and the like. Some games, like Final Fantasy XIV, tread the line with different locations also representing different eras or advancements in tech. (Although, it's very often ridiculous tech.)

Wuthering Waves, on the other hand, is set sometime after an apocalyptic event. You can see where modern-ish urban cities used to reside, but now that's all ruins, and what society has rebuilt so far feels a bit like it’s from an older era, some of the technology aside.

While I really enjoy all of these games, including their aesthetics, there's only one game that I’m playing right now that allows me to enjoy a modern urban environment. And that’s Zenless Zone Zero. There’s still plenty of fantasy to it, and it is post-apocalyptic. But I still get to enjoy living in a city, having my own apartment above my video store, and being able to pop to the corner for noodles and coffee. The only downside is that Zenless is not an open-world game. You fast travel from zone to zone, so you’re not out there just exploring your city.

Ostensibly, this is something DokeV will offer, and that’s a big reason it caught my attention. I suppose I just want a little bit of Saints Row in my creature/wife/husband collecting games.

There’s another reason that I really enjoy the idea of games set in modern urban settings, aside from the cool vibes and the ability to parkour over skyscrapers. I also feel like games in these settings allow you to get to know the other characters on a slightly different level. After all, you’re not just fighting the forces of evil and trying to save the world. You’re also figuring out how you’re going to pay for that insane electric bill that the AI who just inserted itself into your life is running up. (Looking at you, Fairy.) Or, you're helping your neighbors figure out what’s going on with the local cats. There are just little things that make the games feel that much more alive.

This is also the reason I got a bit excited when I saw Ananta. It’s an open-world game set in an urban environment. It’s almost like someone combined GTA with Zenless. And I’m here for it. Hopefully, I’ll get to help my elderly neighbor before grabbing a car and making my way to whatever disaster I’ll inevitably have to deal with.

That said, I’m not planning on trading out any of the other games on my list. I still enjoy them too much. I just think we could do with more open-world urban options. Hopefully, Ananta (and maybe, eventually DokeV) will fill that role for me and others who are looking for it.