10 Best Examples Of Great Architecture On Xbox

Games are crammed full of gorgeously crafted designs and architecture. From gables to gargoyles, we look at the best building designs on Xbox One

Stephen Ashby

10 MIRROR’S EDGE CATALYST

When the brief is ‘make a futuristic city’, there are plenty of directions you can take. Neon? Maybe. Cyberpunk? Why not. But Mirror’s Edge’s stark, shimmering skyline is all about cleanliness and glass. What the game does so well is add details to what could be an uninspiring backdrop, with clever use of perspective drawing you forward. Stepping inside the buildings, we find angular installations at every turn – barely a smooth curve in sight. The architecture tells a story, with straight lines and hard corners giving you a sense of authoritarian rule. How cool is that? In the original Mirror’s Edge, the City Of Glass might actually have been the game’s most interesting character. In this sequel, it gets all the more engaging.

9 OVERWATCH

Few games manage to merge classical design with futuristic elements quite as well as Overwatch. Take its Hanamura and Nepal arenas, for example – two ancient temples with classic architectural elements from their respective histories, brought up to date with modern twists. For us, it’s the contrast between old and new that makes Overwatch’s maps so exciting to explore. King’s Row looks like any London street… until you look up and see neon-lit towers reaching beyond the clouds, along with a holographic face on the clock tower. Explore further and you’ll find some exquisite details. If you know us at all, you’ll know how much we love a sconce, and King’s Row is filthy with the things. Phwoar.

8 SUNSET OVERDRIVE

From the clean, curved buildings of Fizzco Robotics to the rougher, industrial nature of the Mooil Rig, there’s plenty of unique design packed into Sunset City. Just like the game itself, the world is a mishmash of bright, colourful concepts brought together to form something that, against all the odds, actually works. Sure, you might find a Japanese temple next to a giant, rough-hewn tower block, and it’s all being watched over by a promotional cartoon blimp, but you’re having too much fun to stop and question it. The bridges are a particular highlight for us. Some are classic, Golden Gate-style designs, all archways and cables, while others bring a more futuristic feel. What can we say – we’re bridge people.

7 ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY