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[Ezalc]

Most of my picks have been said already. FFIX, Skies of Arcadia, Golden Sun, Ni no Kuni. All have amazing locales that are just a joy to explore and poke around in. I'm going to give a special shout out to Xenoblade as well for the sheer amazing variety of places, not to mention how gorgeous the towns all are and how seamless they are as well. Colony 6 in particular since you actually build the town back up from scratch, seeing it change and rebuild after what happens is awesome.

 

[dokish]

I have nothing but a smartphone now. Can someone post pictures and the soundtrack for Prontera? Everytime I remember of my golden days of Ragnarok I wanna cry, just to walk once more at that place.

 

[terrisus]

Was trying to think of the best one while scrolling through this thread...

I always had fun exploring Onett. It was pretty limited but the NPCs were fun to interact with.

This is it.

Baldur's Gate.

It's the games title,
You get a huge physical map of it,
It's all anyone talks about,
You see its grand scale in the games map,
The game navigates you further from it,
You've got 5 CDs of content to get through..

The hype and anticipation is real, then it's multiple screen scale and wealth of accessible interiors can keep you busy for hours.

This is also a good answer.

 

[unbias]

I always had fun exploring Onett. It was pretty limited but the NPCs were fun to interact with.



Oblivion had some good towns to explore. Tons of quests and goodies hidden throughout. Something I thought wasn't as exciting in Skyrim. The town designs overall were just lacking.

Earthbound was great, but I thought Foursides was better, personally. When I was a kid I thought fourside was so awesome. Although Onett was pretty awesome as well.

 

[terrisus]

I loved Zeal from Chronotrigger

The ephemeral nature of it just make it that much more amazing.

 

[conman]

Baldur's Gate.

It's the games title,
You get a huge physical map of it,
It's all anyone talks about,
You see its grand scale in the games map,
The game navigates you further from it,
You've got 5 CDs of content to get through..

The hype and anticipation is real, then it's multiple screen scale and wealth of accessible interiors can keep you busy for hours.

Best and only answer. This is part of why Baldur's Gate 2 never clicked with me the way the first one did. In BG2, you start in a huge city. But in BG1 you have to get there, and it's the game's biggest pay-off.

 

[pantsonhead]

Lindblum and Treno from FF9. I've seen plenty that are better designed or with better visuals, but nothing can quite beat the feeling I got when I was a wee-lad and got to those two cities for the first time.

Spoiler

Shit, nearly blew my mind walking around a wrecked Lindblum.

 

[terrisus]

Best and only answer. This is part of why Baldur's Gate 2 never clicked with me the way the first one did. In BG2, you start in a huge city. But in BG1 you have to get there, and it's the game's biggest pay-off.

Agreed, the progression of Baldur's Gate 2 felt backwards compared to 1.
Even going straight from 1 to 2, where it makes sense that you're still there, just doesn't feel right.

 

[Zeliard]

Planescape: Torment's Sigil, as some others have mentioned.

It's a large and highly detailed city, with off-kilter and consistently arresting architecture and residents.

Some marvelously twisted logic governs the place as well. Sigil is a city of doors to other worlds and dimensions, from which one can only enter and exit through portals, which can in turn be triggered by virtually any object and in any location. This can make it a) very difficult to actually leave the place, leading some to consider it as a sort of jail or purgatory; and b) very easy to accidentally leave it and end up god-knows-where when you never had that intention.

It's headed and protected by a highly enigmatic, powerful goddess known as the Lady of Pain, whom basically everyone (including other gods) is scared shitless of. Her purpose is to keep the city completely balanced (so that law/chaos and good/evil are always in perfect harmony) and eradicate or kick out would-be trespassers, which she does with brutal efficiency. And if anyone worships her they are promptly killed or sent to a cruel maze, which is roughly a death sentence anyway.

The actual physical properties of the city have it as donut-shaped and located on top of an infinitely tall spire, yet bizarrely Sigil can still be seen from a location outside of the city, despite the spire simultaneously being infinite. The residents frequently remark on this oddity.

In the game, virtually every resident whether given a proper name or not has their own unique dialogue and view on things, and the non-named residents can even have fairly extensive backstories. There is very little actual repeating dialogue, if any, which is particularly impressive given the sheer amount of people you come across. The city is divided into various neighborhoods each with their own quirks and communities, and all of it feels completely coherent and consistently engaging. There are plenty of surprises in the game that people should really check out for themselves some day, if they haven't.

And as has been commonly stated since the game's release, the actual and consistently high quality of the writing - dialogue, prose, characterization, plot - in Torment beyond the existing excellent Planescape setting only makes it that much greater of an experience.

 

[terrisus]

Also, Freeport is the most amazing MMORPG town ever

Man, I could navigate that place by memory back around the turn of the millennium.

 

[CthulhuPL]

Imperial City from Oblivion was cool. Also I wish for full detailed represantation of Minas Tirith in some RPG incarnation of Tolkien's world...

 

[Affeinvasion]

I loved the towns in fallout 2. many surprises, side quests, perk generators, bizarre characters, and meaningful moral and ethical choices.

 

[BratmanDu]

the market in Secret of Evermore had such an awesome scope and sense of busy population and realness when i was a kid:

Yea the soundtrack really added to the bustling market atmosphere, Jeremy Soule is a legend!

Here's my favs:

Grim Fanfango, El Marrow (*edit - I guess it's an rpg, maybe? Cool town all the same!):

Beyond Good and Evil, Hillys Alpha Section:

Kakariko, pretty much my first experience of an rpg town, that a game could have a town where people live and go about their business was mind blowing to me at age 10!:

 

[Cikay]

Radiata from Radiata Stories. A beautiful and living city, with different districts and atmospheres, and a lot of little secrets.

 

[Night_Trekker]

The towns (and, well, everything) in the Baten Kaitos games are obscenely beautiful. Shame about the first game's shitty, horribly compressed voice acting.

I have to say any town from Dragon Quest VIII, though. I love that game's engine and art style. It was a true pleasure to explore every corner of the towns.

There are a lot of great choices in this thread, though.

 

[Laughing Banana]

I've never played SO2 but i remember this screen from somewhere because it reminded me of John Constable's paintings.

That 2nd pic reminds me of the original Valkyrie Profile....

 

[Creaking]

If you got the double jump you could go pretty much anywhere. So many hidden chests in the towns in DD.

Too bad there were only two full-fledged towns though. Still, the other areas to explore were nice on their own.

 

[Zolbrod]

Colony 9 in Xenoblade.

It's where the game starts and it's gorgeous.
Really great area around it to explore as well.

This game had amazing towns in general btw.

 

[Mingimehu]

I always liked Chorrol from Oblivion.

Also have good memories of the Old Camp in Gothic and the giant tree city from Tales of Vesperia

 

[SolVanderlyn]

It's funny how many people seem to like Halure (pink tree city) from Vesperia when it was really a pretty inconsequential town. I loved it too. Nothing beat Dahngrest and Aspio, though:

 

[potam]

Also, Freeport is the most amazing MMORPG town ever

Man, I could navigate that place by memory back around the turn of the millennium.

I miss the dock music

I still remember the feeling I had when I first logged into EQ. I started in Qeynos in the middle of a rainstorm. I couldn't see shit. I couldn't navigate. I had no bearings. I stared at the map in the manual for so long...finally I made it out. What a fucking game.

 

[Daante]

My single choice is going to be Arni Village from Chrono Cross. Absolutely love my lush, tropical environments and the music fits so well too!

Termina is definitely a close second for that game too.

This

 

[Drackhorn]

Not really the best to explore but very pretty nonetheless: Ysa/Gardens of Ysa out of Amalur: The Reckoning.

 

[Lucidforest]

Mass Effect 2's Omega

 

[Lucidforest]

Final Fantasy 7's Cosmo Canyon

 

[sephiroth7x]

Its an odd RPG but an RPG all the same...

But I really love the town in Harvest Moon on the SNES, so quaint (Sp?) and peaceful.

Though in terms of pure love, I always loved Kalm in FFVII.

 

[Lucidforest]

Duskwood, World of Warcraft

 

[water_wendi]

Best town to explore in an RPG is Sigil from Planescape: Torment. Even being familiar with the setting and having played table top games in Sigil i still felt like the world was completely alien.

 

[Egamer]

Duskwood, World of Warcraft

Oh wow, totally forgot that city. Amazing place with amazing quests.

 

[keuja]

GOAT Town:

Yes.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Not quite an RPG but I loved exploring Avernus in Legacy of Kain. It was a huge town turned into a dungeon, with fire and smoke and blood and the dead everywhere, and demons invading and prowling. You could try to cross the city normally, or explore the underground sewers which had less dangerous enemies but tons of traps and it was a huge maze.

And, of course, its awesome cathedral with its creepy-ass demonic catacombs:

Can't find screenshots of the basement/catacombs with the altar... grr. Why you let me down, Google.

 

[Mista Koo]

Bowerstone and Oakfield from Fable 2.

 

[Wireframe]

The greatest sense of exploration I ever felt in a town while playing through a JRPG is without a doubt in skies of arcadia. My favourite town had to be Yafutoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEXwpMlfIW8

 

[Look! The Pie!]

My personal favourite would probably be Deling City from FFVIII. I'm a sucker for night-time settings (which is partly why I also love Treno from FFIX), and the atmosphere was spot on. Despite the limitations of the era, it felt like an actual city, with all the different areas such as the shopping arcade and the huge archway. Having one of the two most epic scenes in the game play out there didn't hurt, either.

Bowerstone and Oakfield from Fable 2.

Oh my God, THIS. Oakfield is the most idyllic village I've ever seen in a game. All the lush greenery, the golden cornfields, quaint little farmhouses, the beach, the pub bustling with drunken farmers as the sun sets...the Fable series gets a lot of hate, but its towns are so fun and full of life.

 

[DOWN]

Bowerstone and Oakfield from Fable 2.

Those were nice till the bloom lighting got old and gross to me with the cartoon proportions and all.

 

[NinjamicWZ]

Not quite an RPG but I loved exploring Avernus in Legacy of Kain. It was a huge town turned into a dungeon, with fire and smoke and blood and the dead everywhere, and demons invading and prowling. You could try to cross the city normally, or explore the underground sewers which had less dangerous enemies but tons of traps and it was a huge maze.



And, of course, its awesome cathedral with its creepy-ass demonic catacombs:


Can't find screenshots of the basement/catacombs with the altar... grr. Why you let me down, Google.

Cool choice. It may seem tame and dated now, but that place was really grim and unsettling to me as a youngin'... it gave me those Exorcist anti-feels.

 

[Thug Waffle]

Mass Effect 2's Omega

I remember being so excited about Omega when I first docked. After I realized how small the space really was, however, I grew tired of it. Wish it had more of a grand Citadel feel to it, albeit on a smaller scale.

 

[Martian]

Oh man, so many to choose from

Although technically not an RPG, MacFarlane's ranch in Red Dead Redemption was so brilliantly done. It felt like a true western town, and that game never fails to put me in the mood to watch some old Westerns.

Assassins Creed 2 (although the pic is from BroHo): Monterrigionni. After finishing a chapter going into your old villa with Leonardo's Inventions playing in the background is still a great experience.


But my favourite:

Bruma from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.
I love this town, the crackling snow beneath your feet while you walk towards your home (or towards Baenlin's death). Its so mesmerizing. Its the first town I buy a house in in every playthrough of Oblivion I do. So relaxing with the peaceful music in the background and a few cool mysterious quest to do.
Always feel right at home when I come to Bruma. I was so happy when they announced Skyrim was going to be set in Skyrim. But the magic of Bruma was only captured in Riften and Falkreath IMHO.

 

[nrvalleytime]

Oh man, so many to choose from

Although technically not an RPG, MacFarlane's ranch in Red Dead Redemption was so brilliantly done. It felt like a true western town, and that game never fails to put me in the mood to watch some old Westerns.

That is a great choice - didn't even cross my mind. Those first few missions there really set the tone for the game.

Good picture too.

 

[MrJTeera]

No love for Kamurocho?

 

[Uncle Rupee]

I'm surprised no one has really mentioned Xenogears. Practically every town in that game is a masterpiece.

 

[nrvalleytime]

It's been nearly a year and a half since we discussed this - be sure to look over the previous pages before you post, but what good examples do you have of towns in RPGs that are beautiful, worth exploring, or create a perfect sense of place?

Also, buy Legend of Dragoon and enjoy it. It's a damn good game.

 

[ZiggyPalffyLA]

Eternal Sonata (a criminally underrated RPG) had some absolutely beautiful towns, with lots to explore and plenty of NPCs to interact with. The towns also had some of the best music in the game.

 

[Pro from Dover]

Midgar from Final Fantasy VII:

So huge... so dark and atmospheric, and so gloomy.

Never saw and probably never going to see a city like it.

I remember so looking forward to exploring Midgar. But then you blow the reactor, run to Tifa's place, talk to some folks, the roof falls, and now you're outside and can't get back in...
But it's bigger on the outside.

 

[Stuggernaut]

GW2 Major cities are mind blowingly large.

I was always a fan of WoW Major cities as well, especially Stormwind.

 

[Fata1moose]

Knothole Island in Fable II. There were certain areas and items that could only be accessed in the 3 specific seasons.

 

[Skelter]

Kakariko, pretty much my first experience of an rpg town, that a game could have a town where people live and go about their business was mind blowing to me at age 10!:

One is not like the other.

The Citadel in Mass Effect 1 was incredible the first time I ran through it. I loved it. It's small now in hindsight but I still haven't seen a space opera setting since.

The first time I went to The Den in Fallout 1 was amazing. An entire economy and city thriving in a post apocalyptic setting. I loved it.

Lumiose City in Pokemon X & Y is incredible. It's huge and there are events scattered everywhere and I love seeing it in Smash Bros. 3DS.

Novigrad in Witcher 3 is just incredible and not just the city. The area outside the city is so well and fully realized. It's the best city in a modern game since Baldur's Gate.

 

[Fuz]

Daggerfall.

 

[dlauv]

There was something juicy to get into around every corner.

 

[Sheriff_Battlesnake]

All the towns in Pokemon and Dragon quest. They(mostly) just seems so livable and "real".

Besides that populated trash bag Lumiose City. Sweet Lord Goomy, I hate that city.