Certain environments can be found in every video game, from enclosed, indoor spaces to vast, open ecosystems, and both are designed to immerse the player in the story and world as much as possible. From the humble little sewer level on an early platformer to the multiple planets in modern MMORPGs, the setting of a game is important.RELATED: Best Flora And Flowers In GamesThe desert is a memorable zone, right up there with the winter wonderland or underwater level. Some video game deserts have become pop culture icons, while others appear in video games because they already are pop culture icons.

7 Alik'r Desert - Elder Scrolls Online

Alik'r Desert, Elder Scrolls Online

The realm of Mundus has a number of interesting places to visit, and the Alik'r Desert is one of the more compelling locations. There's a possibility that Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in this region in the north of Hammerfell, and there's certainly enough here to keep players occupied if it is.

The Alik'r Desert has a long and ancient history within the franchise of the Elder Scrolls universe, being a former stronghold of the Dwemer and currently the home of the hardy Redguards. That means there's a lot of loot in those shifting sands, along with several caves and ruins filled with all manner of secrets.

6 Desert Colossus - Ocarina Of Time

Ocarina of Time Colosus

Even though they were rudimentary for the time, the graphics was one of the many reasons players still love Ocarina of Time. It's settings like the Desert Colossus that made this game so immersive and memorable, and that wasn't all that was waiting for Link on the far western corner of that world map.

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One of the twists in this story included one that was buried in this vast desert. Impa, Princess Zelda's trusted bodyguard, was originally from an all-female race of survivalists and warriors who lived in the desert. Part of Link's adventure included a journey into the desert to find her and her lost people.

5 The Desert Map - King's Quest V: Absence Makes The Heart Go Yonder

map_desert The Desert Map, King's Quest V

An early version of a deadly wasteland that challenges the main character with some realistic stakes, this area was simply known as the Desert Map, and it only took a few squares to end the adventure permanently. King Graham has to find a number of important places aside from the oasis, like a mysterious skeleton and a beehive, to make it back to civilization alive.

The entire map has to be noted, along with some inevitable trial and error, which was common in the bygone days of point-and-click games. Instead of solving a riddle or building a magical device by combining a few random items as was normal in the old King's Quest games, players had to navigate the real threat of a killer desert.

4 Tattooine - Star Wars: The Old Republic

Tattooine, Star Wars The Old Republic

The desert planet of Tattooine appears in a number of Star Wars video games, not just SWTOR. Being the home planet of certain notable members of the Skywalker family, and it has also been an important setting in early games like Star Wars: Galaxies. Players in the modern day can enjoy exploring this desert not only in this MMO, but also in a number of console, co-op and stand-alone games.

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Tattooine has its own extensive library of history and lore, being one of the planets that's central to the storyline even in the beginning of this saga, starting with being the home planet of Anakin Skywalker and later that of his son, Luke. Another detail that makes it so interesting is that it's controlled by the Hutt gangster families, and exists politically outside both the Republic and the Empire.

3 Arrakis - Dune

Dune 2 1992 Video Game

Speaking of desert planets, here's one that challenged video games and the literary world: Arrakis. The main setting of the iconic science-fiction franchise Dune, it's also where one of the world's first RTS games takes place.

Released in 1992, the player is Paul Atreides, attempting to dominate the spice trade on Arrakis and wrest control of the planet from their rival Harkonnens. Later RTS games like Warcraft: Orcs and Humans would copy a similar style, and the real-time strategy game became its own genre.

2 Desert Of The Dead - Shadow Of The Colossus

shadow_of_the_colossus_7_desert_path

Shadow of the Colossus is famous for its use of minimalist graphics while also being stunningly beautiful, which is perfect for designing a desert. The thirteenth Colossus, also known as Phalanx, dwells in this hot and sandy region, so the player has to venture into this wasteland eventually whether they like it or not.

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Phalanx is known for its powers of flight, but it first appears by bursting out of the sand. There are some creative mechanics and horse work that make this boss fight one of the more memorable in the game.

1 The Desert - Journey

The traveller in Journey to the mid-left of the screen whilst standing on a ruin in the desert

Virtually all of this game is set in a vast and nameless desert, and it's meant as an allegory for a spiritual journey as well as a literal one. The story follows the main character as they travel across this mysterious desert to a holy mountain to receive some kind of enlightened spiritual training.

Exactly what that entails is more about the journey than the destination, hence the title of this game. There's no combat involved, just the heat of the afternoon sun and the quiet ruins hidden under the faceless dunes.

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