There are plenty of different approaches video game developers can take when it comes to their environment. Some like to create giant open worlds that contain many different areas. On the other end of the spectrum are those who prefer to put you in one single heavily-detailed location.
There are merits to both these methods. However, there is something special about great titles that are set in a single place. You really get to know the location, whether it's a house, station, facility, or whatever. And that familiarity often helps make it feel like a real place instead of a video game level. These are the best games to use only one locale.
8 Prey (2017) - Talos 1
In 2017's Prey, you play as Morgan Yu, who is a part of a science team researching a hostile alien force known as Typhon. Unsurprisingly, things quickly go wrong as the creatures escape confinement.
During the alien's moment of freedom, you are knocked out. When you wake up, the space station you're working on (Talos 1) is almost devoid of human life. You're free to look around all the different areas that make up the large station. The purpose of your search is to find answers, survivors, and any way to get rid of the Typhon.
7 Dead Space - USG Ishimura
There are plenty of great third-person survival games, and Dead Space is one of the best. One way it manages to stand out from the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill is that it is set on a spaceship. The vessel is called the USG Ishimura.
The ship's crew likely put the "in space no one can hear you scream" belief to the test when the place was infested with violent creatures called Necromorphs. The monsters went on a murder spree before the events of the game. In the title, you have to explore every inch of the ship to find protagonist Issac Clarke's girlfriend.
6 The Stanley Parable - An Empty Office
The Stanley Parable is a unique and hilarious game that takes place in an empty office building. The only person working there is you, Stanley. So, you set off to explore the rest of the building, which turns out to be very different from a typical office space. The voice of actor Kevan Brighting is along for the ride as he narrates every action you take.
Your adventure can go many different ways, depending on your decisions. And once you reach one conclusion, the game encourages you to restart and aim to find another.
5 Resident Evil - Spencer Mansion
The early Resident Evil games all took place in a somewhat finite area. The original game is the best example of this as it's set in a mansion. Not any regular mansion, though, as this one is filled with all sorts of contraptions, items, and monsters.
The main characters find themselves trapped in the building after escaping a group of zombified dogs in the opening cutscene. From that point on, you need to explore the mansion by going from room to room. Along the way, you will learn important information about who's behind everything. Plus, you will solve a litany of puzzles, which will help you escape from the horrible place.
4 Control - Oldest House
The entire main story of Control takes place in the headquarters of the government organization known as the FBC. On the face of it, that sounds pretty dull. Yet, the Oldest House is actually one of the most exciting and strangest locations in video game history.
The place constantly shifts and transforms throughout the adventure. So much so that it's not always clear whether you're still in the building. However, the weirdness of the location isn't the main threat in the game. The true troublemakers are all the strange beings known as Hiss, which are infecting the inhabitants of the Oldest House. Your job is to rid the place of them.
3 Portal 2 - Aperture Science Facility
At the end of the first Portal, Chell escaped the hellish Aperture Science Facility and the evil AI that ran the place. Yet, the victory was short-lived as the protagonist is stuck within the high-tech facility once again during Portal 2.
This time, you see a lot more of the place - which is now pretty rundown - as you complete various portal-based puzzles to appease outlandish AIs. Your ultimate goal is the same as it was before: get out of this horrible place.
2 Batman: Arkham Asylum - Arkham Asylum
At the start of the first Arkham game, it seems your mission is already a success as Batman has The Joker and is locking him up in Arkham Asylum. However, things quickly change when it turns out to be a ruse. The Clown Prince Of Crime breaks free from his restraints and quickly takes over the asylum with the help of his allies.
You, playing the role of Batman, have to stop the cruel villain and take the facility back. During the escapade, you make your way around the asylum while fighting goons and facing captivating villains.
1 Metal Gear Solid - Shadow Moses Island
An island sounds too large to be considered one location. Yet, the place is essentially just one big nuclear disposal facility - or at least, that's all you see of the island. In the original Metal Gear Solid, the facility has been taken over by Liquid Snake and the rest of his team. Your mission is to sneak into the place and shut down their plans.
As this is Metal Gear, things quickly get more complicated, and you have to overcome plenty of obstacles to get the job done. Along the way, you travel to many different parts of the fancy facility.