It’s officially summer, which means that while many are taking their hobbies outside to enjoy the heat, some video game fans are relaxing in the air-conditioned indoors with some of their favorite games. Luckily, there are plenty of games both old and new that offer the tropical vibe that some might be missing from the real world.
The following games are perfect for players who would rather enjoy a digital beach than the sandy, crowded shores of the real world. From family-friendly platformers to action-packed first-person shooters, these games make the warm locales their main setting, offering a perfect gameplay experience for the summer seasons.
Few games have as iconic a beach level asSonic Adventure, the Sega mascot’s first foray into 3D platforming. The game allows players to venture through a series of campaigns starring now-iconic Sonic characters, from the classic allies of Tails and Knuckles, tolesser-known protagonists like Big the Cat and E-102 Gamma.
While the game features a litany of levels based on a wide variety of environments, the main hub is the port-side Station Square, which offers easy access to the Emerald Coast levels. It’s quite a different vibe from the game’s other hub, the foresty Mystic Ruins, but it offers enough memorable levels for each character to warrant a summertime playthrough.
The originalCrash Bandicootis one of the most iconic games for the PlayStation, but it’s easy to forget how coastal this game’s setting is. The game centers on the titular bandicoot who journeys across numerous islands and archipelagos to rescue his love, Tawna, from the evil clutches of Doctor Neo Cortex.
The very first level, “N. Sanity Beach,” features a seemingly relaxing beach that happens tolead players to a jungle with ancient ruins. While the setting of this original game is a lot more rooted in ancient civilizations, its island aesthetic offers enough of a beachy vibe to earn it a spot on this list of video games which primarily feature tropical settings.
The seventh generation ofPokemontook fans of the series to the Alola region, based on the touristy destination of Hawaii. Traveling across four different islands, players are exposed toa much more vibrant adventurethan they may be used to in the franchise. Many of the towns are connected to beautiful beaches and look out over the ocean.
Many of the Pokemon designs from these 3DS titles are similarly beach-inspired, from the Ghost/Ground-type sand castle Palossand, to the Fighting-type crustacean Crabrawler, and even the four guardian deities based on traditional tiki statues. Even the more remote locales, like forests and mountains, feel beachier than a typical Pokemon region.
It’s rare that a spin-off series attracts more eyeballs than the mainline games themselves, but it’s not surprising when it’sDead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. The sports series takes many of the female characters from the fighting game franchise and brings them to a private island, where they engage in volleyball tournaments, casino gambling, and other activities.
Clearly, this game relishes in the beach aesthetic toshowcase the iconicDead or Alivecharacters in revealing outfits. However, it also has a solid gameplay style surrounding its main volleyball levels, enough to interest even gamers who aren’t interested in the fan service on display here.
Far Cry 3is an uncommon first-person shooter with an open world. Players accidentally end up on the remote Rook Islands and get captured by the sadistic Vaas Montenegro, a pirate played byMichael Mando ofBetter Call Saulfame. The islands can be exciting to explore in search of weapons, vehicles, and even wingsuits for air gliding.
However, as opposed to most other games on this list, Rook Islands is not a vacation destination that most people would want to relax in. The violent pirate organizations that rum amok make this a much more dangerous locale than one would hope from a private island. It also features an additional co-op campaign that takes place on the same beaches, although it’s a prequel to the main story.
The Legend of Zeldahasn’t shied away from tropical locales, whether it be the seafaring exploration ofThe Wind Wakeror the Zora Kingdom inBreath of the Wild. The GameBoy titleLink’s Awakening, however, featured the most beach-adjacent locales, which is especially apparent in the game’s Switch remake from 2019.
Set on Koholint Island, Link washes ashore on this mysterious tropical civilization, where he must collect eight instruments for the island’s Wind Fish in order to escape. Koholint Island has many different types of biomes, from treacherous caves to tall mountains, but players will likely spend most of the early game exploring the island’s seaside.
TheMotherfranchise is more notable for its urban environments, which is true of the GameBoy Advance titleMother 3as well. However, the RPG takes place on the Nowhere Islands, a series of environments that are much more coastal in inspirationthanEarthboundfans will be accustomed to. The New Pork City locations are the only ones that aren’t on the beach.
There are plenty of different biomes across the Nowhere Islands, from Death Desert to Snowcap Mountain. However, the island theme remains consistent throughout, with the starting town of Tazmily Village being on the beach. In particular, the area of Cerulean Beach will be a frequently revisited destination throughout the main story.
TheMariofranchise has never seemed more idyllic than in the GameCube’sSuper Mario Sunshine, which finds Mario and Princess Peach’s getaway to Isle Delfino upended by the likes of a graffiti-enthused Shadow Mario. As a result, Mario spends his vacation with F.L.U.D.D., a talking spray nozzle,cleaning up Isle Delfino’s dirtied locales.
Many of the stages inSuper Mario Sunshinetake this tropical beach getaway to its fullest potential. There’s not a more beautifulMariogame in existence, as players themselves will dream of getting to vacation at Gelato Beach, Pinna Park, Sirena Beach, or Noki Bay. As far as games that center on beaches go, nothing beats this iconic 3DMarioadventure.
