I’d say Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2). Everything about the atmosphere in that game was immersive - graphics were good enough that I didn’t notice they were graphics. I genuinely felt cold, wet, hot, windblown, or joyful at the various weather/environment situations in the game.
BOTW/TOTK is pretty memorable because it has a mechanical effect. Climbing becomes harder due to wet surfaces being slippery, and lightning can strike things killing them, damaging things and setting fires.
This is one of the two that jump to mind. Red Dead Redemption 2 had beautiful, atmospheric storms that were a sight to behold at a distance. Breath of the Wild brought the lightning up close and personal.
There’s nothing quite like deciding to take a fight in a thunderstorm while the only gear you have left is metal, or carefully sneaking up on an enemy only to have a bolt of nature’s electric fury crash down two meters behind you and shake the ground you’re standing on. Especially in surround sound.
I feel like I’m biased and it’s my answer for everything, but RDR2. No other game environment has come close, for me. Screenshot from one moody moment I captured:
In Valheim it was quite real and comfy at the same time. Weird I know.
I’m going to give you an evil answer and say Final Fantasy X. Are you ready to dodge 200 lightning bolts?
This was my first thought on reading the thread 🙈 I’m so glad I knocked that out when I was like 11, no way my mid-30s ass is staying focused enough for a challenge like that now.
