10 Best Video Game Hub Worlds

Hub worlds are meant to transport players from one world to another. They give players the initial feeling of adventure when a hero is about to traverse a long journey. This list seeks to compile the best hub worlds that there are in video games.

These are hub worlds that created a more expansive universe for the games that they take part in. These hub worlds do a good job at giving players the satisfaction of feeling immersed in the game. This can be done through the setting it presents characters it houses, or experiences it brings forth.

10/10 Peach’s Castle – Super Mario 64

Inspired by Sega’s Castle of Illusion, Peach’s Castle in Super Mario 64 is one of the first 3D hub worlds that was created. That does not take away from how great it is in comparison to newer hub worlds.

The world has bright and welcoming colors. Exploring what’s behind different doors unlocked by stars is pleasing as it gives players a sense of discovery. There are a lot of different areas and collectibles to find. Moving across the castle is overall a wonderful experience. because the game’s controls are fluid and the area allows players to test them out. It’s not as full or fleshed out as other areas but it still holds its own.

9/10 Hyrule Fild – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Hyrule Feild in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess brings back a lot of nostalgia to many gamers. A lot of other Zelda games have brighter aesthetics, but the darker tones of Hyrule Feild in Twilight Princess make the tone of the game pop.

With darker tones, the game still keeps its charm by having many places to explore and goofy characters for Link to run into. There is also a lot of action pertinent to the main story in Hyrule Feild. This makes it so that there are a lot of memories to be made in this one location.

8/10 The Nexus – Demon’s Souls

When a player first gets to the Nexus in Demon’s Souls a lot of the time they perceive it to be small and uninteresting. As players begin exploring the game the Nexus begins to become a lot more expansive.

A lot of characters players meet in other worlds will go back to the Nexus. They sell players new goods and offer juicy pieces of lore. Also, if players want to face some challenges they can make a save where they try and kill off all of these NPCs. It serves a purpose outside of only serving as a hub world through the way in which the story wraps itself around the Nexus. It can be dryer than others on this list but is nonetheless extraordinary.

7/10 Kingdom Hearts – Traverse Town

Traverse Town in Kingdom Hearts is not really a Hub world in the general sense of a hub world. All of the levels are not exactly accessed through it. However, it is the first world players come into contact with. Sora, the main character, also consistently finds himself returning there on his journey as it has a lot of hub world qualities.

The protagonist can buy different gummi ships and their parts to help them out in space travel. Players can train in using magic with Merlin in Traverse Town. There are also a lot of important characters in the story that have great dialogue options. To add to Traverse Town’s mystique it’s packed with secrets to find. It sits in a hub world gray area but everything about it paints itself as a world that belongs on this list.

6/10 Loop Hero – Camp

The Hub world in Loop Hero is part of what makes the world of Loop Hero so interesting along with the gameplay. Players are able to expand their camp as well as unlock new buildings that give players new cards, classes, and abilities. They can use all of these on different levels or the same levels to become stronger if they die.

Each of the buildings and upgrades located in the camp needs specific types of materials to be upgraded. This will have players placing specific tiles when playing the actual game as watching the camp grow is satisfying. Building upon this hub world is fun as players can choose how their camp is laid out. With all of that said, the camp is not as interactive a hub world as others on this list.

5/10 Shadow of the Colossus – The Forbidden Lands

The Forbidden Lands in Shadow of the Colossus is extremely empty. This might catch some players off guard as empty can be associated with bad. In this game, the emptiness never feels like it’s out of place. Instead, this feels like part of the poetic symbolism that Shadow of the Colossus throws at players.

Every single twist and turn that this game offers with the extremely difficult collectible to find feels like an accomplishment. Players trekking through the difficult terrain and getting lost on their journey to find colossi is part of what makes players feel more for the Wanderer’s journey. Through suffering in this beautifully designed world players are able to feel connected to the protagonist.

4/10 House Of Hades – Hades

The House of Hades is a hub world with more than meets the eyes. The design is artistically sound as it screams I’m here. It opens up fun different options in this roguelike game that were unexpected. As an example, there are unlockable dialogue options with hub world characters that make the game feel like it’s part dating simulator. It’s done in a way that keeps players interested but is not necessary.

The house can be upgraded to fix and unlock different rooms. Each room has a specific purpose that is important to the continuation of the game. There are rooms for practicing your skills, rooms for upgrading your character, and rooms that expand the game’s story.

3/10 The Motherlobe Psychonauts HQ – Psychonauts 2

The Motherlobe Psychonauts Headquarters in Psychonauts 2 feels like a giant beautiful playground for players to test out all of their abilities while jumping from the minds of different characters. It also has a lot of dialogue options that can be explored for a more fleshed-out story.

The world is beaming with life as there are no large open spaces unless put there purposefully. The art style is welcoming and delightful with vibrant colors in every direction. As players learn more psychic abilities this hub world begins to expand more and more in the range of what there is to do. Having smooth platforming are side quests that pop up make looking through the Psychonauts HQ a fun experience.

2/10 Resident Evil: Village – The Village

The village in Resident Evil: Village rightfully serves as the game’s main terrifying hub world. As players progress through the story they’ll find that this constricting hub world continues to expand in item discoverability and size.

This world never gets boring. Moments where the village is empty feel well placed. The emptiness creates suspense as players can never expect to know when they’re going to get attacked. For players who like collecting items, this is a little slice of Heaven. It feels like there’s an endless amount of useful things to find–anywhere from guns, special animals needed for food, or sellable items.

1/10 The Lake of Nine – God Of War

The Lake of The Nine is spectacular and anyone who has ever played God of War can tell players how many memories they’ve made here. Whether that be through vibing out on the boat and looking at the scenery or exploring the area.

The conversations between Kratos and his son Atreus are as beautiful as the scenery that surrounds them. It allows players to see the relationship between a father and a son grow. The location is huge and has so many secrets hidden in nooks and crannies for Kratos to seek out. When it comes to growing a player’s relationship with characters and creating beautiful backdrops this is one of the best hub worlds.