There are a lot of desert levels in video games. In fact, there are so many that it’s hard to keep track of them all—and even harder to choose which ones are best. That’s why I’ve decided to go through every game in my library and rank them by how well they capture the beauty and vistas of the Great Deserts of our world.
KotOR’s Dune Sea
The first level in Knights of the Old Republic is a desert level that serves as an introduction to the game’s mechanics. You’re on a sand skiff and must navigate your way through a number of obstacles and enemies, but there are no real challenges involved. In addition, you can’t get lost because the level is linear—you’ll follow a path from start to finish.
The Dune Sea is huge: it takes up almost an entire planet!
God of War’s River Pass
God of War’s River Pass is a level you can play in God of War, a video game developed by Sony Santa Monica and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This stage takes place in the desert, where Kratos and Atreus have to figure out a way around some puzzles that involve using water, fire and wind magic to their advantage.
The best thing about this stage is that it’s well-designed: there are no walls or barriers; everything in this area has been carefully placed so as not to make things too easy for players who might struggle with its challenges. It also features some cool environmental effects like sandstorms!
You’ll see a lot of sand, but there are also some large rock formations and dunes. The first thing you should do is to take a look around the area. You can access your party members’ inventories by clicking on them or pressing the appropriate button on your keyboard.
Red Dead Redemption’s Armadillo
Armadillo is a western town in the game Red Dead Redemption. It’s full of life and activity, with people going about their daily lives in a way that’s typical for the genre. You’ll find weapons like rifles and pistols to use against enemies, as well as food items like whiskey and tobacco to help you stay alive during combat. There are also plenty of other things you can do while exploring: hunting animals such as deer or turkey, getting into fist fights with other players (yes!), bartering goods at shops throughout town—the list goes on!
There’s something else unique about Armadillo: its inhabitants aren’t afraid to get into heated arguments over politics or religion; these debates often lead to physical altercations between opposing factions before being settled peacefully after hours spent talking things out together over drinks at the local saloon (which doubles as an inn).
Uncharted 3’s Rub’ al Khali
The Rub’ al Khali is the largest sand desert in the world, and it’s also called the Empty Quarter. It’s located in Saudi Arabia and Oman, which means that you won’t be able to visit it unless you have a passport from either country (or both).
The Rub’ al Khali spans 1,000 km2 and has over 100 different tribes living within its borders. Most of them are nomadic people who live off herds of sheep or goats, but some groups have settled down into villages during periods of drought or war.
The level is also visually stunning, with a lot of detail in the environment and great lighting effects that make everything feel real. The music is very well-crafted too, with some nice ambient sounds and some fittingly epic tunes that play whenever Kratos does something particularly cool.
Skies of Arcadia’s Daccat’s Island
As you might have guessed, Skies of Arcadia’s Daccat’s Island is a desert island. But it’s not just any desert island: it’s the first one you visit in Skies of Arcadia and has an active volcano that spews lava out into the ocean. There are pirates on this island as well, who can be found hanging out in their base at the north end of Daccat’s Island. If you venture into their hideout, you’ll find some treasure chests containing items like weapons and armor—but be careful! The pirates aren’t friendly people!
In addition to all these things being present on this island, there are sandworms crawling around too (and yes, they’re scary). They’re not actually real—they don’t attack players but rather act as obstacles while navigating through certain areas with high cliff ledges that make falling off much more likely than intended by designers behind these fantastic levels!
Batman Arkham Origins’ Blackgate Prison
Blackgate Prison is an island prison for supervillains, located in Gotham City. It’s a place where you can explore multiple areas and fight against many different enemies. You can play Batman, Robin or Nightwing to defeat the villains within its walls!
The desert is also home to camels, which are used as transportation by many of the tribes that live here. The area can get up to 50°C during the day and drop down below freezing at night. You’ll have to use your wits and skills to take down the bad guys. The game has multiple levels and areas, as well as a variety of villains that you can face off against. It’s also possible to unlock new costumes for your character!
Dead Space 3’s Tau Volantis
Tau Volantis is a planet covered in snow and ice, which is why it’s also called Snow World. The planet hosts a massive alien spaceship that crashes down on its surface, killing most of its inhabitants (and causing some strange things to happen). The game takes place here, with Isaac Clarke picking up where he left off in Dead Space 2.
The level itself is pretty straightforward—you’ll have to survive an intense battle against swarms of necromorphs while trying to find some hidden artifacts that will help you defeat them. But what makes this level stand out isn’t just how much fun it is; it’s also how well-designed it feels as well!
Final Fantasy X’s Besaid Island
Final Fantasy X is the first game in the series to include a side story, and it’s also one of its most beloved. The story follows Tidus as he wakes up on a beach after being shipwrecked by an enormous wave. He seeks shelter from the storm at an island village called Besaid where he meets up with its residents and learns about their battle system.
If you’re unfamiliar with how this game works, I highly recommend taking some time out to learn about it before reading further—it’s an important part of what makes FF such a compelling series! During your time here at Besaid Island, there are many places you can visit:
- You’ll find yourself first inside Yuna’s house where she lives alone while waiting for her father to return home from work during the summer vacation season (the same time period when we’re introduced). She tells us that she likes reading books even though they don’t have pictures in them yet–that will change later on once we learn more about her life outside school hours.”
Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s Gormott Province
Gormott Province is the second area you visit in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. It’s a lush, green environment with many different environments and ecosystems. There are a lot of side quests to do in Gormott Province as well, including one that rewards you with an exclusive weapon if you’re willing to pay a hefty sum of money for it!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Bone-Dry Dunes
The Bone-Dry Dunes are a real desert, and they’re one of the best tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s not just an isolated area: it’s actually where you’ll find yourself racing around on your next excursion into this excellent game.
This track has some great jumps, shortcuts and sand—all things that make it fun to play as well as beautiful to look at!
The Great Desert in Final Fantasy XII
The Great Desert is a large and dangerous area in Final Fantasy XII, home to many monsters and treasures. It is also a place of great exploration, with many secrets waiting to be found by brave adventurers. The desert can be divided into four different regions: the northern desert, southern desert, eastern desert and western desert. Each region has its own unique characteristics that make them worth exploring if you want to find all the best things in life!
The level is filled with hidden rooms, passageways, and secret areas that you can explore while fighting the monsters. You’ll find plenty of ammo and health packs throughout the level to keep your weapons stocked up, which makes things easier for you. The necromorphs are also pretty easy to kill compared to some of the other enemies in Dead Space 3—they don’t take as many hits before dying (although they do tend to come back).
Tikawara in Far Cry 2
Tikawara is a fictional African country that’s the setting of Far Cry 2. It’s a large desert, but it’s also home to two tribes who are at war over water rights. One tribe wants to use all the water in the area while another has been denied access to any drinking water by their neighbors. The player must work with both sides as they try and find a way out of this conflict, which involves fighting off other groups trying to take advantage of these tensions as well
The Gormott Province is a great area to explore and there are many quests, side-quests, and other things to do here. This guide will take you through all of the major areas in Gormott Province so you know where everything is located!
Wadi Al-Hasa in Uncharted 3
Wadi Al-Hasa is a level in Uncharted 3, and it’s one of the best desert levels in gaming. The setting is beautiful and stunning, with sand dunes and palm trees cutting through an endless sea of golden grass. You’ll find yourself climbing through ruins that have been covered by sand over the years, exploring underground caves filled with treasure chests and secrets.
The Dunes of Despair in Endless Legend
The Dunes of Despair in Endless Legend is a desert level that’s full of sand dunes, rock formations and more. It’s also one of the most difficult levels in the game.
. The game is set in the near future, and therefore it’s not possible to confirm which side of this conflict is correct. However, Far Cry 2 does present both sides as having valid arguments for why they should be allowed access to water. The northern desert is the largest and most dangerous region of the great desert. It is home to many monsters, including Sand Worms that burrow under the sand, ready to attack anyone foolish enough to walk over their nests! The southern desert is a dry and barren place, where little grows except cacti and other plant life that can survive on very little water.
The level’s name comes from the fact that it is so difficult to survive. The desert level of Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland is very similar to Cactus Cove, but a lot more difficult. It has some cool ramps and rails, though, so if you can get past the difficulty level then you’ll have plenty of fun exploring this skate park.
Cactus Cove in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
The first level of the game, Cactus Cove is one of the most popular desert levels in gaming. It has plenty of ramps and rails to grind on, as well as many cacti and other desert plants that you can use to decorate your own skate park.
The Dunes of Despair is a desert level in Endless Legend. It’s full of sand dunes and rock formations, but it’s also one of the most difficult levels in the game.
The level is very well designed, with lots of secret paths and hidden items to find. I’m not sure if there’s any real way to speedrun the level, since you can’t get by enemies without getting hit or grabbing rings; however, it’s still a lot of fun to play through.
Wave Ocean in Sonic the Hedgehog 2006
Wave Ocean is a level in Sonic the Hedgehog 2006. It’s one of the best levels in the game, and it’s got a great soundtrack to go with it. The level makes use of water as well as more traditional platforms, and there are even some thrills to be had from riding on jet skis!
The scale of Wave Ocean is impressive—you can get up close and personal with your enemies by ducking under their arms or jumping over them. You’ll need to take advantage of these opportunities if you want any chance at survival here; otherwise, you’ll find yourself trapped in an endless cycle of being knocked off platforms by enemies and then falling back down into the water below them when they respawn after each death (or sometimes not).
This level is one of the most iconic in the game and is still just as fun to play today. It’s a great example of how Far Cry 2 can be more than just about killing people; it can also be about exploring beautiful environments and enjoying life in general.
The Great Sand Sea in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
The Great Sand Sea is a large desert area that you can explore in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. It’s filled with cacti, sand dunes and hills/mountains/valleys that give the level an interesting terrain. There are also secret paths you can follow if you go off to explore on your own!
The level also features a large waterpark, which is home to many ramps and rails for you to use as well. The skate park in Cactus Cove is one of the most popular levels in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 because it has plenty of space for you to build your own skate parks on top of it. This level is the fourth world in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. It’s a large desert area that you can explore in your vehicle, but it’s filled with cacti, sand dunes and hills/mountains/valleys that give the level an interesting terrain. There are also secret paths you can follow if you go off to explore on your own!
Tikawara in Far Cry 2 (Again)
The first time you could drive a vehicle in a sandbox game, and the first time you could drive a 4×4 in one. It’s also one of the most thrilling levels to play when there are no enemies around—the sense of freedom is overwhelming, especially when you’re driving alongside an entire convoy full of vehicles that are trying to kill you.
This level features some amazing wildlife (both on foot and by car), but it doesn’t come without its hazards: giant cliffs, narrow passages with no room for error if your vehicle gets stuck on them…and even bigger cliffs! Don’t worry though; these obstacles can be overcome with careful planning and skillful driving skills.
The village has a variety of enemies that you’ll encounter throughout this level, including the Scrab and Dark Daxter. The former will attack you with its claws and try to get close enough for an attack; the latter will shoot balls of dark eco at you from afar instead.
Sandover Village in Jak II
Sandover Village is a level in Jak II. It’s a desert level, and it’s the first desert level in the game.
The name of this stage is derived from its location: an area situated southwest of Haven City, which was home to many people who lived there before being relocated due to sandstorms that threatened their safety. The village itself consists mostly of sand dunes with some rocky areas along them, but there are also two buildings in this section: one at either end while you’re traveling through them (one being just barely visible if you look closely enough), and another between those two ones farther up on your left side as you’re facing away from them when they’re both off-screen behind your backside!
The Desert of Desolation in Baldur’s Gate II Enhanced Edition
In the desert of Desolation, you’ll find yourself in an endless, sandy expanse. There are no trees or water to be found here, so you’ll have to brave the heat and thirst if you want to continue with your quest. That said, this level is actually quite pleasant once you get used to it! It’s not necessarily difficult—just hot and dry—but it does make for some interesting challenges as well.
1. They can be used as a backdrop for dramatic events: the desert is often a setting in movies and books where characters are forced to make difficult choices or suffer from them later on. This can also apply to video games, though it’s less common than other types of stories that take place in deserts (such as those about ancient civilizations). A desert is a place of extremes, and you’ll need to prepare yourself for the heat. You can start by wearing some light-colored clothing and sunglasses to protect from sunburns.
Deserts in video games can be lonely and desolate, but also beautiful.
Deserts in video games can be lonely and desolate, but also beautiful. It’s easy to imagine yourself as a lone wanderer wandering through a vast expanse of nothingness, with only your thoughts for company. This is an apt description of many desert-level types: they’re often wide open spaces that allow players to explore without being hindered by enemies or other characters (or even other objects). In fact, some games will use this type of setting as an opportunity for storytelling—the player has no one else around them but themselves!
But even if you don’t want to spend hours wandering aimlessly through these environments alone (and who does?), there are still plenty of ways that desert levels can be used effectively in gaming:
There are more good desert levels than you’d think.
Now that you know all about deserts, let’s talk about the best desert levels in gaming. You might be surprised at how many great games have them! There are plenty of reasons for this:
- Deserts can be beautiful and lonely—and dangerous too (if you’re not careful).
- Some of the best desert levels are in games like God of War, Uncharted 3, and Red Dead Redemption.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the best desert levels are in games where you’re fighting against the elements. The challenge of surviving in the desert against all odds is something many gamers like to experience.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this list of the best desert levels in video games. We’re sure there are many more out there, so if you have any other suggestions for future rankings, please let us know!