Firewatch

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Price: $59.99

Buy it on: The Firewatch Website

If you love nature enough that you've ever wondered what being a park ranger is like, then Firewatch may be for you. Experience a captivating mystery through the lens of a man who seeks the solace that only nature can provide.

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Well, that does it for this list of some of our favorite outdoor experiences in video games. Did your favorite landscape make our cut? Do you prefer snowy mountains or sunny forests? Let us know in the comments below!

Steep

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Price: $59.99

Buy it on: Amazon

We're now going from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the world. Steep may be a game about winter sports, but I have never seen more beautiful mountains outside of real life. I can’t even count how many times I’ve had my breath taken away by all the different snowy peaks of the Alps and Denali, and I often would stop my character from snowboarding so I could take a screenshot of the view. You can even take a break from conquering the slopes to go paragliding for more scenic views!

ABZU

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Price: $19.88 

Buy it on: Amazon

If you’re more aquatically inclined, then you need to check out ABZU. Now, water levels are the bane of almost every gamer’s existence, but ABZU turns this trend on its head and creates a highly enjoyable, relaxing experience that takes place underwater! Follow a great white shark in your quest to help revitalize the ancient ocean you find yourself in.

Unravel

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Price: $19.88 

Buy it on: EA's Website

Arguably one of the greatest titles out of EA in the past few years, Unravel follows Yarny as he travels through memories of loved ones. The unique platforming and puzzle-solving in this heartfelt journey is complemented by the gorgeous settings, from gardens to beaches to mountains, that surround Yarny's heartfelt story.

Ori and the Blind Forest 

Platform: Xbox One, PC

Price: $19.88 

Buy it on: Amazon

The scenery in Ori and the Blind Forest is made even more incredible by the incredible foreground and background art. Every area feels unique in this emotional journey of a little spirit who must save his home forest from peril. This charming Metroidvania will leave a lasting impact on anyone who plays it (especially the Ginso Tree water level).

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

Price: $49.99

Buy it on: Amazon

Don't be intimidated by the size of The Witcher 3. Because the world is so big means that there are countless of beautiful vistas and horizons to gaze upon during your travels. There's a reason you can always see people showing off their beautiful screenshots of this game on Reddit. Follow Geralt of Rivia as he wanders this vast world in search of his adopted daughter, Ciri, and in pursuit of The Wild Hunt.

The Flame in the Flood

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch

Price: $19.99 (free on Xbox Game Pass)

Buy it on: Steam

The Flame in the Flood is a wonderful roguelite survival game that follows Scout and her canine companion Aesop as they try to survive their journey rafting down a procedurally generated river caused by a disastrous flood. During the journey, you'll be stopping in the nearby forests, campsites, and other locales to gather supplies, stay out of the rain, and try to figure out the best way to survive. The unique art style and fantastic sound design make you feel lost in nature. Never has perilously rafting down a river been more memorable. Eat your heart out, Mark Twain.

Just about everyone has played or heard of Uncharted, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. These games are often praised for how stunning the worlds look, and chances are you’ve already given them a try and experienced those settings for yourself. If you love losing yourself in nature and relaxing in wondrous video game worlds, take a peek at this list of nature games you might not have tried just yet.

Various people behind the games Bioshock, Halo, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band, including the Art Director for Bioshock, have all joined together to form the developing company The Molasses Flood. 

The Molasses Flood recently launched a KickStarter for their PC and Mac game The Flame in the Flood, "a rogue-like river journey through the backwaters of a forgotten post-societal America." In the game the player must keep a girl, named Scout, alive as she and her dog Aesop travel down a river, fighting off starvation, predators, and the elements. Scout is trying to survive in a world where civilization as we know it has ceased to exist, though according to the game's Kickstarter page, the setting is more a  "post-societal" rather than post-apocalyptic one. 

The gameplay footage shown in the trailer gives a taste of just how important it is to consider all of the different adversities one might face in the situation Scout is in. There are warnings that pop up, letting the player know that Scout is hungry, thirsty, cold, tired, and they get worse the more she goes without taking care of that problem. Scout can do this by searching for items and crafting them. 

After recently exceeding their goal of $150, 000, The Molasses Flood is currently raising money for their stretch goals, with 20 more days left to go. Find out more about the game take a look at the Kickstarter page, here.