Loading up video games and stepping into the shoes of a sportspersonis one thing, but when you experience real-life locations through your TV or monitor, it can often leave a lasting impression and a burning desire to visit the places your in-game characters once roamed.
Thanks to the incredible evolution of video game graphics and the capabilities of Next-Gen consoles, experiencing top gaming destinations through our screens has almost become second nature, with tons of authentic venues, buildings,roads, and other fascinating landmarksfeaturing across a wide variety of sports games in 2024.
Top 5 Real-Life Sports Game Cities
While all the following cities are extraordinary in their own right, they have become increasingly popular due to their appearances in video games. Whether they feature as unique settings for skateboarding rides in Tony Hawk or nerve-wracking tennis rallies in TopSpin, these locations are likely to have created some special gaming memories over the years.
All of our top picks are treasured for their associations with the world of gaming through many different aspects, including playable locations such as venues and maps.
So, if you are a passionate sports gamer who has always thought about putting down the controller and traveling to a destination where you haveperhaps played in EA FC or even raced on F1, then this article is for you!
- London, UK
Appearing in 285 video games, it is no surprise that London has a 73% score for its association with gaming.
As well as being the main home of His Majesty The King, London possesses seven Premier League football stadiums that are playable in EA SPORTS FC 24, including Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, and West Ham’s London Stadium, located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and previously featuring in the 2012 Olympics video game.
Then there is the famous Wimbledon Tennis Club, which most recently became available as a playable location in TopSpin 2K25, with Centre Court’s unique characteristics and atmosphere captured like never before.
- Los Angeles, U.S.
Like London, Los Angeles has also had its fair share of video game appearances over the years, featuring as the backdrop in 141 titles, giving it a 70% score for its association with gaming.
While it will always have a special place in the hearts of Grand Theft Auto V fans, sports gamers may remember the LA landmarksfrom the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series.The gameallowed players to embark on a skateboarding journeythrough some of the city’s most iconic locations, including sunny Venice Beach and Downtown LA.
- Barcelona, Spain
Next up on our list is Barcelona, as we head to Spain to visit the city that has a 68% score for its association with the gaming world. Aside from the beautiful Sagrada Familia and its enchanting architecture, Barcelona also shares Madrid’s passion for gaming, both in a community and virtual sense.
Featuring as the third level inTony Hawk’s Underground 2, Barcelona became a skateable city way back in 2004, enabling players to perform tricks across many of its famous locations including the Gothic Quarter. While this is a blast from the past, it’s games and playable locations like these that never fail to stick in our minds to this day.
Barcelona also appears in the sixth installment of theGran Turismoseries, putting gamers on the tracksof the city. While you won’t find many settings thatoffer equally stunning surroundings, visiting Barcelona when you aren’t driving at 200 MPH is also a terrific way to take it all in.
- Madrid, Spain
Staying in Spain, Madrid, he capital scores 67% for its association with gaming. There are two key reasons for this, one being that it has various iconic venues that have become popular spots for gamers to come together, and the second being that many of its locations have featured in the video games themselves.
For those who have played FIFA and EA FC, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium will be a familiar sight, with the stunning 85,000-seater featuring as a playable location in EA’s football titles for several years. Previously home to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and soon-to-be Kylian Mbappe, FC 24 gives players the chance to take to the pitch at one of the world’s most famous stadiums, which never fails to match the passion Madrid has for sports and gaming culture.
The Spanish capital also features the Circuito de Madrid, a well-known track for fans of the Gran Turismo series. Offering players the chance to race through a virtual layout of Madrid’s vibrant streets, it is a perfect way to capture the city’s breathtaking architecture while racing to the finishing line.
- Las Vegas, U.S.
Last but not least we have Las Vegas, with a gaming score of 62%. You may think that casinos and slot machines are all the city has to offer, but you would be wrong. Set against the backdrop of its world-famous Strip, Las Vegas has featured across 66 different video games from a variety of genres.
One of them is the F1 series, with thenight race circuit offering players the chance to take to the trackin the heart of the Las Vegas strip as seen on our TV screens. Bursting with life and vibrant colors, it is one of the most unique tracks the game - and sport - has to offer.
Then there is the well-known UFC Apex Centre, which has featured as a playable arena in various UFC video games including EA SPORTS UFC 5. Unless you have tickets for a fight or a tour guide, it’sunlikelyyou’ll be able to look around the arena itself, but it’s still a great place to tick off the list!
And there we have it, five of the best cities for sports gamers to visit! Just like sports and video games, this list has something for everyone, whether you are mad about football and EA FC, or skateboarding and Tony Hawk.
Have you ever visited any of these cities? Let us know in the comments section below.
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