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Table of Contents
Assassin’s Creed
Al Ula – The desert oasis with ancient tombs
In Assassin’s Creed Origins, Bayek, the main character, tracks and uncovers ancient secrets and hidden tombs, with its desert landscapes often resembling the rocky, majestic sites of Al Ula.
In Saudi Arabia’s Al Ula, you can actually experience ancient tombs and sandstone cliffs that feel like they were pulled straight from an Assassin’s Creed game. Al Ula is home to Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its Nabataean tombs, rock-cut facades, and massive stone columns that rival the grandeur of Petra in Jordan.
The region’s Hegra Archaeological Site offers explorers a chance to walk through a desert oasis surrounded by monumental tombs, while the Elephant Rock—a natural rock formation resembling a massive elephant—could easily be a backdrop for an action-packed chase. The sandstone landscapes and carved tombs in this area seem like they belong in a historical open-world game, with panoramic views of golden sands stretching endlessly into the horizon.
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The Citadel of Aleppo – Assassin’s Creed meets history
The Citadel of Aleppo in Syria is not only an architectural marvel but also a stunning fortress that could be plucked straight from the world of Assassin’s Creed. Perched atop a hill, the citadel overlooks the sprawling ancient city of Aleppo, offering breathtaking views of both the urban center and the surrounding landscapes. Its walls, built with centuries-old stone, create a maze of defensive walls, towers, and gates that are reminiscent of AC‘s iconic parkour-laden environments.
Altair, the first Assassin’s Creed protagonist, traverses similar ancient fortresses, making stealthy approaches through labyrinths of historical buildings. The Citadel’s defense systems would undoubtedly challenge Altair, who is skilled at blending into the shadows.
The Citadel’s history is rich and layered, having served as a military stronghold since the 13th century. Its colossal gates and vast courtyards provide a perfect setting for a game of cat and mouse, akin to the chase sequences in Assassin’s Creed. Exploring the citadel’s labyrinthine passages, grand halls, and battlements, you’ll feel like you’re walking in the footsteps of a legendary assassin, with the towering minarets of Aleppo in the distance.
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Petra – Assassin’s Creed meets the desert
You can’t talk about Middle Eastern landmarks without mentioning Petra, Jordan’s ancient Nabataean city, often showcased in video games like Assassin’s Creed for its awe-inspiring rock-cut architecture. The rose-red city, once a thriving trade hub, is known for its intricate facades carved into the cliffs and vast tombs that rise out of the desert floor. The stunning Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) and its surrounding ruins look like something straight out of a game, where each corner is brimming with hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.
In Assassin’s Creed, the main character, Ezio, scales cliffs and uncovers hidden treasures—experiences you can replicate in Petra’s complex maze of ancient facades and secret passages.
Exploring Petra feels like stepping into a virtual world, where you navigate narrow, winding canyons and towering facades, all the while discovering ancient ruins, temples, and even stairways carved into the rocks. Whether you’re fighting your way through the desert or scaling its cliffs, Petra’s unique blend of history and intrigue makes it a perfect match for any adventure game enthusiast.
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Qal’at al-Bahrain – Medieval fortifications for Assassin’s Creed
The Qal’at al-Bahrain fort in Bahrain is another location that could easily be part of Assassin’s Creed. This historical site, which dates back to the 14th century, is built on top of a series of ancient layers, making it a fascinating destination for history buffs and gamers alike. The fort’s thick stone walls and strategic positioning on the coast offer players plenty of opportunities for exploration and tactical gameplay.
The Qal’at al-Bahrain site consists of a combination of medieval fortifications and ancient ruins, with remnants of earlier civilizations lying just beneath the surface. Gamers can imagine themselves scaling the fortress walls or sneaking through secret underground chambers, blending strategy and stealth—exactly the kind of environment you’d expect in an Assassin’s Creed mission.
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The Nile Valley – Assassin’s Creed Origins realized
For fans of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Egypt’s Nile Valley offers a real-world playground filled with ancient monuments and historical landmarks. Explore Luxor, where the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak Temple provide iconic settings that echo the grandeur of the game. The long stretches of the Nile River, bordered by the desert, create a striking contrast of green and golden sands that are perfect for a virtual assassination mission.
In Luxor, you can visit the Temple of Hatshepsut or take a boat ride along the Nile, all the while imagining yourself in a world where history and myth intertwine. The Abu Simbel temples, with their massive statues and intricate carvings, offer a gaming experience similar to an adventure quest in AC Origins.
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The Pyramids of Giza – The ultimate Assassin’s Creed Origins experience
Few places in the world evoke the same sense of grandeur and mystery as the Pyramids of Giza. If you’ve played Assassin’s Creed Origins, you’ve already seen these colossal structures in digital form—but nothing compares to witnessing them in real life. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (the largest Egyptian pyramid), the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure dominate the skyline just outside Cairo, standing as monuments to ancient Egyptian engineering. These pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago, are the last surviving wonders of the ancient world and remain one of the most visited landmarks on Earth.
Bayek of Siwa likely stood in awe before these iconic structures, whose ancient mysteries guided him through the game’s expansive map.
Much like in AC Origins, where players can scale the pyramids and explore hidden passageways, real-world visitors can enter these monumental tombs. Inside the Great Pyramid, you’ll find narrow corridors leading to the King’s Chamber, a space that once held the pharaoh’s sarcophagus. The tunnels are steep and claustrophobic, adding a layer of adventure to the journey—almost as if you’re uncovering an ancient secret mission. The nearby Sphinx, with its enigmatic expression and massive stature, feels like a perfect backdrop for a cutscene in an open-world game, guarding the pyramids as it has for millennia.
Beyond the pyramids, the Giza Plateau offers a true step back in time. While modern Cairo buzzes just beyond the desert horizon, standing atop the plateau feels like you’ve been transported to another era. The Solar Boat Museum, housing an ancient wooden ship buried beside the pyramid for the pharaoh’s afterlife journey, adds another dimension to the history on display. With desert winds kicking up sand and the massive pyramids casting long shadows in the late afternoon, Giza provides an immersive experience that blurs the line between history and gaming reality.
For those looking to explore further, a trip to nearby Saqqara offers even older pyramid structures, including the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser, the earliest known pyramid in Egypt. Walking among these ruins, you can almost hear the echoes of history—or perhaps the whispers of an ancient Brotherhood waiting for the next assassin to rise.
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Call of Duty
The Dead Sea – Call of Duty: Black Ops III’s Cryogen Prison
The Dead Sea is one of the world’s most unique natural wonders, famous for its hypersaline waters that allow visitors to float effortlessly. The surrounding desert landscape, paired with its mineral-rich mud, makes it a sought-after destination for both adventure seekers and those looking for a therapeutic retreat.
The Call of Duty: Black Ops III multiplayer map “Cryogen” may have taken inspiration from this otherworldly region, depicting an isolated facility off the Dead Sea coast where the world’s most dangerous criminals are frozen in stasis. While there’s no real cryogenic prison here, the stark, desolate beauty of the area evokes a similar sense of mystery and isolation.
You can float in the salty water, cover your body in mineral mud, and explore the harsh desert landscapes surrounding the sea. The natural isolation and extreme conditions make it a perfect place for an off-the-beaten-path survival game challenge, with the added bonus of health benefits from the Dead Sea’s therapeutic qualities.
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Uncharted
Mount Sinai – Uncharted jungle meets mountain climb
For a truly rugged, Uncharted-like experience, head to Mount Sinai in Egypt, where you can retrace the path of Moses up the biblical mountain. The journey to the summit of Mount Sinai is a challenge—narrow trails, rocky terrain, and dramatic cliffs will remind you of climbing challenges in games like Uncharted, where every step leads to new discoveries.
In Uncharted, Nathan Drake often navigates perilous mountain paths in search of lost treasures—just like the trek up Mount Sinai, full of obstacles and rewards.
At the top, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the surrounding desert, making it feel like you’ve just completed a massive in-game quest. The nearby St. Catherine’s Monastery adds another layer of historical intrigue, combining natural beauty with spiritual significance, much like the adventurous, historic exploration found in many video games.
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The Empty Quarter – Uncharted 3’s Lost City of Ubar
The Rub’ al Khali, or Empty Quarter, is the largest continuous sand desert in the world, stretching across Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, and Yemen. This vast expanse of golden dunes and shifting landscapes is as treacherous as it is breathtaking, with temperatures soaring during the day and plummeting at night.
Nathan Drake may have stumbled through the endless dunes of the Empty Quarter in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, desperately searching for the fabled lost city of Ubar—also known as the “Atlantis of the Sands”—only to find that some legends hide deadly truths.
Visitors can embark on off-road desert safaris, camping under the starlit sky, and exploring the Bedouin way of life. Though no actual ruins of Ubar remain in the Empty Quarter today, the legend of the lost city still captivates explorers, making this one of the most mystical and game-like places in the Middle East.
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Red Dead Redemption
Wadi Rum – A real-life Red Dead Redemption frontier
Step into the world of Red Dead Redemption with a visit to Wadi Rum, a dramatic desert valley in southern Jordan, famous for its towering rock formations and vast, open desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is one of the most striking desert terrains in the world, and its otherworldly beauty has served as the backdrop for multiple films, including The Martian. But it’s not just the movies that make it feel like a video game; the towering cliffs, narrow canyons, and rock bridges create the perfect setting for an epic, open-world exploration.
In Red Dead Redemption, John Marston navigates through rugged landscapes and wild west terrains, which is very much like the open desert space you find in Wadi Rum.
For Call of Duty fans, the arid terrain and military-style operations blend seamlessly into the landscape. COD’s desert maps offer a similar aesthetic of wide, open spaces interspersed with hidden caves and cliffs. Adventure seekers can enjoy camel rides, jeep tours, or even rock climbing, all while navigating a landscape that feels like the perfect blend of nature and gaming fantasy.
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