Summer may be winding down, but there's still time for one last getaway to a simulated utopia in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the colorful countryside of Far Cry New Dawn, or the Bolivian mountains of Ghost Recon Wildlands. Why not squeeze the most out of the season and plan some Insta-worthy videogame vacations from the comfort of your own home? With so many photo-friendly destinations in Ubisoft games (and some handy Photo Mode features to help you get that perfect shot), you've got plenty of time to gather evidence of a summer well-spent. Here are some of our favorite spots:
Assassin's Creed Odyssey - Atlantis
While the sun-strewn white-sand beaches of Assassin's Creed Odyssey's Ancient Greece make for a picturesque getaway, why limit yourself to the realm of mere mortals? Thanks to Odyssey's second major post-launch story arc, The Fate of Atlantis, you can explore the mythical aquatic destination, take some postcard-worthy photos, and even become the ruler of the city. Take in beautiful views, partake in some otherworldly gardening, and entertain crowds of cheering Isu fans in the arena. Atlantis is a city where humans and the Isu precursor race live side-by-side, and while things may seem peaceful on the surface, tensions are brewing as corrupt Isu scientists defy the orders of Poseidon and conduct horrific experiments on human test subjects. As Dikastes (judge and juror), it's up to you to put a stop to these acts, and properly handle the perpetrators.
Despite its challenges, one of the best parts of traveling is expanding your worldview and experiencing new cultures. Thankfully, Atlantis features plenty of ways for you to expand your "Knowledge" and learn more than ever before about the mysterious Isu civilization. And if you're the type that loves a good souvenir, be sure to craft the three adamant weapons available down in the Atlantis forge. These deadly weapons offer up perks unlike anything you'll find on the shores of Greece.
The Division 2 - The Washington National Zoo
Not every fun summer outing needs to involve packing your roller bag and taking your shoes off in front of strangers. A quick day trip to your local zoo is a great way to enjoy the summer weather, see some amazing animals, and settle a score with the sinister leader of a pack of bioterrorists. The Washington National Zoo is the site of a new main mission for The Division 2, delivered free to all players as part of a bundle of new content titled Episode 1: DC Outskirts – Expeditions. While most of the animals were freed from their enclosures months ago (except for some of the luminous aquatic inhabitants), there are still plenty of exotic creatures to be found making the most out of their newfound freedom. Just be sure to respect their space when taking those selfies!
Speaking of space, the zoo features some of the broadest combat arenas of any main mission in The Division 2, giving you a lot more flexibility in how you take down your tenacious Outcast foes. Even though you're there on a mission to hunt down Emmeline Shaw once and for all, that's no reason you can't have a fun-filled day at this local attraction.
Far Cry New Dawn - Hope County (17 years after, well, you know)
Sometimes, a vacation is just about getting away. Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the big city for something more peaceful and quaint. That's why post-apocalyptic Hope County is the perfect destination for folks who appreciate fresh air, wildflowers, and giant feral boars ramming into evil Highwaymen. Ok, so maybe the whole "peaceful" part was a bit of a stretch; pack accordingly.
Hidden away in the sprawling countryside of Montana, Hope County was sparsely populated even before a nuclear bomb went off nearby. Now, in Far Cry New Dawn, it's the perfect place to admire idyllic scenery and get some quiet meditation in. In the years since the nuclear fallout, nature has bounced back, and now the landscape has been covered in (very photogenic) bright pink flowers as part of the Superbloom phenomenon. And thanks to the maniacal Highwaymen, the surviving Outposts have also been covered in colorful graffiti! Who says the arts can't survive in the post-apocalypse? Sure, the scrappy society here is on the brink of total collapse, but don't let that keep you from stopping to smell the Superbloom. Did we mention that you'll also get to enjoy the companionship of a lovable Akita named Timber?
Anno 1800 – A land of opportunity
One of the best ways to clear your mind and take a break from your day-to-day is to divert your mental energies into something completely absorbing, and completely unrelated to your life. And unless you and your sister have recently fled your ruthless uncle and escaped to a new island where you are rebuilding the family fortune and restoring your father's good name, then Anno 1800 is going to be a refreshing diversion from the ordinary. Your seaside settlement starts small. Enjoy the sound of the waves and listen to the rush of wind through the trees as you recruit honest folk to harvest timber for construction and fish for food. Earn a reputation as a leader who keeps their flock fed, clothed, and entertained, and you'll find your village growing into a town.
Take a screenshot so you can remember your humble beginnings, then expand into the countryside as you develop a bustling agricultural community and start mining the foothills for precious ores. The steady rate of progress brings new opportunities and new challenges at just the right pace, sweeping you along as you explore new islands, meet intriguing characters, and bring new innovations into your burgeoning city. Whether you're fine-tuning the layout of a new neighborhood using the plan-first-build-later blueprint feature, or diving shipwrecks for valuable supplies with the help of local crackpot Old Nate in the new Sunken Treasures DLC, Anno 1800 will transport you to a beautiful, bountiful world far from your own.
Ghost Recon Wildlands - The Bolivian highlands
You know those reality shows where people travel to exotic locales and then race to be the first ones to figure out the goal destination and reach it? Well, that pretty aptly describes Mercenaries mode in Ghost Recon Wildlands, a free addition to the game that has been attracting adventurous travelers all summer long. You and seven other mercenaries will travel to a remote area of Bolivia with nothing but a knife in your hand and the clothes on your back. Talk about roughing it! You'll have to scavenge for supplies and decide if it's worth tangling with the local Unidad forces to get better gear. And you'll want better gear — guns, grenades, armor, and healing items — because the return flight only has room for one of you. You'll have to seek out transmitters to find out where your flight is boarding, and use strategic intel bonuses try to get an edge on your fellow adventurers by any means necessary. Don't spend too much time getting souvenir photos; the clock is ticking, and it'll all culminate in a free-for-all fight to control the landing zone for long enough to punch your ticket home. And you thought the traffic heading upstate on weekends was cutthroat! Mercenaries is a tense and thrilling new way to live a life of adventure in wild, wonderful Bolivia.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey, The Division 2, Far Cry New Dawn, Anno 1800, and Ghost Recon Wildlands are all available now from the Ubisoft Store. For more on the latest and greatest from Ubisoft, check out our previous coverage.
