The world of Pokémon is a common answer for our ‘If games were real’ questions, and with good reason. Who doesn’t want to live in a world of cute, superpowered pets? There are no real-world problems to worry about, you can solve pretty much anything with your army of strong, cute Pokémon at your side.
But of course, things aren’t that simple. While some users are happy to explore the positives of a world where animals are treated as equal citizens and you have an army of cute critters at your beck and call, others have raised concerns about the ethics of capturing animals just for fun. Which, let’s be honest, is the main draw of Pokémon.
“Capturing and fighting animals for fun is morally wrong,” one user writes. “But this is Pokémon, so I don’t see that ever being addressed.”
Others point out that Pokémon have plenty of other roles to play in this world besides fighting, with many of the cute critters you see walking around towns being pets or working animals like dogs or horses. You also have to consider that without Pokémon, there’d be no trainers, and without trainers, there’d be no people in the Pokémon world.
Stardew Valley: A Relaxing Rural Life
Another popular answer, this time for what world you’d want to live in if games were real, was Stardew Valley. The idea of living a relaxed, rural life on the farm of your choosing is one that several of you are drawn to, and it’s easy to see why. I’d love to have the opportunity to get back to nature and spend my time growing and harvesting crops, tending to livestock, and fishing whenever I feel like it.
Another fan favourite mentioned was Animal Crossing, and I completely understand why. I’d love to be able to afford a huge, beautiful home and all the expensive furniture in the world by fishing and catching bugs. I’d have my own little town to decorate and make my own, and the only problem I’d ever face is paying off the debt to raccoon character Tom Nook, which I can easily make light of by comparing to real-life credit card debt.
There were a few humorous answers that made me laugh, such as the user who mentioned they’d like to live in the world of Plague Inc. specifically in Greenland, to watch the world burn. Another user replied, jokingly referencing the FBI, that they’d like to report a possible serial killer for wanting to live in Plague Inc.
Another user, who was clearly a big fan of Dark Souls, said they appreciated the idea of exploring a crazy and interesting world where you can die over and over and still maintain a purpose. I can’t deny that The Ringed City, the second and final DLC for Dark Souls III, made me feel like that.
Other answers include Pokémon again, as well as the world of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. One user inquires about the presence of women in the Pokémon world, and another user replies that there are many female characters, including Nurse Joy, who works at Pokémon centres, and Officer Jenny, a police officer who, like in real life, is a woman.
There were also a few answers mentioning the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, with the user saying it’s incredibly beautiful, but they acknowledge the lack of modern amenities and the fact that you can get shot on the street. The Sims was a popular answer as well, with one user joking, “I’d love to be able to work part-time and earn enough to afford a home renovation as long as I never touch the stove.”
Mafia 2 after prison was another answer, specifically the 1950s Empire Bay, which I would agree is beautiful. There was also an answer for the upcoming game Elden Ring, which follows the player character as they try to reclaim a cursed land for themselves, with one user speculating that the characters could potentially be immortal.
A lot of users mentioned a god-builder sandbox game as the answer they’d like most, where they can do and be anything they want. One user mentioned their love for the game Stardew Valley, but jokingly said that it is too easy and that they’d like a Stardew Valley mod that makes the game harder.
