Top 50 Hub Worlds Nomination: Transition between Terrains Time

[Baudshaw]

Scrolling through all these threads is a hassle. But at least you can rest here! It's Baudshaw, and for the very first time, I'm hosting a Top 50! Today, we're talking about hub worlds. They're always useful, whether you just need a breather from all the action, or a central point of the world, or really just for fun! They've been a gaming mainstay for decades now, so let's see which ones are the best!

By May 1 me a list of your Top 25 Hub Worlds, that should be more than enough time. It can be smaller (possibly even bigger?) but try to stick to 25. Keep it a secret! It'll be more fun to reveal everything slowly.



But what are the criteria?

A "hub world" is anything that connects the levels of a game. This is quite a vague definition, but it allows for a greater diversity of entries. Plus, it'll be interesting to see people discussing what is/isn't a hub world!

Use this, if you really want a reference: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HubLevel


Remember, PM me by May 1! (Also, I kind of want the Excel programs as well )

 

[Violentvixen]

Video games only or other media too?

 

[RT-55J]

oooh yeah i can think of a couple non-game hub worlds that might be worth including

 

[Kirin]

Also I assume we want places that operate on, let’s say, a similar scale to their connected areas, and using similar mechanics - lest we stray into things live overworlds and even Maps, a probably different and larger category.

 

[Baudshaw]

Also I assume we want places that operate on, let’s say, a similar scale to their connected areas, and using similar mechanics - lest we stray into things live overworlds and even Maps, a probably different and larger category.

Yeah, I suppose that's a good classification

 

[Issun]

Yeah, one could consider the Forbidden Land from Shadow of the Colossus, but one would be at risk of stretching the premise so far it snaps.

 

[SabreCat]

I voted for this, but can I even think of 25 hub worlds? I guess that's what the TV Tropes link is for, but it's not as fun that way..

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I guess that's what the TV Tropes link is for, but it's not as fun that way..

I always do my research. That's fun for me.

 

[Violentvixen]

I always do my research. That's fun for me.

Same, this time I finally thought of going through my Backloggery to look at older games. I'm sure I'll still forget the hub world/town/hub level of a game but at least this let me jog my memory.

 

[Torzelbaum]

I voted for this, but can I even think of 25 hub worlds? I guess that's what the TV Tropes link is for, but it's not as fun that way..

You could use that as a starting point but it's not an exhaustive list - I have thought of a few candidates that aren't on that page.

 

[Patrick]

You can treat these like a memory game, and only use selections that occur off the top of your head. I've never done that though, because my memory is awful. Also, I still always get entries that didn't occur to me, even when I do the research. So year, I'm gonna look up other lists & articles when making my lists.

 

[Baudshaw]

You don't have to do exactly 25; at least try to put in hubs that you feel like have a reason for being there. I'd rather have shorter lists than generic lists

 

[SabreCat]

You can treat these like a memory game, and only use selections that occur off the top of your head.

Yeah, this is exactly my approach! A free association exercise more than a research project.

EDIT: While doing my pondering thus far, I'm discovering just how much the advent of fast-travel mechanics have caused this design pattern to fall out of favor. Lots of games that have come to mind lack any kind of hub-and-spokes arrangement, favoring fast travel among save points instead.

EDIT 2: Ha, the Wikipedia article on the topic considers hub worlds and overworlds to be broadly the same thing, while the TV Tropes link considers them to be distinct. I'm trying to stick with the narrower definition, but as with all matters of genre and terminology, ymmv!

 

[Baudshaw]

I don't think so; although open world games don't need hub worlds, there are still many game genres that use it

 

[SabreCat]

I was mainly thinking of Metroidvanias, with that first edit remark. I kept thinking of games like ENDER LILIES, looking at their maps, and noticing there isn't any main area the zones converge to.

 

[Baudshaw]

I guess I was more thinking about 3D Hub worlds.

 

[Kirin]

It just occurred to me that an Airship where you can explore the interior is *kind of* like a hub-world, in that you can walk around it same as any other area and exiting it leads to all kinds of different places. But I feel like going there might stretch the definition past its breaking point...

 

[Mogri]

It just occurred to me that an Airship where you can explore the interior is *kind of* like a hub-world, in that you can walk around it same as any other area and exiting it leads to all kinds of different places. But I feel like going there might stretch the definition past its breaking point...

The FFX airship has you choose a location from a list, which feels hubbier than most airships, but I'm not sure I'd call a fast travel menu a hub world even if it's only accessible from a specific in-game location.

 

[Patrick]

One of the items on my list is pretty similar to an airship.

 

[Violentvixen]

It just occurred to me that an Airship where you can explore the interior is *kind of* like a hub-world, in that you can walk around it same as any other area and exiting it leads to all kinds of different places. But I feel like going there might stretch the definition past its breaking point...

I mean it's the same as a town if it has shops and stuff and I'm counting a few towns on mine. I did have one large ship that isn't likely to make the cut but others might.

 

[Johnny Unusual]

I sent in a list. Many of mine are mobile because if we really pair down a list of proper "hubworlds", I've only played maybe 10 games with them. Mechanically, it's all pretty much the same to me.

 

[Daikaiju]

Hub Maps & World Maps 1980s

Worlds Unraveled

worldsunraveled.weebly.com

 

[Johnny Unusual]

Reminder that the deadline is this Wednesday.

 

[Violentvixen]

I have a list of 35 I need to trim down. I just realized I should combine some of the Fire Emblem Barracks/caravans from a few different games in that series as they're mechanically the same for a few sets of 'em.

 

[Falselogic]

I couldn't get to 25 but I got my list in.