25 Best In-Game Photo Locations (Real-World Inspired)

Today’s games feature incredibly detailed and realistic environments, from accurately recreated city streets to famous landmarks – perfect for taking amazing in-game photos. We’ve highlighted some iconic locations inspired by real-world places, along with advice on the best viewpoints, times of day, and in-game tools to help you capture the perfect shot. We’ve also included the game studio and publisher for each location, so you can explore these beautiful virtual worlds for yourself.

‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’ (2023) – Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

For a great view of the bridge, position yourself on the eastern side and focus on the suspension cables, with the city skyline in the background. During the golden hour (around sunrise or sunset), point your camera west to capture the warm light hitting lower Manhattan and the East River. Use the game’s Photo Mode to adjust the Field of View for a dramatic look at the cables, and use Depth of Field to ensure Spider-Man remains in sharp focus against the city backdrop. This game was created by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ (2014) – Notre-Dame de Paris

For a classic cathedral photo, climb the south tower and line up the spire with the Île de la Cité. The best light for capturing details and vibrant stained glass is at dawn or dusk. To get straight, clean lines, turn off the on-screen display and use the tilt controls in Photo Mode to fix any skewed angles. This game was created and published by Ubisoft.

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020) – Tsushima Island Coastlines

Capture beautiful photos at Komoda Beach or near the lighthouse cliffs by including the flowing pampas grass in the foreground. Experiment with the weather settings – choose overcast for dramatic seascapes or clear skies for reflections on the tidal flats. For striking black and white images, try Kurosawa Mode, which highlights the waves and rock formations. This game was created by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018) – Saint Denis (New Orleans–inspired)

For a great photo spot, head to the streetcar tracks by the cathedral square. You can capture the beautiful wrought-iron balconies and old-fashioned gaslit streets in a single shot. Photographing after it rains will give you lovely reflections on the cobblestones, while midday light highlights the detailed signs and shopfronts. Use the Advanced Camera’s portrait lens to blur the background and focus on the people and activity around you. This game is developed and published by Rockstar Games.

‘The Last of Us Part II’ (2020) – Seattle Waterfront

Capture the iconic Seattle skyline by framing the Ferris wheel and stadium roofs from the piers, then sweep your view to include the ferries moving across Elliott Bay. Cloudy weather creates softer shadows on the glass buildings, while storms add a misty atmosphere to the cityscape. The game’s realistic, textured environments look great with Photo Mode’s grain and film-like effects. Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ (2021) – Guanajuato

Capture stunning views of the city from the hillside park, overlooking the colorful houses and winding streets below. The late afternoon sun beautifully highlights the building facades and cathedral domes. Use Drone Mode to find interesting pathways through the alleys, then switch to Photo Mode to create motion blur with passing cars. This game was developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios.

‘Watch Dogs 2’ (2016) – Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

This photo was taken from Battery Spencer, perfectly capturing the Golden Gate Bridge towers and the hills of Marin Headlands in the background. The early morning fog adds beautiful depth to the image—slightly reducing the brightness helps preserve the rich red color. The game’s photo mode allows for manual focus, which is useful for highlighting specific details like the bridge cables or car lights. This game was created and published by Ubisoft.

‘Yakuza 0’ (2015) – Kamurocho (Kabukicho, Tokyo–inspired)

For striking photos in Theater Square, focus on the bright neon lights and busy signs. Tilt the camera upwards to capture the huge billboards. Shooting at night is best – increase the ISO in Photo Mode and add a subtle vignette to create a dramatic urban feel. After it rains, the wet streets will reflect the lights, effectively doubling your light sources. This game was created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA.

‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ (2020) – Paris & the Eiffel Tower

Start your flight low over the Champ de Mars and circle around to get the Eiffel Tower framed by the Seine River and the Trocadéro gardens. For bright, clear photos, use the live weather setting with clear skies. If you prefer more dramatic shots, choose broken clouds for added depth. The drone camera’s zoom feature creates a slightly flattened, but appealing, skyline. This was developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios.

‘Horizon Forbidden West’ (2022) – San Francisco Ruins

Find high spots near the broken bridge to photograph the remaining towers with the bay as a backdrop. Using fog effects can create a realistic coastal mood, while shooting at midday will give shallow waters a bright, turquoise color. For artistic shots, use Depth of Field and focus manually to highlight old structures and separate them from plants. This game was created by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’ (2018) – Acropolis of Athens

For the best view, approach the Parthenon from the southwest, using the city as a backdrop to show its size. Shoot during sunrise to highlight the details of the columns, and avoid midday to minimize glare on the marble. Using a wide-angle lens can emphasize the steps and the structure’s front, but remember to straighten the image in post-processing to correct any tilting. This was developed and published by Ubisoft.

‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ (2017) – Giza Plateau

Okay, so for awesome screenshots in Assassin’s Creed Origins, I’ve found the perfect spot: head to the dunes north of the pyramids. Positioning Bayek there gives you a really clean outline against the sky. The best time is late afternoon when the pyramids cast long shadows. And if you’re going for nighttime shots, the Milky Way preset in Photo Mode looks incredible! Just remember to use the exposure compensation to keep the sand from getting blown out – you want to see all the detail. Oh, and Ubisoft made this amazing game, by the way.

‘Sleeping Dogs’ (2012) – Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

Capture photos from the promenade to highlight the city skyline’s reflections and the bustling Star Ferry. The blue hour at dusk offers a beautiful balance between neon lights and fading daylight, creating striking color contrasts. If it rains, use the puddles under market canopies to create unique street-level reflections. This game was created by United Front Games and published by Square Enix.

‘Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End’ (2016) – Antananarivo, Madagascar

When traveling the hill roads, turn back for stunning views of the city – terracotta rooftops and bustling markets create a beautiful, layered scene. The dust in the air glows at sunset, making the buildings appear even more distant and adding to the atmosphere. In Photo Mode, using motion blur on vehicles like jeeps creates a sense of movement without sacrificing the clarity of the landscape. This game was created by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Death Stranding’ (2019) – Icelandic Highlands–Inspired Lava Fields

Look for areas with dark, volcanic rock and flat mossy ground, and then frame your shots with rivers stretching into the distance. Cloudy weather is best for creating gentle, consistent colors, and rain will make the greens and rock textures even more vibrant. To highlight the vastness of the landscape, shoot from low angles using wide-angle lenses. This game was created by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (with 505 Games handling the PC version).

‘Hitman’ (2016) – Paris Fashion Show (Grand Palais–inspired)

When shooting from the balcony, position yourself to create a balanced image with the runway arch and the glass roof in the background. Once the show begins, focus on capturing the movement of the crowd and the effects of the spotlights. To avoid overexposure, especially with shiny materials like sequins and reflective floors, use manual exposure settings. This game was created by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix.

‘Hitman 3’ (2021) – Dubai Skyscraper (Burj-like tower)

Head to the outdoor terraces for stunning photos of the clouds and the desert landscape. The soft light in the early morning highlights the towers’ sharp shapes. Use the contrast and clarity settings in Photo Mode to really make the building’s design stand out. This game was created and published by IO Interactive.

‘Tom Clancy’s The Division’ (2016) – Times Square, New York City

Okay, so for this shot, I like to position myself right in the middle of the intersection. Then I frame it with those huge, stacked LED billboards – they really give you a sense of scale. If it’s snowing, even better! The snowflakes catch the light from the screens and look amazing. I always shoot at night to make those color casts really pop. And I tweak the in-game filters to give everything cooler, wintery tones with just a touch of bloom. This game? It’s from Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft, by the way.

‘Forza Horizon 4’ (2018) – Edinburgh Castle

For a great view of the castle, park along the Esplanade. This will position the castle with the historic buildings of Old Town and the Firth of Forth in the background. Fall colors beautifully enhance the stonework. When taking photos, use Drone Mode to get interesting shots from behind statues, then switch to Photo Mode for detailed pictures. This game was created by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios.

‘Gran Turismo 7’ (2022) – Tokyo Expressway (C1 Loop–inspired)

Position a camera overlooking a highway to film traffic and nearby buildings. Shooting at night creates bright, smooth light trails – use a slower shutter speed in Scapes mode to enhance this effect. Wet roads amplify neon lights and make lane markings more visible. This was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’ (2024) – Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Capture stunning photos on Kalākaua Avenue: at sunrise, frame the palm trees, waves, and hotels all in one shot. The water looks clearest around midday, while sunsets create beautiful silhouettes of outrigger canoes. You can even use the in-game Photo Mode to take selfies with your companions, creating perfect travel-style photos. This game was created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020) – Japantown, Night City

Explore the city’s elevated walkways and hidden alleyways for unique signs and lantern-lit scenes, inspired by Tokyo. Rainy weather effects create reflective streets that make neon lights pop. Use chromatic aberration subtly, and zoom in to compress the look of the city’s layers. This was created by CD Projekt Red.

‘Mafia III’ (2016) – New Bordeaux French Ward (New Orleans–inspired)

Capture photos from balcony walkways to highlight the intricate cast-iron railings and vintage gas lamps lining the narrow streets. Evening parades offer opportunities for exciting, action-filled shots – use a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement and confetti. On foggy nights, focus on the glowing halos around the street lamps reflecting off the cobblestones. This game was created by Hangar 13 and published by 2K.

‘Assassin’s Creed Mirage’ (2023) – Round City of Baghdad

Explore the Caliph’s Palace and capture photos of the city’s streets spreading out from its center. The morning sun highlights the beautiful details of the buildings, like the textured stucco and colorful tiles, while dust storms create a dramatic atmosphere. Use the game’s Photo Mode to focus on specific features like domes and minarets rising above the rooftops. This game was created and published by Ubisoft.

‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2’ (2020) – Venice Beach Skatepark, Los Angeles

For a unique perspective, shoot from inside the bowl, tilting the camera upwards to capture the lifeguard towers, artwork, and lines of palm trees. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows from the edges of the bowl, which is ideal for creating striking photos. You can also use the replay camera to freeze a trick at the perfect moment and adjust the field of view to emphasize the action. This game was created by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision.

Share your own favorite real-world-inspired photo spots in games down in the comments!

2025-11-19 09:47