Introduction
The Video Game Locations Dataset is a structured game location database documenting the relationship between real-world locations and their representation in video games.
Designed as a research database and structured dataset, it combines AI-assisted research with a transparent verification workflow to create consistent, high-quality geographic video game data. Every published record passes through a documented review process before becoming part of the dataset.
Rather than simply collecting place names, the project describes how games relate to real-world geography through standardized geographic classification, coordinate assignment, structured video game metadata, verification metadata, and external identifiers. The result is a reproducible, continuously evolving geographic dataset suitable for research, GIS, AI applications, and semantic data integration.
AI Assisted Research Workflow
The Video Game Locations Dataset follows a reproducible research workflow that combines AI-assisted discovery with manual validation to create reliable geographic video game data.
1. Identify
A real-world location represented within a video game is identified.
- Cities & settlements
- Landmarks
- Historical sites
- Natural feature
- Sports venues
- etc.
2. Research
Relevant evidence is collected using AI-assisted research and manual review.
- Official developer or publisher material
- In-game observations
- Official maps and documentation
- Reliable secondary references
- etc.
3. Georeference
The identified location is linked to the most appropriate geographic coordinates.
- an exact geographic feature
- a representative reference point
- the centroid of a larger area
- an approximate geographic area
4. Review
Every record undergoes a structured quality assurance process before publication.
- Geographic consistency
- Metadata completeness
- Coordinate quality
- Naming consistency
- Duplicate detection
- Taxonomy consistency
Representing Fictional & Real Locations in Videogames
Not every location appearing in a video game is a direct representation of a real-world place. The Video Game Locations Dataset therefore records a standardized Setting Status for every entry. This geographic classification is a core component of the Video Game Locations Dataset and enables consistent interpretation of geographic video game data across different franchises and genres.
- Real: The game explicitly represents an identifiable real-world location.
- Fictional with real anchor: The location is fictionalized but is clearly based on a documented real-world place.
- Fictional: The location is fictional but maintains a documented geographic relationship to a real-world location.
- Unknown: Available evidence is currently insufficient to classify the relationship reliably.
Examples
| Game | Location | Setting Status |
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | Delphi | Real |
| Hitman (2016) | Sapienza | Fictional with Real Anchor |
| Command & Conquer: Renegade | Temple of NOD | Fictional |
This standardized geographic classification allows researchers, developers, GIS professionals, and AI systems to distinguish literal representations from fictionalized environments while preserving documented geographic relationships.
Coordinate Precision
Each record includes a Coordinate Method describing how precisely the geographic reference represents the documented location within the geospatial video game data.
| Method | Description |
| Exact | Identifies the specific real-world feature represented in the game. |
| Representative | Identifies the best supported reference point for the documented location. |
| Centroid | Uses the geographic center of a larger administrative or geographic area. |
| Approximate | Represents a broader geographic area when greater precision cannot be supported. |
Coordinate precision reflects the available evidence rather than the overall quality of the dataset.
What’s Included in Each Record
Each record combines structured geographic data, standardized video game metadata, and location metadata to support GIS, artificial intelligence, semantic data, geospatial analysis, software development, and research.
Typical records include:
Game Information
- Game identifier
- Canonical title
- Franchise
- Release year
- Genre
- Game Wikidata ID
Geographic Information
- Location name
- Country
- Geographic coordinates
- Location type
- Setting Status
- Coordinate Method
Quality Metadata
- Verification Level
- Source Quality
- Source Count
- Review Metadata
Additional location metadata, administrative information, evidence records, quality-control fields, and geographic identifiers are included in selected editions of the dataset and continue to evolve over time.
Example Record of a Video Game Location
This example demonstrates how the Video Game Locations Dataset combines structured metadata, geographic coordinates, verification information, and standardized classifications into a reproducible geographic record.
| Field | Value |
| Game | Hitman (2016) |
| Franchise | Hitman |
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Genre | Action Adventure |
| Location | Sapienza |
| Country | Italy |
| Country ISO | IT |
| Location Type | City |
| Setting Status | Fictional with Real Anchor |
| Real-World Anchor | Amalfi Coast |
| Coordinates | 40.6333, 14.6029 |
| Coordinate Method | Representative |
| Verification Level | Verified |
| Source Quality | A |
| Game Wikidata ID | Q19684577 |
A complete record may contain additional video game metadata, geographic attributes, evidence information, verification details, and review metadata depending on the dataset edition.
Continuous Quality Improvement & Known Limitations
The Video Game Locations Dataset is continuously refined as new evidence becomes available.
Quality improvements include:
- Replacing approximate coordinates with more precise geographic references
- Improving verification through additional evidence
- Expanding video game metadata
- Standardizing geographic classifications
- Improving coordinate assignment
- Expanding geographic coverage
- Incorporating newly released games
Some limitations are inherent to documenting the relationship between video games and real-world geography.
Examples include:
- Fictionalized representations of real places
- Intentionally altered geography
- Incomplete developer documentation
- Game worlds that evolve through updates
- Ambiguous or disputed real-world inspirations
- Historical uncertainty
Rather than forcing uncertain conclusions, the project records the highest level of certainty supported by the available evidence and reflects that confidence transparently through its metadata.
This commitment to an evidence-based methodology, reproducible verification workflow, standardized geographic classification, and rigorous quality assurance ensures that the Video Game Locations Dataset remains a trusted game location database for GIS, artificial intelligence, machine learning, semantic data, knowledge graphs, software development, academic research, and other applications requiring high-quality geographic video game data and geospatial video game data.
For information about permitted uses, commercial licensing, redistribution rights, and available dataset editions, please refer to the Licensing page. If you have questions about the dataset, methodology, downloads, or usage, additional answers are available in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.