Churches have always played a fascinating role in the world of video games. These places attract wanderers frequently, bringing them together to join and support a common purpose. In the end, all churches serve as places of worship, but what really matters is who or what is being worshipped.
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However, the significance of the local religion’s ideals may not be important at all. Perhaps tearing through the section of a level where you need to aim and fire between the pews of the church or maybe scaling the chapel’s roof to take in the view is the matter at hand. Despite the varied importance of churches in video games, they remain a captivating and memorable aspect of the many virtual worlds we enter.
8The Village Church - Resident Evil 4
The opening section ofResident Evil 4stands out as one of the most memorable in gaming history, primarily because of the multitude of strategies you’re able to use to navigate through it. The village itself is spacious enough to run around and take waves of zombies on until that church bell rings.
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However, if you give Leon a chance to show off his sharpshooting skills, he can go ahead and just shoot the bell, calling all the village zombies to reconvene at the church. While somewhat of a hidden gem, it is greatly appreciated by speedrunners and those who enjoy their Easter eggs.
Founded by geophysicist Michael Altman, the Church of Unitology’s beliefs were rooted in his encounter with an artifact called the Black Marker, discovered off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. While Altman remained unaffected by its mysterious power, the artifact plagued him with nightmares and headaches for weeks. The division between believers and skeptics emerged, and with Altman foreseeing the government’s intention to weaponize the Marker, he fled.
The church had come up with a date for his supposed assassination on March 5th, 2215, and Altman’s message was convoluted into pure evil. Unitology shifted its focus to the worship of the deadly black Marker, believing it held the key to mankind’s ascension to a higher form of existence. TheDead Spacecult promoted convergence, aiming for humanity to unite with the Necromorphs, an alien species, in a new advanced life form. Those questioning this doctrine faced a grim fate, serving as bodies for convergence.
6Sector 5 Slums Church – Final Fantasy 7
Aerith certainly has a way of imbuing the Slums Church with warmth, much like she did with Cloud. Over time, the flowers she cares for within the church gradually transform, mirroring the blossoming relationship between Cloud and Aerith. The church is a place of sanctuary and inspiration for locals in the slums to convene as well as a place for Clouds companions to come together inFinal Fantasy 7. Aerith’s own home is attached to the place, showing her devotion as well as how much she cares for the sake of the community. After her passing, being in the church becomes daunting.
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However, her spirit remains, as Cloud can see her ghost flicker as she collects flowers in the middle of the church. In the game’s remake, Cloud experiences subtle glimpses into the future, granting him the ability to foresee certain events. During his moments with her, he senses an inexplicable unease but persists in his efforts, driven by the slim hope that he may yet find a way to rescue her.
5Notre-Dame Cathedral – Assassin’s Creed Unity
Traversing Notre Dame in its entirety is one of the top satisfying moments in theAssassin’s Creedseries. While playing as the French assassin Arno Dorian, the opportunity will arise to climb up to the very top of the cathedral to complete synchronization with the map. The game is regarded as having the most impressive parkour among all the Assassin’s Creed titles, so ascending this church becomes an exhilarating and enjoyable experience. The mechanics and fluidity of movement seamlessly align as you take control of Arno.
Not only is the experience of Notre Dame astounding, but the actual development of the building in-game is a spectacular two-year project that the level design team accomplished. The design of the building in the game is so remarkable that it was once poised to contribute to the reconstruction of the original building in real life!
4Church Of Vows – Elden Ring
The Church of Vows is a favorite amongElden Ringplayers for a few reasons, but most gamers will recognize it because of its extraordinary and humble turtle Miriel Pastor of Vows. Miriel serves as the wise, long-time pope of the Church of Vows. He knows lots about the history of the Land Between and will inform the tarnished on whatever lore they would like to know.
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In addition to being our primary source of history for the Lands Between, he excels as our favorite merchant, readily providing us with any spells or incantations we request for training. Miriel remains steadfast at the Church of Vows, eliminating concerns about his relocation like other NPCs often do. Regardless of your chosen ending, Miriel stays dedicated to aiding the tarnished, committing to the Church of Vows for the rest of his days.
3Church Of The Children Of Atom – Fallout
The Children of Atom were some of the first cultists that many gamers crossed paths with. When entering the city of Megaton inFallout 3, you’ll hear the chants of Confessor Cromwell yelling to bask in Atom’s glow. After noticing that he’s preaching in front of a Nuke with irradiated water around it, there is an immediate realization that the entire church is a lost cause. Eventually, the Lone Wanderer gets the option to detonate the Nuke and blow Megaton — a city now known for its infamous cult — to kingdom come.
You’d think this act would put the cultist beliefs at an end, but the nuclear explosion just makes their cause grow stronger. The Children of Atom would go on to praise the glow of Atom and radiation in general inFallout 4, expanding their organization by incorporating more followers as well as Zealots who would protect the faction.
2Firelink Shrine – Dark Souls
The hub of most ofthe Souls gameshas always felt like a comfortable hearth. The atmosphere of the location carries an eerie undertone, accentuated by the presence of ruins and graves scattered across the landscape. However, a comforting sense of familiarity embraces you as fellow NPCs, whom you have aided on your journey, warmly greet you, evoking a feeling of homecoming. Each one of them is indebted to help you on your journey. The clangs of the blacksmith’s hammers, as you approach them, add to this exact feeling.
Companions, acquaintances, and enemies all gather in this area for their own reasons, but ultimately to seek an audience with the protagonist. While the Ashen One is given their quest from the beginning, they have the freedom to explore multiple paths and the characters at Firelink Shrine hold significant influence, capable of completely altering the player’s chosen trajectory.
1Temple Of Time – The Legend Of Zelda
The Temple of Time is one of the core points of lore for all the Zelda games and serves as the gateway of time between the present Hyrule and what is referred to as the Sacred Realm. The temple is also the place where Link can access the Master Sword inOcarina of Time, which holds its own divine powers. Within the Sacred Realm lies the Triforce, a powerful artifact that bestows its wielder with great power.
Across the Zelda games, the Temple of Time takes on various magnificent forms, yet inBreath of the Wild, it bears visible scars from the calamity that occurred a century prior. InTears of the Kingdom, the once majestic temple on the Great Plateau now lies in ruins. Nevertheless, its undiminished influence persists on Great Sky Island, with its original Zonai counterpart serving as the starting point for Link’s quest to find Zelda. Despite the passage of time, the Temple of Time stands as a pivotal and enduring landmark, firmly establishing its significance in the expansive realm of the Zelda series.
