Oh those lovely hometowns, starting villages… Their peaceful and harmonious atmosphere ensures that there’s nothing to worry about; our journey is yet to begin. And then suddenly, it’s all gone, leaving behind nothing but dust. And sometimes a bit of fire.
The settlements listed below are not necessarily just starting areas, but they have one thing in common: they are all doomed to meet their destiny, sooner or later, and there is nothing we can do to save them.
Mild spoilers ahead!
Raccoon City (Resident Evil series but mostly Resident Evil 2)
source: Two Best Friends Play RE2
Midgar (Final Fantasy VII)
source: FF Wiki
Lahan Village (Xenogears)
source: Xenosaga Wiki
Kvatch (The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion)
source: UESP
Silent Hill (Silent Hill series)
source: Silent Hill Wiki
West Harbor (Neverwinter Nights 2)
source: biglos9d’s LP
Tristram (Diablo series)
source: own screenshot
Chicago (Deus Ex: Invisible War)
source: Deus Ex: Invisible War Intro
Drogen (Breath Of Fire)
source: DavetheUsher’s LP
Oakvale (Fable series)
source: Fable Wiki
Do you know any towns with a fate worse than the ones we collected? You should submit them below with visual support.
Kotaku.
It didn’t stand a chance once Gergo Vas moved in.
Where is Clock Town!! The town may not be doomed every day, but you can’t save everybody.
Actually, other than the bomb shop lady’s delivery, with speedrunning tactics, it is entirely possible to save everyone.
Really? Wow, I never knew that.
Still deserves a place on this list.
Zanarkand!
TARIS! WTF ABOUT TARIS! KOTOR, PEOPLE, KOTOR!
This!
Glad Kvatch was listed. Was worried it would be left out. Would it be too much of a stretch to say Black Mesa should have been on that list?
The Hex town of Chamba in Breath of Fire IV
Phlan in Pools of Darkness
Crysta, Terranigma.
Gran Seal – Shining Force II
Starting village in Breath of Fire that’s attacked by dragons… I forget the name of the village.
Megaton from Fallout 3 if you decide to be a naughty person.
Megaton isn’t really a starting village it’s more like a safe haven you can always return to and although not physically destroyed, life in Vault 101 was violently altered for the protagonist as the impetus for the adventure.
I just came to check if West Harbour was included, I’m satisfied it did.. but I’m not sure it really belongs. They may have been knocked down, but Harbourmen always come back stronger, not really the definition of doomed.