History Main / TheOverworld

Welcome to the Overworld. This is the neutral unifying setting in a VideoGame. It's where you are when you aren't DungeonCrawling or visiting the AdventureTowns.

In {{Action Game}}s and {{Platform Game}}s that don't follow the Overworld vs. [[DungeonCrawling Underworld]] format, the Overworld is sometimes referred to as a Ground Level. It's the "basic" themed VideoGameSetting as opposed to the more specialized levels or stages that employ special mechanics like [[UnderTheSea swimming]]. It usually overlaps with GreenHillZone or the Plains, but it can also be determined by the overall setting. Well lit, safe streets if the setting is confined to one city, or the thinnest part of the Jungle if the whole thing takes place in the tropics.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Waind Waker]]'', the Great Sea serves this role, an interesting take on the concept being that you have to traverse by boat. There are small islands that have nuances you can explore but, its mostly just open seas.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'' expands upon the original with a world map that's approximately 400sq. miles and the only way to fully explore it is by unlocking your SKELLS [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4ZRVoX3aA flight capability.]]

** Tallon Overworld in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' game has elevators to all but one of the other zones. True to form, it also plays the Brinstar theme from ''Metroid''.

** Temple Grounds in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 2'' doubles as the HubLevel.
** Bryyo Cliffside in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 3'', but only for that particular planet.

** In ''VideoGame/TheWindWaker'' it was The Great Sea, an interesting take on the concept being that you had to traverse by boat. There are small islands that have nuances you can explore but, its mostly just open seas.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' features the largest, most detailed, overworld of any [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]] game to date; featuring varied terrain, scores of enemies, and secret grottos. In fact, it was so massive that the game gives you Epona early on, otherwise, getting around could take awhile....
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' it's the Sky, which you have to traverse by giant bird. Similar to the ''VideoGame/TheWindWaker'' there are small ''floating'' islands strewn out among the clouds.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' features the largest, most detailed, overworld of any [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]] game to date; featuring varied terrain, scores of enemies, and secret grottos. In fact, it was so massive that the game gives you Epona early on, otherwise, getting around could take awhile....
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' it's the Sky, which you have to traverse by giant bird. Similar to the ''VideoGame/TheWindWaker'' there are small ''floating'' islands strewn out among the clouds.
** Hyrule and the DarkWorld in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' serve as this [[DualWorldGameplay collectively]]. In contrast, this is more directly in Hyrule's ballpark in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', where [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Lorule]] is made up in large part of {{Disconnected Side Area}}s.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series boast some of the largest Overworlds in gaming.
** The Iliac Bay area in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'' is so enormous that travelling from one town to another without fast travel can take several hours or even days ''in real-time''. Though the fact that most of it is randomly generated and reuses assets means that there's no real benefit in ''not'' using fast travel, and is probably why even the massive overworlds of the later games use SpaceCompression.
** In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', the Vvardenfell island is a single continuous explorable location, dotted with countless entrances to smaller dungeon and indoors levels.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' is similar to ''Morrowind'' with its portrayal of Cyrodiil, except that entire cities are also rendered as smaller sub-levels accessible from the overworld, in large part so the unique designs for the cities can be rendered without crashing the game.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' makes Skyrim around twice as big as Cyrodiil ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation it's actually the other way around in the lore, but they couldn't really avoid this contradiction without being at the expense of the gameplay]]) and also features the same "cities as sub-levels" approach as its predecessor. There is also the smaller underground overworld of Blackreach, which provides numerous back-entrances to dozens of Dwemer dungeons across northern Skyrim.

* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Ponyville]] in ''[[FanFic/SonicGenerationsFriendshipIsTimeless Sonic Generations: Friendship is Timeless]]''. It's not exactly "neutral", though, as that's where the changeling battle in chapter 13 occurred.

** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' is similar to ''Morrowind'' with its portrayal of Cyrodil, except that entire cities are also rendered as smaller sub-levels accessible from the overworld, in large part so the unique designs for the cities can be rendered without crashing the game.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' makes Skyrim around twice as big as Cyrodil ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation it's actually the other way around in the lore, but they couldn't really avoid this contradiction without being at the expense of the gameplay]]) and also features the same "cities as sub-levels" approach as its predecessor. There is also the smaller underground overworld of Blackreach, which provides numerous back-entrances to dozens of Dwemer dungeons across northern Skyrim.

* ''FinalFantasy'' had the overworld until X, where they started to replace it with tube-like "road" locations.

In {{RPG}}s the Overworld may be a WorldMap (see OverworldNotToScale) used solely for progressing from one Dungeon or AdventureTown to the next. Certain areas that require more nuance or have plot elements around them may shift it to an adventure like format. When crossing a certain bridge or a trekking up a specific mountain path, the camera may zoom in for the section to be drawn to scale and have more opportunities for exploration and solving small puzzles. Always expect random encounters to happen here.

A type of WorldMap. In terms of size and activity it is on the 3-part scale of PlayableMenu (small, interactive list of places to go), HubLevel (mid size, warps you to other locations), and finally TheOverworld (large, environment physically/geographically connected to other places)

** The Iliac Bay area in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'' is so enormous that travelling from one town to another without fast travel can take several hours or even days ''in real-time''. Though the fact that most of it is randomly generated and reuses assets means that there's no real benefit in ''not'' using fast travel, and is probably why even the massive overworlds of the later games use SpaceCompression.

** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' makes Skyrim around twice as big as Cyrodil ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation contradicting lore by unavoidable necessity]]) and also features the same "cities as sub-levels" approach as its predecessor. There is also the smaller underground overworld of Blackreach, which provides numerous back-entrances to dozens of Dwemer dungeons across northern Skyrim.

** Hyrule and the DarkWorld in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' collectively serve as this. In contrast, this is more directly in Hyrule's ballpark in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', where [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Lorule]] is made up in large part of {{Disconnected Side Area}}s.

** The Iliac Bay area in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'' is so enormous that travelling from one town to another without fast travel can take several hours or even days ''in real-time''. Though the fact that most of it is randomly generated and reuses assets means that there's no real benefit in ''not'' using fast travel, and is probably why even the massive overworlds of the later games use SpaceCompression.

** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' makes Skyrim around twice as big as Cyrodil ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation contradicting lore by unavoidable necessity]]) and also features the same "cities as sub-levels" approach as its predecessor. There is also the smaller underground overworld of Blackreach, which provides numerous back-entrances to dozens of Dwemer dungeons across northern Skyrim.

** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' is similar to ''''Morrowind'', except that entire cities are also rendered as smaller sub-levels accessible from the overworld.

** Crateria and Brinstar sorta split the difference in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''; Maridia can be accessed from either, but the other areas can only be access from one or the other (Norfair from Brinstar, Wrecked Ship and Tourian from Crateria).

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'':
** Tallon Overworld in the first game has elevators to all but one of the other zones. True to form, it also plays the main ''Metroid'' adventuring theme.

** Bryyo Cliffside in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 3''.

The Overworld will typically play a rendition of the game's main theme. Especially in older games, the song may become Bootstrapped into the main theme just because it's the one song everyone is guaranteed to hear when they play. Often over and over if there isn't a save feature and you always start from the beginning.

A type of WorldMap. In terms of size and activity it is on the scale of PlayableMenu (small, interactive list of places to go) HubLevel (mid size, warps you to other locations) and finally TheOverworld (large, environment physically/geographically connected to other places)

SuperTrope to OverworldNotToScale. Compare GreenHillZone and HubLevel.

In action games and platformers that don't follow the Overworld vs. [[DungeonCrawling Underworld]] format, the Overworld is sometimes referred to as a Ground Level. It's the "basic" themed VideoGameSetting as opposed to the more specialized levels, or stages that employ special mechanics like [[UnderTheSea swimming]]. It usually overlaps with GreenHillZone or the Plains, it can also be determined by the overall setting. Well lit, safe streets if the setting is confined to one city, or the thinnest part of the Jungle if the whole thing takes place in the tropics.

In {{RPG}}s the Overworld may be a WorldMap, see OverworldNotToScale, used solely for progressing from one Dungeon or AdventureTown to the next. Certain areas that require more nuance or have plot elements around them may shift it to an adventure like format. Crossing a certain bridge or a trekking up specific mountain path may zoom in to be drawn to scale and have more opportunities to explore and solve small puzzles. Always expect random encounters to happen here.

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' has the {{Eagleland}} overworld, which actually has roads, just like in RealLife! You sometimes get to ride in the tour bus with a local band down them, but otherwise you walk like in other [=RPGs=].

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' has the {{Eagleland}} overworld, which actually has roads, just like in RealLife! You sometimes get to ride in the tour bus with a local band down them, but otherwise you walk like in other RPGs.

Welcome to the Overworld. This is the neutral unifying setting in a VideoGame. It's where you are when you aren't DungeonCrawling or visitng the AdventureTowns.

* ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' Has the {{Eagleland}} overworld, which actually has roads, just like in RealLife! You sometimes get to ride in the tour bus with a local band down them, but otherwise you walk like in other RPGs
* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' got one in its second expansion, ''Storm of Zehir''. Previously the game had you fast travel between locations.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series boast some of the largest Overworlds in gaming

* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKong''. Here Ground Stage is JungleJapes instead of GreenHillZone since it takes place on a tropical island. Still there are thicker parts of the Jungle, sometimes referred to as the Forest for differentiation, that are more equivalent to a proper JungleJapes rather than TheLostWoods.

* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrolls'' series boast some of the largest Overworlds in gaming

** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' is similar to ''''VideoGame/Morrowind'', except that entire cities are also rendered as smaller sub-levels accessible from the overworld.

* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Ponyville]] in ''[[FanFic/SonicGenerationsFriendshipIsTimeless Sonic Generations: Friendship is Timeless]]''. It's not exactly "neutral", though, as that's where the changeling battle in chapter 13 occurred.

A type of WorldMap. In terms of size and activity it is on the scale of PlayableMenu (small, interactive list of places to go) HubLevel (mid size, warps you to other locations) and finally the OverWorld (large, environment physically/geographically connected to other places)

Examples