Obsidian's Josh Sawyer on RPG cities: 'Compared to a dungeon, generally speaking, a town is 4x the expense per square foot'
It's these freaking zoning laws, man.
Obsidian studio design director Josh Sawyer recently discussed the challenges and costs associated with creating RPGs set in urban environments. In a YouTube Q&A, Sawyer explained that compared to a dungeon environment, cities are generally four times more expensive per square foot to develop.
Sawyer cited several examples of urban RPGs that successfully capture believable, dense settings, including Baldur's Gate 2's Athkatla, Disco Elysium, and Zero Parades. However, he noted that the latter two benefit from not needing to incorporate as many believable combat encounters as other RPGs.
Some additional urban RPGs Sawyer mentioned include Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur's Gate 3's rendition of the titular city. While he acknowledges that these titles pose significant development challenges, Sawyer remains a staunch defender of urban adventures in RPGs, including those that form the entire game.
Novigrad and Oxenfurt, two standout locations from The Witcher 3, serve as examples of the captivating urban environments Sawyer admires. For a niche urban RPG worth checking out, he recommends Moves of the Diamond Hand, an early access title currently available.
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