Horizon Forbidden West
Host of the JayBari Youtube Channel, Jay Bari Strife
For PlayStation fans out there, Jay Bari is a name you should absolutely know. He’s conducted some amazing interviews over the years—including one with Shawn Layden—and continued to deliver consistent content alongside his Co-Host Persona on What’s Up PlayStation. Even though the podcast is no longer active, Jay Bari is still putting in work on his YouTube channel, bringing fans great content week after week. Every interaction I’ve had with him has been excellent, and I even had the chance to meet him at PAX East 2024. He’s always willing to jump into one of these community pieces, and here’s what he had to say about the world he’d live in—or be trapped in.
Living in the world of Horizon Forbidden West would be an unforgettable blend of wonder, danger, and breathtaking beauty. You’d wake up surrounded by sweeping, beautiful landscapes untouched by modern industry and massive open plains where mechanical creatures roam. The world is rich with a sense of rediscovery as humanity rebuilds itself amid the ruins of a forgotten past.
Creating diverse tribes with distinct cultures, craftsmanship, and philosophies. Technology and spirituality can coexist in a unique harmony: machines shaped like birds, beasts, and dinosaurs fill the horizon, not as simple robots, but can be dangerous with every encounter. Human or machine, this world will remind you that it is alive, evolving, and waiting to be understood.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Host of Games Talk Live, Jay Fonzerelli
When you think of people with a voice made for radio, Jay Fonzerelli immediately comes to mind. Fonz has a voice that I genuinely believe would be perfect for video game voice acting if he ever decided to pursue it. He also hosts an excellent podcast called Games Talk Live, where he dives into some of the latest and greatest news in the gaming industry. And if you’re like me, you probably loved his game show segment, “5 Questions.” I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with him back in June—we had plenty of great conversations, and I can’t wait to talk with him again. This is the world Fonz said he’d live in—or be trapped in.
If I had the chance to live in the world of any video game, I would choose the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. Its vast landscapes, rugged frontier towns, and sense of unfiltered freedom create a setting unlike any other. The world feels alive in a way that’s rare in games. Every sunrise, shifting weather pattern, and wandering traveler adds to a sense of immersive realism. For someone like me, who loves the outdoors, it’s a world that feels both familiar and full of wonder.
One of the main reasons I’d choose this world is its breathtaking natural beauty. From the snowy peaks of the Grizzlies to the open plains of New Hanover, the game offers a level of environmental variety that invites constant exploration. I am a huge fan of hiking, so living there would mean waking up each day with the wilderness right at my doorstep and the freedom to roam wherever curiosity pulls me. The forests, rivers, mountains, and wildlife create a sense of peace and adventure that captures everything I enjoy about being outside.
Another Reason Why
Another aspect that draws me to this world is the slower, more grounded pace of life. Instead of modern distractions, the world revolves around survival, craftsmanship, and human connections. There’s something deeply appealing about traveling by horseback, setting up camp under the stars, and relying on nature for food and shelter. It’s a lifestyle that encourages appreciation for the land and rewards those who are willing to live closely with it. For someone who finds comfort in nature, that simplicity is a dream come true.
Finally, the sense of community and camaraderie in the game makes the world even more inviting. Whether it’s sharing a campfire meal, helping a stranger on the trail, or riding alongside a group of trusted companions, RDR2 offers a world where relationships feel meaningful. Living in this setting would allow me to combine my love for the outdoors with a culture built on loyalty, exploration, and resilience. In every way, this world would feel like the perfect place to call home.
Star Wars
Host of the Double Barrel Gaming YouTube Channel, Mr Boomstick XL
When you think of community members who juggle multiple shows, one name always comes to mind: Mr. Boomstick. Despite running four to five shows every week, he still finds time to dive into his favorite video games. He’s constantly giving back to the gaming community and works hard to maintain a positive, welcoming space for everyone. I finally had the chance to meet him in person this year, and we shared some fantastic conversations about gaming. This is the world he chose to live in—or be trapped in.
Ok, so when this question was posed, being a huge Resident Evil fan, I thought, “Let’s go,” and then it dawned on me. Would I REALLY want to fight my way out of Racoon City to rub elbows with Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield? Nah, then I thought of the fictional New York City during Tom Clancy’s The Division. I mean, I cosplayed as a Division Agent back in 2017. Though having to battle the “Dollar Flu”, all those gangs and the Dark Zone, NOPE!
Boomstick in Space?
Another favorite game of mine jumped into my head, and that was Knights of the Old Republic, and then it hit me! I would like to live in the world of Star Wars. Sure, here, the Eternal Empire rules with an iron fist; the Hutt Cartel is the biggest crime family in the galaxy, and there are bounty hunters around every corner looking for their next score. But hey, what could go wrong?
I’ve always thought of myself as a Jedi looking to help the innocent and maybe, with a bit of a chip on my shoulder, cut down on the oppressors of the people with a golden lightsaber in my right hand!
Well, that is my story, and it’s one I would happily live out in the universe of Star Wars. Being able to travel at light speed on my own star cruiser to find my next adventure would be amazing. Maybe, just maybe, they’d write a book about my adventures in the forbidden outer rim?
The World of Dispatch
Co-Host of the DPS Podcast, SloMoBackSlap
Next up, we have another great friend from the gaming community. You’ve probably seen SloMo breaking down games or given Gaming Forte some smoke on the DPS Podcast. He’s always been someone I can count on to jump into these community articles, especially the ones centered around the Mass Effect series. When asked about his favorite video game of all time, he had a clear answer—and this was SloMo’s choice of the world he’d live in or be trapped in.
If I had to be trapped in a world from a game, I’d want it to be in a place where I felt I could thrive. This may be a little recent bias, but I chose the world created in Dispatch. Even if I didn’t have powers, I could still do good as a dispatcher or through engineering, create the means to do good. Going back to thriving, the world in Dispatch doesn’t look that far off from the real world. So survival seems pretty likely despite having a large super-powered population.
Cyberpunk 2077
Host of the Septic Sauce YouTube Channel, Gaz
If you’re looking for a level of energy that’s almost impossible to replicate, look no further than Gaz. Known for his Septic Sauce YouTube channel and his hilarious “SAUCE” videos, Gaz brings an intensity that might make some people wonder, Is this guy insane? No—Gaz is just wildly entertaining. Whether it’s his own content or his appearances on podcasts, whenever Gaz shows up, you can bet the “SAUCE” is coming with him. Here’s what Gaz wanted to share.
I feel that opting for a more heavenly idyllic game world is a bit of a cop out when answering the question, because who wouldn’t opt to go to digital heaven? The question is more interesting if we are thinking of a game world that replaces the one we exist in now, and to my mind, I think of the world in Cyberpunk 2077. Why? Because whilst it reflects the very bleak corporate-run world we actually live in now, it represents where we may actually end up in a few decades or a century from now.
It’s grounded in our reality and offers some really interesting inflection points for humanity, such as the fusion of human flesh with machine, the progression of AI, and how the digital world is so woven into the physical one, where the digital realm is its own reality. These are interesting paradigms that tap into the very real intrigue many of us have about where we as a species are actually going to end up. Plus, those BD’s sound like a lot of fun if you’re not into getting tortured or killed. It’s the closest I can get to Ana De Armas.
