A Love Letter To Gaming's Many Weird Moons

Can we all agree that space is both pretty amazing and terrifying? A Love Letter To Gaming's Many Weird Moons explores exactly why this duality captivates us, especially as the Artemis II crew travels farther from Earth than anyone before. While the real Moon remains a source of awe and mystery despite its proximity, video games have long filled that void with imagination. Developers have crafted some pretty awesome, weird, and even terrifying visions of what lies beneath our satellite's surface, turning gaming's many weird moons into iconic settings for adventure and horror alike.

Iconic Lunar Landscapes From Nazis to Portals

Games are no stranger to the Moon, having used it as a stage for some of their most memorable moments. BJ Blazkowicz has famously shot Nazis up there in the Wolfenstein series, proving that even hostile forces can't ruin a good lunar setting. Chell opened a portal on its surface in Portal 2, an act that sucked the villainous Wheatley into the vacuum of space and nearly claimed her as well. Later this month, players will navigate an abandoned Moon base, solving puzzles and shooting robots alongside Hugh and Diana in Pragmata.

The history of gaming's many weird moons is rich and varied, ranging from hostile battlegrounds to mysterious outposts. Key highlights include:

  • BJ Blazkowicz engaging Nazis on the lunar surface.
  • Chell’s portal creation leading to Wheatley’s exile in Portal 2.
  • The upcoming cooperative survival of Hugh and Diana in Pragmata.

Yet, one cannot forget their first brush with gaming's most-iconic version: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The world-ending and seriously terrifying visage of the Moon hanging above Clock Town remains a defining moment for many gamers.

Destiny’s Hellmouth: A Glimpse Into the Infinite

When I think of the Moon in games, my mind wanders to Destiny. It is, perhaps, my single favorite instance of the Moon in any video game. This deep connection stems from a specific moment during the game's beta test when players were granted access to its glistening surface for approximately two hours. Before this exclusive event, players were relegated to Earth or the first few missions and Strikes.

This limited window made the Moon feel like an exclusive instance and a rare glimpse into the wider world that players might spend the next 10 years exploring. Upon touching down, I gave in to the wonder of its vistas and the darkness contained within its Hellmouth. This seemingly endless underground fortress was filled with ritual sites, alien wizards, and at least one portal to another realm inside the soul of a dead god. The Hive presence there remains a testament to how gaming's many weird moons can transform a simple celestial body into a source of genuine dread and discovery.