The hippocampal function in cognitive maps is a cornerstone of episodic memory and spatial navigation in both humans and animals. Given that the integration of discrete local views is needed to create a spatially cohesive map, it is evident that visual scenes play a pivotal role in the construction of cognitive maps. Research indicates that specific brain regions, including the hippocampus, specialize in scene processing in humans, as evidenced by “spatial view cells” in nonhuman primates. Similarly, rodents also rely on visual scenes for spatial navigation and other problem-solving, yet studies on the neural correlates of the hippocampus in visual scene-based information processing are limited. Recently, virtual reality (VR) systems have been increasingly used to study hippocampal functions, offering precise control over visual scenes for enhanced understanding of scene processing in the hippocampus. Focusing on studies of rodent hippocampal system, particularly in goal-directed mnemonic tasks in VR settings, will highlight similarities between human and animal hippocampal processing. This comparative approach could reveal universal principles of episodic memory and navigation that provide a critical link across different mammalian species.