Many of us do enjoy playing video games occasionally. We, therefore, decided to write an article about games that you might not be aware are set in Ireland.
Video games have been situated in many different places over the years, from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which is situated in the fictional country of Urzikstan, to games like GTA 5, which prominently emphasizes the Las Vegas scenery.
What if you prefer a game that’s located somewhat closer to home? Luckily for all Irish people, there have been an awful lot of high-caliber games over the years that either had sections set in Ireland or were entirely set there. It comes as no huge surprise that some fantastic games have opted to include at least a little piece of Ireland given the island’s stunning natural beauty, storied history, and fascinating folklore.
Yet several of the previous releases, mostly because they influenced the popularity of many games, were situated in the nation that we’re concentrating on in this particular piece. Without further ado, let’s take a look at five iconic video games with Irish themes.
Treasure Ireland
Let’s start with a game popular on slot machines. To create the distinctive Treasure Ireland, this virtual online slot deftly combines two well-liked themes: traditional Irish folklore and the seafaring tales of pirates.
This title was created by Microgaming, one of the industry’s great heavy hitters, who applied all of their knowledge to recreate the feel of an old-fashioned pub machine while keeping it sufficiently updated for the Internet environment. It has 3 reels, as well as 9 symbols that comprise the payout table including a number of symbols that are common in the Irish culture, such as a pint of an expertly poured Guinness. You may find this game on Irish betting sites that have separate casino and games-of-chance section(s) if it sounds like something you’d be interested in.
Clive Barker’s Undying
Horror author Clive Barker is well-known for writing the short story The Hellbound Heart. This served as the inspiration for the 1987 horror film Hellraiser, which first frightened viewers. The spooky movie really grew into a horror mainstay that it expanded into a sizable franchise, with the most recent installment being a high-budget revival that was released in 2022. Following this achievement, Barker made the decision to make use of his skill as a storyteller in the gaming industry. EA Los Angeles was eager to oblige.
Clive Barker’s Undying, an FPS (first-person shooter) that was launched on the PC in 2001, was the end product. Yet what distinguished this game from the tens of thousands of some of the other FPS was its breathtaking backdrop, which placed its ghostly activities on the Irish coast. It sets some truly creepy pranks against the gorgeous scenery of the rocky beaches. Although receiving mostly positive reviews, it, unfortunately, didn’t sell many many copies. But, the good thing is that it has since become a true cult classic.
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Do you consider yourself a little bit of an investigator, able to solve challenging riddles with your mighty problem-solving abilities and curious nature? Give Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars a try if that’s the case. In 1996, Revolution Software released this landmark point-and-click adventure for the PC. It was an immediate critical and commercial success because Revolution Software was able to create a game with both an engaging narrative and outstanding gameplay.
You take charge of the sarcastic American tourist named George Stobart, who finds himself unexpectedly involved in a complex conspiracy on a typical trip to Paris, which sends him on a round-the-world adventure. One of these locations is a made-up town called Lochmarne, which is situated in Ireland. Although the hamlet doesn’t really exist, it’s a faithful recreation of a tiny rural community in the Emerald Isle, replete with a neighborhood tavern and even a hostile goat.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla gave a genuine picture of Ireland, particularly in relation to a number of previous somewhat haphazard attempts in the past. The game is set around 1,100 years ago during the Viking advances into Britain and Ireland.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla offers a satisfying gameplay experience for Irish people in particular, featuring characters like Bárid mac Ímair and allusions to medieval Ireland throughout. Together with other well-known destinations, players can also tour Dublin and the Giant’s Causeway.
Gaelic Games Football
Gaelic Games Football, arguably the most Irish game on the list, was developed in an obvious effort to popularize Ireland’s Gaelic NFL by introducing the sport to a global audience. Unfortunately, the game sticks in people’s minds for all the wrong reasons.
Gaelic Games Football fell short in its attempt to rival other extremely popular sporting goods like FIFA and the UFC game series. The repetitive commentary, problematic gameplay, and lack of any real-life athletes for fans to connect with were all issues with the game. Even though some of the venues were recognizable, Gaelic Games Football finally failed.
