The history of China is long and includes some of humanity's greatest achievements and deadliest conflicts. Chinese mythology is equally rich, merging history with legend and spirituality. Video games looking for a deep, vibrant setting have used ancient China for inspiration almost as long as the medium has existed.
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PostsIf you're looking for some games that capture the mythical days of the Middle Kingdom, there are many options. Whichever one you choose, they'll be full of exciting action and nail-biting drama.
Updated on November 3, 2024 by Matt Arnold: We've added more games to this list, including a certain triple-A blockbuster that lets you monkey around in real-world locations. There are also some more indies to check out that let you experience mythology and cultivation in new ways.
15 Live A Live
Live A Live takes place at several points throughout human history, but its Imperial China chapter stands out as a highlight of the game, both for its powerful story and excellent use of the combat system. The aging Sifu of the Earthen Heart style of martial arts takes on a trio of apprentices to carry on his legacy while protecting nearby villages from the tyrannical Iron Fist sect.
The Sifu's story has more potential impact on the endgame than many of the other chapters in the game; your choices here will determine which of the three disciples, each with a unique skill set, joins the final party in the Domain Of Hate.
Live A Live
JRPG 4.0/5 Released April 27, 2023 ESRB T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes Publisher(s) Square Enix, Nintendo Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 How Long To Beat 22 Hours OpenCritic Rating Strong Developer Historia, Square Enix Powered by Expand Collapse14 Amazing Cultivation Simulator
Amazing Cultivation Simulator is not for the casual gamer, but if you take the time to learn it you're in for one of the weirdest - but most memorable - gameplay experiences of your life. Running a mystical temple where devotees seek immortality through prayer, training, and meditation is surprisingly chaotic, especially when rival temples plan your downfall and misdirected spiritual energy can have unintended consequences!
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PostsACS joins Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld on the list of games that produce unbelievable emergent stories. Considering how much goes on in a campaign, we're curious to see how much bigger the sequel, currently slated for a 2024 release, takes the concept.
13 The Lost Village
CloseIf you're looking for games with a cultivation theme that have more traditional gameplay, The Lost Village could be a good bet. Part city builder, part action-RPG, it requires you to build a sect of monks and train your disciples, occasionally going on adventures and battling monsters using the techniques you've learned.
Like many cultivation games, the systems can go pretty deep and the English translation isn't always the clearest, but once you've spent some time in The Lost Village it can prove to be a surprisingly fun experience.
12 Warring States: Tactics
Lots of games that get their setting from Chinese history use the Three Kingdoms period — including several titles on this list. Centuries before the rise of Wu, Wei, and Shu, however, China was further divided. This "Warring States Period" ultimately ended with the Qin state's victory over its rivals, unifying China for the first time.
Warring States: Tactics, an indie title from Polynation Games, allows players to command armies in hex-based battles from this formative period. The game includes a 15-mission story campaign as well as skirmish maps and multiplayer. The visuals are bright and colorful, and the music is evocative of the era. From bloody field actions to epic sieges, Warring States: Tactics is a great choice for players looking to flex their strategic muscles in an underused historical setting.
11 Divinity Chronicles: Journey To The West
The deckbuilding gameplay of Slay The Spire popularized a new kind of roguelike overnight, and with good reason. Its card-based mechanics give players tons of options without every truly guaranteeing a particular outcome. Lots of games have tried to make their own mark with the concept, and Divinity Chronicles: Journey To The West does so with style.
The gameplay should be fairly familiar to fans of Slay The Spire, but the setting and style, inspired by the famous Chinese epic, help Divinity Chronicles claim its own place in the roguelike deck-builder pantheon.
10 Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game
If you prefer a more competitive experience, Yi Xian turns roguelike deckbuilding into a tournament-style multiplayer game that works incredibly well. Cultivators from four mystical sects test their martial arts against one another to prove who is the strongest!
By combining cards and building combos from within your sect's unique deck, and playing to your individual character's strengths, each match sees you rise from a rank novice to a powerful immortal in about twenty minutes. It's also free to play and has very reasonable monetization, which is a big plus!
9 Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China
At this point, it might be quicker to list the historical settings Assassin's Creed hasn't visited. While not one of the mainline games in the franchise, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is nevertheless a worthy entry. It's the latest in the timeline on this list, taking place at the very end of the Ming Dynasty (which puts it around the same time as the end of Ezio's storyline). After the Chinese branch of the Assassin's Brotherhood is destroyed, its sole survivor (a woman named Shao Jun) travels west to train under il Mentore. This game chronicles her return home and her quest for revenge.
Unlike other Assassin's Creed games, Chronicles is a side-scroller that takes a more puzzle-like approach to stealth and assassinations. All the classic elements of the series are there, from death-defying drops to daring parkour and vicious kills, all while a golden age collapses in the background. If you're a series fan who hasn't yet discovered this gem, it's definitely worth your time.
8 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Soulslike games are known primarily for their punishing difficulty and massive boss fights, but fans also love the subtle worldbuilding and quiet depth of the genre's best titles. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty doesn't change the Soulslike formula in any notable ways, but instead applies it to the Three Kingdoms period and lets players explore.
Wo Long might be simply Nioh with a Chinese aesthetic, but if big tough battles are your thing, there's no reason to change a formula that works!
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Action RPG Released March 3, 2023 ESRB Rated M for Mature for Blood & Gore and Violence. Developer(s) Team Ninja Publisher(s) Koei Tecmo Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer Platform(s) PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC How Long To Beat 27 Hours OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand Collapse7 The Rewinder
This pixelated adventure follows the exploits of Yun, the last inheritor of a mystical power. As a Rewinder, Yun can travel into the past using the memories of others, and change the present by his actions.
Traditional Chinese painting transformed into pixel art works much better than you'd expect, and the game offers plenty of puzzles to keep you engaged throughout the story. This is one journey in the Middle Kingdom that's not to be missed.
6 Immortal Life
CloseThink Stardew Valley, but with martial arts, and you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect with Immortal Life. Farming, fishing, and crafting are all there, just as you'd expect, against the backdrop of classical Chinese folklore and architecture. Of course, you're not just a mere farmer - you and your fellow villagers are cultivating your spiritual power in pursuit of immortality!
If you're looking for your next cozy village to live in, Immortal Life offers familiar gameplay in a setting that feels unique within the life sim genre. Try our Beginner Tips for the game to get yourself started!
