Summary
- RPGs can draw inspiration from diverse historical periods beyond medieval Europe, showcasing rich stories and legends.
- Games like Greedfall, Pathologic, and Valkyria Chronicles explore unique settings and themes, breaking from traditional tropes.
- From colonization in North America to post-war Eastern Europe, these RPGs blend history and fantasy to create immersive worlds.
The typical fantasy RPG takes much of its inspiration from classic medieval themes. Tall rolling hills, intimidating castles, and chivalrous knights inhabit these gaming settings. It makes sense that these titles draw from antiquity. As the saying goes: truth is often stranger than fiction.
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PostsYet there are so many other historical periods to draw from rather than just medieval Europe. There is a whole world (and time periods) of rich stories and legends to pull from. These games look beyond the standard, taking influence from all places and times across the globe.
8 Jade Empire
Region Of Influence
China
Era
Bronze Age/Mythology
Eastern history and mythology is woefully unexplored in gaming. Many areas are filled with rich culture, something perfectly exemplified in Jade Empire. Produced by Bioware, creators of other acclaimed RPGs, Dragon Age and Mass Effect, Jade Empire shares a lot in common with its more well-known titles. There is a deep focus on storytelling and player choice, including a morality system not dissimilar to Mass Effect’s own.
But where Jade Empire shines is in its celebration of Eastern themes. Combat is built around martial arts, with the player able to build their techniques around different styles. But that's not all as plenty of monsters and spirits inspired by myth make appearances as well.
7 Greedfall
Region Of Influence
North America
Era
1700s
The founding of the New World is an incredibly turbulent time in history. The colonization and igniting of new conflicts between old rivals created a rapidly changing landscape. Greedfall builds on many of these principles with a setting inspired by the Americas at the time of European colonialism.
The introduction of monsters and magic may initially serve to make the setting feel too far removed from reality, but many of the issues dealt with are surprisingly contemporary. When the protagonist arrives in this strange land, they already find there is conflict with the natives there, who seek to protect their way of life. Beyond just the main plotline, the aesthetic is also worthy of note, with an interesting mixture of Native American-inspired designs combined with European styles.
6 Weird West
Region Of Influence
American West
Era
Late 1800s
The westward expansion in America brought with it themes that have become closely tied with the American image, not the least of which is cowboys. The idea of the gunslinger fighting for justice among the desert sands might be more romanticized in media than it was in history, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. Weird West multiplies these ideas even further by introducing supernatural elements. Hence, the Weird West shares its name with the genre that sees monsters and magic introduced to typical Western themes.
Weird West makes fantastic use of its setting to bring new ideas to the table. Aside from just using cowboys, the team behind Weird West also took inspiration from Native American tribes to help create an atmosphere that better encapsulates the West.
5 Disco Elysium
Region Of Influence
Eastern Europe
Era
1950s
Disco Elysium is a fantastic game for several reasons. The writing is rich, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the visual style is entirely its own. Something easy to overlook with all of its originality is what the game takes from real life. Disco Elysium doesn’t just borrow from any one region.
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PostsRevachol and the surrounding lands take inspiration from Asian, French, and Russian cultures to build a fascinating world that shares much in common with our own. Perhaps the most telling of all is the general atmosphere and post-war attitude exhibited by the population, which takes much of its influence from the failed communist uprisings of Eastern Europe.
4 Fallout
Region Of Influence
America
Era
1950s
The more apocalyptic of Bethesda’s RPG series, the Fallout games have been the focus of much praise over the years. Taking place in a ruined America following a nuclear holocaust, the games offer the chance to explore several cities, including Washington DC, Boston, and Las Vegas. Part of the charm of the games definitely can be attributed to the era this post-apocalyptic America is trapped within.
Due to the lore of the games altering things from our history significantly, the world of Fallout feels like it’s trapped in 1950s America, with an atomic twist. This allows the Fallout series to separate itself from the usual wasteland landscape. Locations like cutesy diners and drive-in movie theaters, add flavor that makes the Fallout series feel wholly unique in its presentation.
3 Valkyria Chronicles
Region Of Influence
Europe
Era
1930s-1940s
World War 2 has set the stage for dozens, if not hundreds, of games over the years. Most of these consist of shooters like the original Call of Duty entries or the Medal of Honor series. However, Valkyria Chronicles breaks from that mold by mixing in RPG elements with turn-based combat to produce something unique.
The anime aesthetic alone is uncommon for the genre. However, it goes beyond that, with some of the weapons and equipment looking more Steampunk than historical. But the primary themes of the game, as well as the name of the theater of this conflict, Europa, make it impossible to separate this strategy JRPG from its historical roots.
2 Vampire: The Masquerade: Redemption
Region Of Influence
Prague
Era
1100-1200
Vampire: The Masquerade: Redemption is often overlooked when compared to its more well-known counterpart, Bloodlines. However, this action RPG brought something special to the table. A storyline that spanned literal centuries. The game has you assuming the role of French crusader Christof Romuald who, much to his dismay, caught a nasty case of vampirism when in Prague.
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PostsVampire: The Masquerade: Redemption shows why the World of Darkness franchise has captured the attention of gothic horror fans for years. Creating a wonderfully dark mixture of both real-life history and vampire lore, the setting of Prague in the 12th century makes Redemption stand tall, even among other Vampire the Masquerade titles.
1 Pathologic
Region Of Influence
Mongolia
Era
1200
Pathologic is a bizarre title that walks the line between several different genres. You could call it a sim, an RPG, or a horror game, but one thing you can’t say is that it isn’t doing its own thing. Pathologic has you stepping into the shoes of different characters who are capable of healing the citizens of a small remote town. This town is undergoing a severe illness as well as political strife, meaning that your work is cut out for you.
Pathologic is a surreal experience that isn’t shy about placing you in strange situations. The visual design of the setting and its inhabitants attribute a great deal to this unsettling atmosphere. These motifs can actually trace their roots to the nomadic-steppe cultures of Mongolia, which blends wonderfully with the surrounding environment. When combined with the often bizarre architecture of the small town, it helps Pathologic assume a mood that you won’t see replicated anywhere else.
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