Game design is all about imagination and creativity, giving players an escape for the real world into a new and exciting setting. There have been games set in every period you could hope for, from prehistoric to intergalactic. This massive range makes sure that fans of every setting can find a game they enjoy. However, there are some settings that I feel have been under-utilised in the past. As more and more games come out that are set in Ancient Rome or World War II, I’ve been thinking about what settings I would love to see explored more.
Napoleonic
The Napoleonic Wars were an incredibly interesting time in the history of war, with new technologies being used alongside tactics that had been used for centuries. Muskets were wielded alongside longswords, and cannons were met with vicious cavalry charges. This is a time that changed how countries wage war forever, and hugely increased the scale of battles. The Battle of Hastings, an incredibly famous battle in English history, is estimated to have contained around 20,000 soldiers. Napoleonic battles raised this number to over 500,000. It was a chaotic mess that was only loosely controlled by swathes of tacticians, and is a conflict that has given birth to some incredible stories. While it has been explored somewhat in tactical games like Napoleon: Total War, I think there is a huge amount of potential still residing in the setting. With the huge scale battles between poorly trained combatants armed with the deadliest technology seen in war before, it’s my opinion that this would be an incredible time to explore virtually.
Mesopotamia
Ancient civilisations are shrouded in mystery and myth, with many features about them still unknown. I could have gone for a number of exciting settings for this one, but I think the Mesopotamian Empire would be one of the most exciting ancient settings in my eyes. This civilisation persisted for thousands of years and was present as far back as written history can take us, which is around 3100 BC. Despite their early civilisation, they had a strict code of laws and a well developed culture. The city of Babylon in particular was a centre of Mesopotamian culture for millennia, a hub of creativity and commerce in the ancient world. They reportedly constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. What an amazing setting this would be for a game, a city of hanging jungles and civility that stands tall in a world full of barbarians and nomadic tribes. I would love to see this history unfold, as well as the trials of living in the ancient era and the civilisations eventual defeat by the Persian Empire.
The Space Between Worlds
I have always wanted to be an astronaut, and am incredibly drawn to games that let me explore the vast expanse of space. That being said, the majority of these space faring games have you jumping from interesting location to interesting location, with very little to fill in the gaps other than a loading screen. The shadowy void in between is terrifyingly interesting to me, feeling like staring into the deepest ocean but far more alien and intimidating. The sheer emptiness can give so many possibilities to games, as designers have almost free rein to fill in the gaps however they wish. Maybe your ship has become lost, and you have to frantically patch yourself up and survive before the darkness seeps in. Maybe you thought it was just a huge expanse of nothingness, but you discovered something hiding in the darkness all along. Perfect for horror and exploration games, thinking about this setting makes my skin crawl and my heart jump for joy.
Raypunk
You will have definitely heard of other members of the -punk family, most likely cyberpunk or steampunk. These settings tend to bring technology to the forefront, whether that technology is steam powered jetpacks or enhanced cybernetic limbs. Raypunk is undoubtedly my favourite variation on this theme, as it is absolutely brimming with character. This is the setting that you see a lot in the sci-fi of the 60’s and 70’s, and is outrageous in the very best way. The main characters will always be scantily clad in a dangerous situation, holding a ray gun that looks straight out of a toy store. While there would definitely have to be a few tweaks to the setting to make it more appropriate for modern times, I do think that it has almost endless posibilities for stories and characters. These were films that excelled in the absurd, with lasers flying and evil aliens clashing with washing machine robots everywhere you look.
These are just the settings I would like to see, so I would love to hear which ones you would be most excited to see in the comments below!
