Folklorehas been a part of human culture since humans were able to communicate, with stories and legends being equal parts entertainment and an attempt at science. There’s folklore everywhere, varying across all cultures, but it’s all wholly fascinating.
One group of people in particular tends to be underrepresented, most especially when it comes to their own folklore:Indigenouspeoples. These are peoples that were the native inhabitants of a land before the land was colonized.
10 Best Games Based On European Folklore
Europe is full of all kinds of different folklore. Thankfully, there are many games available for fans of that folklore.
Indigenous peoples, unfortunately, don’t tend to have the happiest history, with far too much bloodshed at the hands of these colonizers. The Native Americans ofthe Americasare one of the most prominent examples of this, but they’re everywhere.
I’m aChaldean, for example, the Indigenous people of Babylon in Mesopotamia (now Iraq). There are now more of us living outside the Middle East than within it due to genocide. It’s tragic.
When it comes to video games, however, these stories are directly based on (or heavily influenced by) Indigenous culture in one way or another.
10Prey (2006)
Nothing Like the Reservation
Prey (2006)
Representation in video games wasn’t as commonplace in 2006 as it is today, yetPreymanaged to exceed expectations and manifest a cult following for theXboxand PC.
Prey is afirst person shooterthat has you playing as Tommy, a Cherokee mechanic living on a reservation in Oklahoma. He wants a better life for himself and his girlfriend – but he’s going to have to fight for it, since he was abducted by aliens.
It’s now up to Tommy to save himself and everyone abducted with him (which includes his grandfather and girlfriend), but the story doesn’t stop there. Inspired by Cherokee folklore, Tommy obtains spiritual powers from the Land of the Ancients, allowing him to save the world as his ancestors intended.
I know the plot sounds insane, but it actually works together wonderfully, and the developers did a great job at Tommy’s character. They continuously worked with Tommy’s voice actor, Michael Greyeyes (who is Plains Cree) on how to write the character with respect, and it makes for an incredibly likable protagonist.
It’s a wonderful blend of Cherokee folklore and sci-fi staples, and it ended up being super cool.
9Catherine
Mesopotamian Deities? In MY Anime Girlfriend?
Normally,anime(andanime video games, by extension) are reflective of Japan and Japanese society, but not all the time – in the instance ofCatherine, for example, it’s set in Neo-Brooklyn, and its entire foundation is full of Mesopotamian folklore.
Catherine isan adult game that tackles the complexities of love, lust and relationships, wrapped up in the guise of a love triangle. You play as Vincent, who ends up having an affair with a woman named Catherine, but something isn’t quite right.
Catherine, as it turns out, is a succubus, a type of demon that lures men with mature promises and sultry scenes. Plus, there’s a multitude of endings to the game based on the choices you make, with one of those endings being you overthrowingNergal(the Mesopotamian God of War and Death), taking his place with Catherine in the Underworld.
It’s a genuine surprise that adds so many additional layers to the story, and for those who know the folklore of Ancient Mesopotamia, they’re going to be delighted by all the hidden details.
8Utawarerumono Series
Finally, Some Ainu Representation
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth
The northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, was home to a different group of people before they were colonized: theAinu. These people were almost erased from history, but they fought to keep their names marked in the sand.
TheUtawarerumonogames pull a significant amount of inspiration from Ainu culture and its folklore, withmultiple different games (and anime)as a result of their popularity. It’sone of ATLUS’s best franchises, that’s for sure.
10 Video Games With Rich Ecosystems
Our world is vibrant and full of life, and the ecosystems in these video games rival that richness.
The Ainu influence cannot be understated – nearly every single name is Ainu in origin, with heavy usage of the language by the characters as well.
Plus, for fans of this series that were fascinated with the Ainu representation, keep a lookout for Ghost of Yotei, as the Ainu have been featured in the cinematic trailer.
7Ecumene Aztec
Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Stealth gamesand brutality don’t tend to go hand-in-hand easily, but that’s not the case forEcumene Aztec.In this game, you play as a young Aztec warrior during the Spanish Conquest, all while trying to avoid being forced into a sacrifice by the elders.
You’re literally between a rock and a hard place in order to stay alive, and it makes you wonder just how many other Aztecs were in this very position during this time period.
Players end up fully immersed in the vibrant, horrifying city of Tenochtitlan (now the historic center of Mexico City), navigating through jungles, temples, and war-torn streets. You choose who you side with (either the Spanish or your own people), and, of course, that affects the outcome of the game.
The game is slated to release sometime this year, making it an entry players should keep an eye out for.
6Never Alone (Kisima Ignitchuna)
Adventure in Alaska’s Unending Blizzard
Never Alone
TheIñupiat(also known asAlaskan Inuit) are perhaps one of the most misrepresented tribes in America, with countless people conjuring images of exaggerated igloos and terms that people don’t understand are racially charged.
For the gameNever Alone(also in Kisima Ignichuna in Iñupiat), however, these stereotypes are nonexistent. Instead, players are immersed in a real, grounded world, pulling from their own spiritual beliefs as you adventure.
Ablizzard has been terrorising your tribefor so long, it feels that there’s no end in sight. With this, you set out with your white fox into the frigid cold in order to find the root cause of the blizzard, as well as a potential solution for your people.
Thedevelopers worked closely with the Iñupiat people, telling one of the most authentic tales of the culture, despite the fantastical elements. Most stunning of all, it’s entirely in thenative Iñupiat language.
5Until Dawn
Goofy, But the Wendigo’s Terrifying
I have outwardly dunked onUntil Dawnevery chance I can get withhow goofy it is– but that being said, the way the Wendigos are done is incredibly freaky. Seriously, I thinkthe game is overrated, but not because of the Wendigo (honestly, they help redeem the game).
InAlgonquianfolklore, a Wendigo is created when someone resorts to cannibalism on the brink of starvation, twisting them into a monster of insatiable hunger. That’s not how they’re represented in Until Dawn.
10 Best Survival Horror Games For Beginners
Want to get started in the survival horror sphere? These games are great for beginners to the genre.
Instead, the developers seemed to go for other, more loose interpretation, which is a giant humanoid with a heart of ice. The only criticism that some had of the Wendigo is that the influence and its inclusion weren’t written by any Natives, but there are Natives who have played the game and said it was well done.
Just saying,Midwesterners have heard of these stories(as the Algonquian people mostly resided near the Great Lakes) and most likely have a fear of Wendigos already, so honing in on that fear was a smart idea.
4Umurangi Generation
See Modern Maori Through a Camera Lens
Umurangi Generation
Ever wanted to take an interest in being aStreet Photographer? WithUmurangi Generation, you can. You start the game by taking on the role of aMaoriphotographer for theTauranga Express.
The game is simple and lovely, focusing only on thepeaceful photography componentsthat are required of you. You’re a storyteller, and each picture is worth a thousand words – if your photograph could be written out, it would be longer than most novels.
Yourphotography assignments(called bounties) vary, but more often than not you’re capturing snapshots of a modern Maori world reflected in a sci-fi New Zealand. It’s rich, vibrant, and full of life, adjectives that many would use to describe Maori folklore.
It’s one of the few games that shows what the Indigenous culture was like after its tragedies, and it’s a beautiful reminder that, despite our histories, we’re still alive.
Actively Anticipating Release Day
HIRUhasn’t released yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be dang well excited about it. It’s a game developed by a Kenyan man set in Africa, properly depicting the lands andMaasaiculture for what it is: colourful and dazzlingly beautiful.
You play as the teenage son of the Maasai king, returning home from hunting one day to find your entire village under attack by poachers for protecting a herd of elephants. The poachers ended up slaughtering everyone in your clan, kidnapping your sister and leaving you for dead.
While not much else is known about the game at this time, it’s already leagues more respectful to African cultures than most media. I have a lot of African students (Nigerian, Eritrian, Burundi, and many other cultures in my classroom), and it’s genuinely depressing hearing how they talk about their stereotypes. Games like this push mentalities for the better.
TheKickstarterfor the game will be launching soon, making it an exciting new addition for us to keep an eye out for.
2This Land is My Land
A Genuinely Unique Survival Experience
Most Americans have heard the song “This Land is My Land” at some point growing up, which is ironic, considering it wasn’t our land in the first place. That notion belongs to the Native Americans, which is exactly why the video game is titled as such.
This Land is My Landis anopen world stealth gamewith equally fun combat, taking on the role of a tribe chief on his quest for vengeance. After the colonists destroyed his life, it’s time to return the favor. Just don’t expect complete accuracy. Natives weren’t involved in the development or writing.
10 Best Open World Stealth Games
Explore the world from the shadows.
Even then, the game still strives to be as accurate and authentic as possible despite this, showing just how ugly the natives were treated by the colonists who felt entitled to their land. It’s a unique angle that has to be at least a little bit cathartic to those whose ancestors demand retribution.
It’s a genuinely unique survival game that got a little too much flack when it first came out. Hopefully, that flack has died down since.
1Assassin’s Creed III
The Truth of America’s Founding
Assassin’s Creed III
Of all theAssassin’s Creedgames,Assassin’s Creed IIIwas one of the more divisive entries at the time (remember, this was beforeUbisoft’sabsolute downward spiral). You play asRatonhnhaké:ton(Connor Kenway in English), a half-Mohawkman who joins the Brotherhood to hunt down Charles Lee after burning his tribe’s village, and killed his mother in the process.
Honestly, Ratonhnhaké:ton’s story is the best in the franchise, depicting the absolutely rocky origins of the 13 Colonies, as well as theequally rocky journey of America’s founding. Genuinely, it wasahead of its time.
Not to mention, the DLCs aren’t afraid to dive into more fictional storylines, allowing Mohawk folklore to be integrated while still being realistic. It’s surprising just how much was featured in the Tyranny of King Washington.
For me, it was my first exposure to a genuinely honest Indigenous story outside my own culture, and it was one of the most eye-opening experiences I ever had with a game. Seriously, if you played the game when it came out, and you didn’t like it, try it again and make yourself like it this time.
10 Best Americana Video Games
Rock, Flag, and Eagle!
