Best Games Set In England
There are many video games out there and in this era of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic?
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest, and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to the best games set in England. From iconic hits like Tomb Raider to lesser-known games like Gray Matter, you have a lot of games to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Tomb Raider 3
Tomb Raider 3 is an incredible game to cap off the old-school Tomb Raider trilogy. It follows Lara Croft embarking on a journey to locate four pieces of a meteorite scattered across the world. To advance the plot forward, you assist Lara in solving puzzles, traversing treacherous locations, and defeating various enemies.
The game’s locales look gorgeous and are a huge step up from the second game. Furthermore, the developers at Core Design wanted the puzzles to be as intricate as Tomb Raider 1. Furthermore, the scenarios Lara Croft gets involved in feel more outlandish than in prior outings. For example, you’ll see Lara storming Area 51 and battling billionaire tycoons on top of London skyscrapers.
It’s as absurd as you can expect. Tomb Raider 3 can take players several hours to complete since you can complete a set of levels in different orders. The deathtraps can feel bothersome for newcomers and series veterans. Therefore, if you adored the feeling of the first Tomb Raider game, then you’ll likely find this entry just as enjoyable.
The Getaway
In this action-adventure open-world video game you’ll be following two characters named Mark Hammond and Detective Constable Frank Carter. The former is an ex-bank robber while the latter is a police officer who works for the Flying Squad. Both stories start off parallel to each but intersect near the game’s conclusion.
It was developed by Team Soho for the PlayStation 2. The developers took inspiration from British gangster films like Get Carter and Snatch. The game takes place in London and the whole plot concludes in a single day. Mark and Frank have intriguing personalities and meet many colorful characters during their individual journeys.
You’ll assist these two in carrying out missions in the Getaway’s vast location from a third-person perspective. After you complete Mark’s handful of missions, you’ll gain access to the game’s free-roaming mode. This allows you to explore areas like Central London and the City District with no time limits. If you played Grand Theft Auto, you know what to anticipate here. With its movie-like approach to game design and decent storytelling, you’re in for a treat with this one.
Resistance: Fall of Man
Although Insomniac Games was known for creating works like Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet and Clank, and Marvel’s Spider-Man, they worked on FPS series called Resistance. Resistance: Fall of Man was developed for the PlayStation 3 and released in 2006. This game takes place in an alternate 1951 and follows SGT. Nathan Hale.
He and other humans must drive a mysterious alien invasion out of the United Kingdom. The game received immense praise for its combat and graphics. The weapons are based on real 1950s-themed weapons, but some were altered to fit within the game’s storyline. Each weapon feels unique and gives players chances to experiment with different strategies.
The grenades also evoke a historical and futuristic feeling. For those who like to bash enemies in shooters, you can perform melee attacks in Fall of Man. As you advance through the game’s single-player content, you’ll earn skill points. Some points can net you additional media for the game, but you’ll never receive specific instructions on how to obtain them. Nevertheless, those looking for a fabulous FPS game set in the United Kingdom will adore this one’s offerings.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty was a hit-or-miss franchise for a good time. While some games gave fans captivating experiences, others tend to fall a bit short. Thankfully, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is one of the better entries. This game includes fun missions, and stellar gameplay, and offers a satisfying conclusion to Modern Warfare 1 and 2’s storyline.
This game features iconic imagery from London. From Big Ben to the House of Parliament, gamers living within those territories will have large smiles on their faces. If you’ve played past Modern Warfare entries, you know what to expect from the game’s shooter gameplay. You’ll gun down opponents and utilize other gadgets to murder them.
Modern Warfare 3 also introduces two new game modes called Survival and Chaos. Survival had players taking on fleets of A.I. opponents on various maps. Chaos is simply a harder version of Survival. If you enjoyed modes like Firefight in Halo, then you know what to anticipate with Survival. Check out Modern Warfare 3 if you want a shooter that will tickle your nostalgia bones.
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Level-5 has developed many hits since its inception. From Ni No Kuni to Yo-Kai Watch, they have many IPs that hold a special place in fans’ hearts. Professor Layton is another series of theirs that fans cherish. It has colorful characters, gripping plots, entertaining dialogue, and neat puzzles that will make you ponder.
Professor Layton and the Diabolic Box is one of Layton’s best outings. It’s a puzzle-adventure game that follows Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke traveling across the country to find a secret box that can kill anyone who opens it. Diabolical Box contains a wide variety of puzzles for fans to untangle from sliding and logic puzzles to nifty brain teasers.
The puzzles can be somewhat challenging, but you’re given three hints to aid you. You spend a “hint coin” to see the hint and they’re difficult to come by. This game makes clever use of the Nintendo DS’s hardware. The game has over 153 total puzzles for you to solve, but 15 of those are bonuses. If you’re looking for a complex puzzle adventure title with an intricate narrative, check this out.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The Ace Attorney series is filled to the brim with amazing plotlines, well-rounded characters, and fun puzzle-solving elements. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a great entry in the series that features returning and new gameplay mechanics. For example, Chronicles features the same courtroom-style gameplay, 3D environments, and character models as previous entries.
You’ll be expected to explore areas to gather evidence for testimonies and cross-examine multiple witnesses during court battles. However, Chronicles’s Dance of Deduction and Summation Examinations game mechanics are entirely new. The former has you exploring the character Herlock Sholmes’ ridiculous theories and observations to find a logical conclusion.
As for Summation Examinations, a jury will unanimously decide on the guilty verdict. You must convince the jury to change their verdict by comparing several jurors’ statements and searching for contradictions. As one can expect, this leads to some entertaining banter that you don’t want to miss. If you’re looking for a fabulous adventure game set in England, this one’s worth a try.
Nightmare Creatures
Nightmare Creatures might be the most obscure game on this list. It’s a survival horror game with subpar graphics and decent gameplay. Many people adored this title for its horrific retelling of London’s past, though. Nightmare Creatures takes place in 1834 London and it’s not looking great in the slightest for its inhabitants.
Streets are filled with nightmarish creatures who stemmed from The Brotherhood of Hecate’s sinister experiments in 1666. Furthermore, a wicked scientist named Adam Crowley is causing a ruckus in London. You’ll assist Ignatius Blackward and Nadia Franciscus on their mission to prevent Adam from achieving immortality.
Players can expect to play as Ignatius and Nadia in Nightmare Creatures. These two have nice chemistry and a slew of weapons to use on the beasts that traverse London’s environments. The gameplay can get dull pretty swiftly, but the spooky atmosphere and monster designs should entice you to continue your adventure through this alternative version of London.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Although Desmond Miles’s storyline concluded in Assassin’s Creed 3, Ubisoft felt the need to dish out more entries. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate continues exploring the historical battle between the Assassins and the Templars. However, this entry takes place in the 21st century and features the same unnamed protagonist from Assassin’s Creed Unity.
Syndicate’s plot is set in 1868 London and follows Jacob and Evie Frye as they traverse the corridors of organized crime. They plan to reclaim London from the Templars. The game has some segments where you’ll get to explore WWI as Jacob’s granddaughter Lydia, too. Syndicate was praised for its visuals, characters, storytelling, and level design.
As with other Assassin’s Creed entries, you’ll advance the story forward by completing missions. Jacob and Evie are different in personality and skillset. The weapons feel more accurate to the setting and time period. You’ll use items like brass knuckles, cane swords, and others to get the work done. The twins have interchangeable outfits and can obtain additional abilities, thanks to Synduicate’s skill tree system. The game’s combat or vehicle gameplay may be dull, but its story and protagonists should hook you.
Gray Matter
Point-and-click adventure games may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Gray Matter offers enough beautiful visuals and delightful story beats to impress you. It follows a street performer named Samantha and a neurobiologist named Dr. David Styles. Samantha is David’s newest assistant and must locate six people who’ll participate in David’s experiments at Oxford University.
Although his experiments seem wholesome at first, players will uncover the dark truth about David’s well-being and his research. Gray Matter contains 8 massive story chapters that tackle concepts involving reality and the human mind. The game features some fun scientific and supernatural-related phenomena that surprise you.
The puzzles vary between riddles, word games, mazes, and magic tricks. Players will enjoy playing Samantha’s character as she can manipulate situations and people using her various forms of magic. The story’s pacing can feel like a drag to get through, though. If you’re a fan of point-and-click adventure games with great soundtracks, characters, and puzzles, give Gray Matter a shot.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best video games set in England through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
Midtown Madness 2
Midtown Madness 2 is an open-world racing game that centers around two different parts of the globe. One of them is London, England, and even features playable vehicles from the territory to improve players’ immersion. From speedy sports cars to large buses, you have a variety of cars to choose from. Critics and fans praised the racer for its multiplayer scenarios and fun gaming modes.
The game’s Blitz, Checkpoint, Circuit, and Cruise modes are enticing. If you claim victory in the first three modes, you’ll earn access to Midtown Madness 2’s unlockables. The Cruise mode gives players chances to roam freely through London, England, or San Francisco, California. Midtown Madness 2 also offers amusing commentary that will have you laughing hysterically.
However, if you’re not a fan of their jokes, you can turn the commentary off. With its vehicle variety, decent graphics, and countless unlockables, you’re in for a swell time with this game.