The direction of steampunk is found in many projects, including in the field of gaming. Here are some of the best games set in the worlds of massive machinery and complex steam engines.
In recent years, the steampunk genre has been supplanted a similar direction in the face of cyberpunk (played a significant role game of the same name). Nevertheless, many great games have come out in this style. Surely, over time, their number will only increase.
Such projects are divided into 2 types:
- With elements of steampunk, which is expressed only in insignificant objects or segments, but does not change the game world (for example, Final Fantasy);
- A real steampunk in the corresponding world, where everything around speaks of belonging to this direction (for example, Bioshock, Dishonored).
Steampunk can be expressed in many ways, and not just through the stereotypical image of “glasses and mechanisms”. Typically, projects of the genre look like technological pseudo-magic, shrouded in a gloomy or serious atmosphere.
It is noteworthy that of all types of entertainment, steampunk is most often used in games. The trend has been noticed since the nineties thanks to such legendary titles as Thief and American McGee's Alice.
The following are the ten best games, the action of which takes place in the steampunk world.
10th place: Guns of Icarus Online
Guns of Icarus Online is a good example of real steampunk in gamescorresponding to all stereotypes. The main character is a technician who has a huge airship that looks like an airship. Since this is an online project, its essence is to fight on similar zeppelins against other gamers.
Each aircraft can have several players, because it is rather problematic to control such a colossus alone. The interaction of team members is very similar to the gameplay of Sea of Thieves, in which the roles are distributed in exactly the same way as in Guns of Icarus Online: someone is at the helm, someone is firing cannons, and someone is filling holes from bombs.
9th place: Volcanoids
Volcanoids is an unusual steampunk game that takes players to a planet with many volcanoes. Gamers will have to survive by gathering resources, building bases and fighting off mechanoid opponents.
There are huge drills here, thanks to which you can explore the bowels of the earth. Such actions can cause an active volcanic reaction, which in turn will affect the spawning of strong hostile mobs. At moments like this quality PvE game is shown in all its glory.
You can go through Volcanoids both alone and in a company with friends.
8th place: Machinarium
Machinarium has its own unique cozy indie style, so even 12 years after the release in 2009, many gamers recognize the game at first sight. In my time the project was a real hit, showing how interesting and elaborate a two-dimensional world can be.
Actions take place in a dirty rusty world. The player takes on the role of a little robot who wants only one thing - to save his kidnapped girlfriend. The adventure can be called cute and funny, but at the same time touching.
7th place: The Swindle
Of course, the main stealth game in the steampunk genre is the legendary Thief, but if we talk about two-dimensional projects, then The Swindle holds the leading position in this category. Despite rather mixed reviews due to the jumping difficulty and technical issues, this is a great platformer with unique game mechanics and procedurally generated elements.
Visually, The Swindle resembles the notorious Don't Starve, but in a steampunk style. Fans of this animation and genre will definitely like the game.
6th place: Sunless Skies
As with the Sunless Skies prequel called Sunless Sea, the title will either make you fall in love with it or not at all. This is due to the fact that the plot is brought to the fore here, and not every gamer prefers this.
Sunless Skies is reminiscent of classic tabletop RPGs, providing the player with many sheets of information about the characters and the world, and only then giving the player a bit of leeway in a dark tone.
RPG will not appeal to players who do not like to read a lot in the process of passing. Well, for those who are not averse to spending time on an interesting text, plunging deeper and deeper into the atmosphere with each paragraph, it is clearly worth trying an unusual steampunk project.
5th place: Bioshock
How can there be a top 10 steampunk game without the mastodon of the genre like Bioshock? Of course not, so fifth place goes to the brainchild of Ken Levine.
As a follower of System Shock, Bioshock is transported from space stations to the very bottom of the ocean, placing the player in the city of Rapture.
This is a great title that harmoniously combines steampunk and noir. The story continues to receive many accolades to this day., and not only for the first part, but also for Infinite (the second part is not considered, because it was developed by another studio).
4th place: Alice Madness Returns
The American McGee's Alice series is a highly unusual adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic book. From a good fairy tale, only characters and some locations remained here, but the whole world has taken on a crazy, gloomy and steampunk look that suits Alice very well.
The main character travels through an abstract Wonderland, facing simple puzzles and various opponents. The game can be called action game with elements of slasher and platformer in three-dimensional space.
From a design standpoint, Alice: Madness Returns is considered one of the best games of its time.. Even now it looks interesting, and clearly begs for a quality remaster.
3rd place: Dishonored
Dishonored is a great stealth game, somewhat reminiscent of Thief, as it has almost the same Victorian-style world. By improving the classic stealth mechanics for a modern audience, in a sense Dishonored turned out to be even the best remaster of the thief titlethan the direct 2014 reissue.
Ranging from magic and ending with all sorts of mechanisms, the style of the game harmoniously combines seemingly opposite things. And although the second part did not receive such high ratings and praises as the first, it is a worthy continuation of the series.
2nd Place: Styx Master Of Shadows
Another c**ktail of bold design decisions in the stealth genre. Styx can be called fun and simple, but at the same time, the action takes place in a dark steampunk world.. The gamer controls an ancient goblin who lives in an alternative 19th century, beautiful and repulsive at the same time.
Although the game has undeniable charm, it divides fans of the genre into two camps: those who prefer serious and silent protagonists, and those who are not averse to finding themselves in the shoes of a quirky and cunning goblin. Second choose Styx!
At times, a weak plot can interfere with immersion in the atmosphere, but in general Styx: Master Of Shadows is able to satisfy fans of the steampunk genre.
1st Place: Thief Deadly Shadows
Thief is a true classic that cannot be missed when talking about steampunk and/or stealth games. The title was one of the first in the stealth genre after the release of The Dark Project, becoming the same ancestor and example as Doom for first-person shooters.
Deadly Shadows was the final third part of the series, absorbing all the best from previous projects and adding interesting innovations that are appropriate for its time.
The dark and gloomy world is remembered for a long time, causing the player to fear the light as if they were a vampire in classic novels. Shadows serve as the best friend of a professional thief, and he doesn’t need anything else.
Bonus spot: Outriders
Of course, Outriders cannot be called a classic steampunk game, because the events of the plot take place in deep space, and the main thread of the story is the settlement of a distant planet. However, the developers added to their project some fantasy and steampunk aesthetics, which is especially clearly seen in armor and weapons.
pay attention to selection of legendary weapons in Outridersand you will see for yourself. Besides, game classes also would be nice to fit into the steampunk world, because most of them don't have that much cyberpunk in them.
If you like the aesthetics of steampunk items, but are already tired of Victorian landscapes, then try Outriders. This project will definitely not leave you disappointed.
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