Ireland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, filled with incredible landscapes and a rich tradition of storytelling. Not only that, but Irish ancestry is one of the most commonly claimed all across the world. Which begs the question, why aren’t more video games set there?
There are alarmingly few video games set in Ireland, or that even have a section of the game taking place there, especially when you don’t count sports games that simply feature a course or pitch in Ireland. If you’re looking for a Celtic fix in your gaming, we’ve done the legwork for you and listed below some of the video games that fit the bill.
8Atlantis 2
A Quantum Leap
There may well be moregames set in Atlantisthan Ireland, but Atlantis 2 from French developer Cryo Interactive somehow manages to be both. This point-and-click adventure takes you on a journey through different time periods and locations in an effort to stop the ominously named “Bearer of Dark”.
The Ireland section of Atlantis 2 is one of the highlights of the game, putting you in the place of a medieval monk named Felim as you work to help fulfill an old myth. The game, launched in 1999, was a graphical accomplishment for the time.
7The Bard’s Tale
Celtic First, Irish Second
The Bard’s Tale from 2004 was a spiritual successor to the 1985 game of the same name, although developers InXile Entertainment didn’t have the rights to include anything from the original. It was a solid game in its own right, even getting a remaster in 2020.
The story of the game is largely set in a version of the Orkney Islands, but the Celtic mythology-inspired plot does have optional areas in Ireland including Dún Ailinne, Ardagh, Carrowmore, Emain Macha, and Tara.
6Clan O’Conall And The Crown Of The Stag
The Family That Slays Together
There’s never been a better time forindie games to make a splashbut one that you probably haven’t heard as much about is Clan O’Conall And The Crown Of The Stag, despite it being an action platformer that was launched to strong reviews.
Set in Hibernia, the Latin name for Ireland, three siblings battle dark forces to prevent a war from breaking out between mortals and the Fae, drawing deeply on Celtic mythology from the first millennium to tell its story.
5Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Wrath Of The Druids
This Could Have Been Its Own Game
Assassin’s Creed Valhalladivided fans of the series. For some, the sheer amount of content was a treat and gave them hundreds upon hundreds of hours of gameplay to sink their teeth into. For others, the game felt like a slog to get through.
Whichever camp you landed in, the Wrath Of The Druids expansion taking the action to Ireland was a narrative change of pace, but it would have been great to see an entire game set there. The history, mythology, and landscape of Ireland deserve better than to be an addition to a game already brimming with content.
4Folklore
The First Of One
Folklore, launched for the PlayStation 3 in 2007, was a game reviewers just couldn’t agree on. The narrative was praised, but also criticized. The sound design was excellent, or was it lacking? The truth lies in the middle, Folklore is a really good game, it just isn’t a perfect one.
There aren’t many other games quite like Folklore, so you don’t want to know too much before going in. Just know that the game is set both in Doolin, a real village in County Clare, and the Celtic Otherworld of mythology. It came extremely close to getting a sequel, but unfortunately, Folklore is the first and last of its kind.
3Nancy Drew: The Haunting Of Castle Malloy
Surprise, It’s A Mystery Game
Try and guess how many Nancy Drew games there have been, and then get ready to be shocked when you learn that there have been over 40 so far. That would already be an impressive figure, but it gets more impressive when you realize that almost all of them have come from the same studio.
Her Interactive has well over 30 Nancy Drew games in their catalog, showing no signs of slowing down. With that many games, it was inevitable one of them would see the young sleuth investigating a haunted castle in Ireland, which is precisely the premise of The Haunting Of Castle Malloy.
2Samurai Shodown 6
Believe It Or Not
When you think of a game that takes place in Ireland,Samurai Shodownwould probably never even occur to you. And yet Samurai Showdown 6 does indeed take you to Ireland through the course of its story, as the effort is made to find the strongest fighter in the world.
Each of the game’s stages are set in a different international location during a festival, with Ireland taking the honour of hosting Halloween. The level design is fun, but it’s a shame there wasn’t a playable Irish character added to the roster of the game to go along with it.
1Broken Sword: The Shadow Of The Templars
The Goat
Usually, when you use the term ‘goat’ in reference to a video game, you’re calling it the greatest of all time. When it comes toBroken Sword: The Shadow Of The Templarsthough we’re talking about an actual goat, one that has plagued gamers for decades.
The goat is the guardian of a castle during the memorable Irish section of this classic point-and-click adventure game. If you haven’t played the Broken Sword series yet, don’t let everyone’s fear of this ornery farm animal put you off. It’s an outstanding game series that not even this gatekeeping goat should keep you away from.
