It’s fair to say that science fiction has informed video gaming since day dot. And as a popular sub-genre of science fiction, it is no surprise that steampunk has influenced many video games dating back to the 1980s.
The instantly recognizable aesthetic trademarks – retro-futuristic Victorian clothing, flying goggles, brass, and metal accessories – lend themselves perfectly to the imaginative graphics and gameplay in modern gaming. Steampunk narratives are often set in an alternative history / dystopian Victorian era, where the technology of the day sits alongside fantasy and horror elements, which can be woven into the atmosphere and storyline of a game.
Unsurprisingly, there are many classic steampunk games, from retro to modern. Let’s take a look at the best of the bunch.
Bioshock: Infinite
This 2013 classic is set in an incredible floating city called Columbia, which is completely steam-powered. The setting is also dystopian – the city is suspended in the air through a combination of giant blimps, balloons, reactors, propellers, and “quantum levitation”. What used to be a floating World’s Fair has been transformed into a police state, with a layered class system and many different areas. It’s a first-person shooter, so the action is pretty intense, and the plot is big and ambitious, mixing intrigue, adventure, and epic conceptual sci-fi.
Frostpunk
First released for Windows in 2018, but adapted across all platforms – including mobile – this city-building survival game is immensely popular with steampunk fans. Set in the 19th century during a volcanic winter, players play as “The Captain” who starts out with a small group of survivors that consists of workers, engineers, and children, and several small caches of supplies with which to build a city. Harvesting and manufacturing materials and making strategic decisions to build your city and keep your people alive is the name of the game.
Money Train 2
Slot machines are all the rage, especially in the last few years as they became available in the online realm, and game developers have used cutting-edge graphics, innovative gameplay, and epic storylines to bring them to life. Money Train 2 picks up where its predecessor left off – still set in the Wild West and with some familiar features (and some brand-new ones) – but with grittier action and a more steampunk vibe. If fast-paced steampunk action and potential payouts sound good to you, you can play Money Train 2 here.
80 Days
Writer Jules Verne is cited as a major influence on steampunk, with fantastical inventions and transportation methods, but written and set in the 19th century. One of his best-loved works is 80 Days Around the World, the tale of Phileas Fogg’s journey by boat, train, hot air balloon, and more. In the mobile game 80 Days, you play Fogg’s French valet, Jean Passepartout. You’re tasked with managing all aspects of Fogg’s journey: finances, their master’s health, and time, as well as buying and selling items in different markets around the globe. The choices made by the player in story sections can also have a large impact on how the journey proceeds.
Allan Poe’s Nightmare
One for fans of mystery, macabre, and steampunk. Edgar Allan Poe has entered a drug-induced nightmare after an overdose of laudanum, and his written works have come to life to haunt and kill him. The gameplay involves helping him to recompose his stories, overcome his writer’s block, dodge the fearsome Red Death, and help him escape the nightmare. An idiosyncratic, minimalist aesthetic, with great sound and original use of fantastic source material, adds up to an engaging game for your mobile device.
Syberia 2
An acclaimed title from an interesting series, Syberia 2 isn’t for action-hungry, trigger-happy shoot’em up fans. It’s a measured graphic adventure game with puzzle and problem-solving elements, which emphasizes story over gameplay. Like its predecessor, it is a third-person, mouse-driven adventure game in which the player must solve various puzzles and follow certain procedures in order for the linear storyline to proceed. The narrative is rich and engaging, and, as you can never die, it becomes fully immersive. And there’s plenty of steampunk-esque technology to be found throughout the story.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
The first in a popular series of puzzles for the Nintendo DS, Professor Layton, and the Curious Village is full of steampunk features and references, from the outfits to the gadgets and gizmos the Professor uses to solve his mysteries. The player controls the movements of Professor Layton and his young assistant Luke around the village of St. Mystere to locate the “Golden Apple” and solve other mysteries that arise during their search. There are tons of puzzles to play through, and in case that wasn’t enough, there are also some great animated cutscenes full of steampunk aesthetics.
Steampunk offers a rich mix of characters, costumes, machines, and settings that make it ripe for video games – these are just a handful of favorites.
