Since the ‘80s, Britain has been responsible for bringing us some of our favourite video games. While Britain may not be home to the highest number of game developers, it’s holding its own by releasing wildly successful games that captivate players worldwide.
Of the many games that have made it to market from the hands of British talent, the nine below are among the best.
These games show a variety of gaming styles and types to showcase the wide array of British talent out there – though keep in mind, comparing video games is like comparing top slot sites on casinos.com; there’s a huge range of factors to take into consideration even after taking away personal preferences and interests. So, if we missed one you consider deserving of a place on this list, let us know.
1. Elite (1984)
Elite has garnered a lot of recognition for holding not one but two Guinness World Records. One record was for being the world’s first open-world video game, and the other was for being the first space-trading video game. As these records imply, the game was a novelty for gamers that rolled elements of many popular video games together in one endlessly entertaining package of eight universes and hundreds of planets to explore.
It was developed by David Braben and Ian Bell using wire-frame 3D graphics, a common graphic type for the time.
2. Lemmings (1991)
Lemmings, the game that involves quick thinking and puzzle solving, is another iconic British-made game that is still appreciated more than thirty years later. Since the initial launch, various versions of the game have been released, but all with the goofy lemming characters facing different challenges and puzzles. Some of these versions of Lemmings have been holiday-specific with Christmas themes, while others take the Lemmings to new worlds where they face challenges that puzzle and delight gamers.
It was developed by DMA Design, now known as Rockstar North, the same company that would eventually bring the world Grand Theft Auto.
3. Tomb Raider (1996)
Tomb Raider was released in 1996 by the company Core Design and has inspired a huge volume of entertainment items since its release, including more editions of the game and even a book series. However, the most exciting was the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie as Croft. It drew interest well beyond video gamers, entertaining regular moviegoers worldwide.
Today, there are nearly twenty games in the Tomb Raider series, and the film has even seen a 2018 remake. The far-reaching influence of this game, alongside the fact that it was so well received, certainly earns it a place as one of Britain’s best video games.
4. GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Given that the leading man, James Bond, is a Brit, it only makes sense that the video game inspired by the series was created here. It was released just a short time after the movie of the same name hit theatres, and it was able to ride the tailwinds of the movie’s popularity to become an instant classic and phenomenal commercial success.
The game, developed by Rare, may not have been the first first-person shooter (FPS) game to hit the video game market, but its success is credited for laying the groundwork for other major FPS games, like Call of Duty, that would enter the market years later.
5. Grand Theft Auto (1997)
Admittedly, we may have spoiled this item being on the list by bringing it up while discussing Lemmings, but it’s been such a huge success and sensation in the video game realm that it was impossible not to bring it up sooner. Grand Theft Auto first entered the video game scene in 1997, and since then, more than a dozen more games have been added to the series, with another planned to hit the market next year.
The game allowed for a level of gameplay freedom never seen before; players could be as straight-laced or criminally ruthless as they wanted. This meant the game offered seemingly endless hours of entertainment because it could be played in any way imaginable.
6. LEGO Star Wars (2005)
In 2005, a combination of three loved but separate forms of entertainment came together, delighting many. Those forms of entertainment? LEGO, the Star Wars series, and video gaming. The game was developed by Traveller’s Tales (also known as TT Games) and was a huge success. Since this release, a myriad of games combining LEGO with film favourites have been released, like LEGO Indiana Jones, LEGO Batman, and LEGO Lord of the Rings.
7. LittleBigPlanet (2008)
LittleBigPlanet was a puzzle and adventure game that starred the character Sackboy, a knitted doll who would move through the game’s world and challenges with a huge goofy grin. The game was known primarily for the creative abilities it gave users, who could create their own levels.
Developer Media Molecule released multiple versions of the game, each garnering a huge fan base among gamers. Unfortunately, the servers for the game were shut down after the company kept encountering problems with its online capabilities.
8. Burnout Paradise (2008)
When it comes to racing games, Burnout Paradise is a stand-out video game that offers players an open world for racing, and more than a decade later, it still gets singled out as an amazing game to play. It was developed by Criterion and built off an earlier game release, Burnout. Today, there are over a dozen games in the Burnout series.
9. Batman Arkham Asylum (2009)
This action-adventure game, developed by Rocksteady, delivered an opportunity for fans of the comic book hero to be the Dark Knight. The game pitted Batman against the Joker and slowly unfolded challenges and mysteries as players unlocked new sections and skills. Since its release, a whole series of Batman games have followed.
Honourable Mentions
While these video games have certainly made their mark in the video game landscape, it was tough to leave out others. For this reason, it’s important to note a few other British-made video games that nearly made the list, like Worms, Rome: Total War, DJ Hero, and Championship Manager. The British video game scene is a strong one – and one we hope will continue to deliver entertainment for a long time to come.
