Highlights

  • The UK's rich history inspires video games like The Getaway & Assassin's Creed Syndicate to showcase British culture.
  • ZombiU & Everybody's Gone To The Rapture prove the UK can host zombie apocalypses and mysterious disappearances.
  • Fictional worlds like in Hogwarts Legacy & Forza Horizon 4 showcase immersive UK-based experiences beyond reality.

The United Kingdom has been one of the most influential countries in the world for thousands of years, with a rich history and a deep culture. As a result, the country has been used in a vast array of media, with video games being one such example to involve the region.

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However, compared to other countries, such as the United States or Japan, games aren't as consistently set in the UK. Even further, some games, especially those taking place a thousand years ago, don't technically take place in the UK, but rather Britain, but will still be counted as in the UK to clear up confusion. Some titles are relatively unknown, while others are very popular games that could hopefully see an increase in entries that take place in the UK.

10 The Getaway

72 Metascore

The Getaway character in the middle of a street

Platform(s)
PS2
Released
January 19, 2003
Developer
Team Soho
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

London is one of the most well-known cities in the world, and so it would make sense for a video game to take place in it. The Getaway is set in the city, being based on British gangster movies, and resembling gameplay similar to Grand Theft Auto.

Players control characters from a third-person camera, in which they can utilize firearms and drive around London in various cars. Being based on British gangster films, the central part of the game is crime, with the story revolving around such themes.

9 Dear Esther

75 Metascore

Dear Esther view of the beach and the moon

Platforms

Microsoft Windows Playstation 4 Xbox One Mac OS X iOS

Released

2012-2-14

Developer

The Chinese Room

Genre

Adventure

Despite the name of the studio that created the game, The Chinese Room is, in fact, a British developer. Dear Esther reflects this with the game being set in the Hebrides, a Scottish archipelago.

The gameplay is a bit different from most games, as players are simply tasked with only exploring the island the games take place on, making it quite the unique experience. Various chunks of stories become revealed to the player as they progress through the game and journey to other parts of the island.

8 Watch Dogs: Legion

76 Metascore

Watch Dogs Legion characters overlooking London

Franchise
Watch Dogs
Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Stadia , PC
Released
October 29, 2020
Developer(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure

In the franchise's previous instalments, the Watch Dogs series took place in the US, with the first game in Chicago and the second in San Francisco. Watch Dogs: Legiontakes place in London, albeit a fictionalized representation of the city.

As it is a Watch Dogs game, a main feature is hacking, as well as elements seen in previous titles, such as gunplay and puzzles. These gameplay elements are engaged upon in some of the various boroughs of London, as well as the City of London.

7 Assassin's Creed Syndicate

76 Metascore

Assassin's Creed Syndicate Jacob fighting on top of a train

Franchise
Assassin's Creed
Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC , Stadia , Amazon Luna
Released
October 23, 2015
Developer(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure

As Assassin's Creed has always based itself on visiting real historical locations, a game set in the UK was only a matter of time. Assassin's Creed Syndicate is set in London during the Industrial Revolution, with much of the city reflecting the time period. It was also the last 'old' Assassin's Creedstealth game before Ubisoft switched things up in Assassin's Creed Origins, introducing more RPG elements.

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Much of the architecture is representative of the time period, with some unique gadgets relating to the improvement of technology. A grappling hook can be used to scale some of the tall buildings London has to offer, but there are also more dingy and dusty areas that fit in with the Industrial Revolution.

6 ZombiU

77 Metascore

ZombiU undead royal guard

Platform(s)
Nintendo Wii U
Released
November 18, 2012
Developer(s)
Ubisoft Montpellier
Genre(s)
Survival Horror

The UK isn't exactly the first place one would think of when setting a video game in a zombie apocalypse, thanks to titles such as Resident Evil and Left 4 Dead. However, there are some zombie games that take place in the UK, such as Killing Floor and ZombiU, the latter of which was initially launched as a Wii U title.

ZombiU is set in London during a zombie apocalypse in which players can use an array of items to survive, either offensively or defensively. Exploration can be an important part of the game, as players can find numerous items to help with their survival.

5 Everybody's Gone To The Rapture

78 Metascore

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture view of an English house

Platform(s)
PC , PS4
Released
August 11, 2015
Developer
The Chinese Room, SCE Santa Monica Studio
Genre(s)
Adventure

Everybody's Gone To The Rapture is a spiritual successor to Dear Esther, made by British video game developer The Chinese Room. Instead of taking place in Scotland like Dear Esther, Everybody's Gone To The Rapture is set in England, specifically Shropshire.

Much like Dear Esther, Everybody's Gone To The Rapture tasks the player with exploring a location in which they will progress through parts of a story via each area. It features more of an abstract story, with the mysterious disappearance of villagers and the floating orbs and human-shaped lights left behind.

4 Assassin's Creed Valhalla

80 Metascore

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Eivor overlooking the countryside

Released
November 10, 2020
Developer(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
RPG , Action

Assassin's Creed has already visited the UK before Valhalla, in Assassin's Creed Syndicate. However, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is set in a different time period; the Viking conquest of Britain, although other regions outside the UK can be visited.

Players control a new character, Eivor, who gets dragged into the Assassin and Templar conflict central to Assassin's Creed's story. Real locations can be explored, such as Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and while England isn't the sole region in the game as others exist, such as Ireland and Vinland, it is a main zone for players to traverse.

3 Untitled Goose Game

81 Metascore

Untitled Goose Game Goose honking at a villager

Platform(s)
PS4 , Switch , Xbox One , PC
Released
September 20, 2019
Developer(s)
House House
Genre(s)
Puzzle , Stealth
Publisher(s)
Panic

Some games don't need a story-driven reason to be set in the UK. Untitled Goose Game fits the bill, as players control a goose who annoys the residents of an English village while completing objectives.

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Chaotic and crazy scenarios occurring in a British village have been a unique theme for certain media pieces, such as Hot Fuzz. The juxtaposition of a quaint and almost boringly normal village with a chaotic character or event works extremely well, and Untitled Goose Game executes this fluently, creating a very humorous experience that can leave players wanting for other similar games.

2 Hogwarts Legacy

84 Metascore

Hogwarts Legacy player looking at Hogwarts

Released
February 10, 2023
Developer(s)
Avalanche Software
Genre(s)
Action , RPG

Games set in the UK don't always need to be real, as some entries can feature fictional worlds based in the British Isles. Hogwarts Legacy is one such example, as it is based in the world of Harry Potter, which itself is set in the UK.

While there have been Harry Potter stories set in different countries, Hogwarts is stated to be in Scotland, with the player controlling a student learning magic there. Other additional places can be explored, such as Hogsmeade, with the game itself being an open-world experience for players to immerse themselves in.

1 Forza Horizon 4

92 Metascore

Forza Horizon 4 race on a town road

Released
September 28, 2018
Developer(s)
Playground Games
Genre(s)
Racing , Open-World

Forza Horizon has always been set in different locations for each game, and the fourth installment was based in the UK. Each Forza Horizon game is set in a location that has beautiful landscapes, but also history with cars, and the UK fits these criteria perfectly.

Specifically, the game features fictionalized locations of the UK, the most apparent of which is Edinburgh. Players can race through the city, or along country roads, whether on or off-road. Quaint idyllic villages can be explored, as well as lush green fields. Forza Horizon 4 also introduced seasons, fitting for the UK, and changing how the game plays and looks.

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