The North American country Canada is one of a kind, full of rich history and diverse climate. It has three territories and ten different provinces, each with its unique vibe. Yet, players have rarely seen the country represented in video games over the past four decades. Or so it seems.
Since the beginning of the mainstream gaming industry, many titles have featured Canada in some way or the other. Moreover, some of those titles are extremely popular among gamers. Let us take a quick look at some of the best video games that have allowed players to experience some unique Canadian locations virtually.
10 Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 is one of the most polarizing action role-playing games of all time due to its controversial ending. However, it still offers some of the best third-person shooter gameplay the series has seen since its inception in 2007.
While Mass Effect 3 is a sci-fi game where players travel across space and to unique planets, it starts on Earth. More specifically, the third game begins in Vancouver, a subtle nod to Canada, where the game’s developer team BioWare is situated.
9 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is the 4th main Assassin’s Creed game that truly took the series in a new direction. It’s the first game that delved more into the Abstergo side of things while telling the story of legendary pirates that owned the Caribbean sea in the 1700s.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag’s real-time story takes place in the Abstergo entertainment building. However, curious players could glance outside the windows and witness the Canadian city of Montreal in all its glory.
8 Scott Pilgrim VS. The World: The Game
Scott Pilgrim VS. The World: The Game is one of the highest-rated beat ‘em up action role-playing games of the 2010s. It’s a Ubisoft game based on the movie of the same name but has truly separated itself from it in the best way possible.
Scott Pilgrim VS. The World: The Game is one of the games that entirely takes place within Ontario, Canada. The 2D action title tells a story of a young man from the Canadian city of Toronto on his way to defeat his love interest’s exes.
7 South Park: The Stick Of Truth
South Park: The Stick Of Truth is a comedic role-playing game that brings the iconic cast of the popular tv sitcom South Park to life. The Ubisoft classic came out in 2014 but has since made its way to newer consoles thanks to its timeless combat design and hilarious storyline.
South Park has always featured Canada or mocked it on the show. However, the game took it to another level by including Ottawa as an in-game location that players can visit after obtaining the passport.
6 Until Dawn
Until Dawn is a horror game that came out solely on PlayStation 4 in 2015 and has remained exclusive since then. It’s an interactive drama title with decision-based progression and offers a story-driven gameplay design emphasizing exploration.
In Until Dawn, players get to control eight young adult characters who’re on Blackwood Mountain and must escape the horrors that await them. The main cabin and every area in the game take place in Alberta, Canada. The developer team at Supermassive Games has done a brilliant job recreating the chilling weather of the city.
5 Soma
Soma is a survival horror game that first came out in 2015 on PS4 and PCs but later made its way to Microsoft Xbox One in 2017. The title comes from the Swedish independent video game developer team Frictional Games AB, which is popular for the legendary horror classics such as Penumbra and Amnesia.
Soma features the story of Simon Jarrett, a guy who has suddenly found himself in an underwater remote research facility. While the game never broadly mentions it, players can see various monuments, such as the CN Tower, which confirms that part of the game is set in Downtown Toronto.
4 Vampire: The Masquerade: Parliament of Knives
Vampire: The Masquerade: Parliament of Knives is a role-playing adventure game that came out in 2021 on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. The Indie title features text-based gameplay, where players can dominate undead through violence. It offers 600,000-word drama, longer than most other Vampire novel games.
Vampire: The Masquerade: Parliament of Knives focuses entirely on Canada’s capital and offers a story where players are tasked to discover why the undead Prince of Canada has disappeared. The game currently holds a very positive rating on Steam and other platforms.
3 Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is one of the best Deux Ex games and does everything the older games did but better. The 2011 title features an action role-playing gameplay design and has elements of stealth and immersive simulation built into it.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a massive game with deep lore that most players can not find in other games. It also has a full-fledged detail-oriented environment, with a world-building that truly makes players feel they’re exploring a futuristic city. One such city is Montreal, where the main character Jensen visits to search for another character.
2 XCOM: Enemy Within
XCOM: Enemy Within is an expansion pack for the cult-classic turn-based strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The 2K Games title features the same iconic gameplay the series is popular for but makes it better by fixing various issues that players didn’t like in the original.
In XCOM: Enemy Within, players fight against aliens who have invaded the earth in multiple major locations. One such location is a small fishing village in Canada, where players must deal with a Chryssalid Infestation.
1 Cross Country Canada
Cross Country Canada is one of the few games with the word “Canada” in them. It’s a 1986 game and certainly one of the first titles to showcase the snowy country in all its glory. The classic is only available on a few platforms, including Apple 2, DOS, ICON, and more.
Cross Country Canada also spawned a sequel in 2002, completely expanding on the original game’s idea. The second game allowed players to control 18-wheeler trucks and deliver items across Canada while learning about its provinces.