What makes gaming particularly appealing is that the games come in an endless range of themes. From vast underwater worlds to glorious Asian landscapes, and swashbuckling pirates to human-feasting zombies, the ideas that developers use in games are endless. Each gamer has their own preferences though some themes, in particular, are very popular indeed.

Zombies

Zombies – a.k.a. the living dead – are deceased human bodies that have been reanimated. In many video games such as the Dying Light and Resident Evil series, zombies have a craving for human flesh. They roam about, determined to kill and consume every human being they come across. However, there’s a catch: they’re usually very slow and can be easy to escape from, though if you’re stuck in a room with some of them, good luck getting out alive. Zombies appear in many survival horror games, including role-playing titles and first-person shooters.

Pirates

Pirates are seafaring explorers who are typically on the hunt for a treasure of some sort. Often found in the Caribbean, they set sail on the high seas determined to seek out the treasure, letting nothing get in their way. Pirates are great video game characters to play as because they embody the same sense of adventure that games have. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and the upcoming Skull & Bones are great examples of pirate-themed games. There are even some new online slots Canada that use pirates in their design such as Corsair Queen developed by Synot.

Cyberpunk

This particular theme brings together urban, street tropes, and sci-fi characteristics. Imagine the lowest rungs of society living in a futuristic, techno-filled city and you have cyberpunk. Film noir is often incorporated into the cyberpunk theme too to reflect the contrast between the sub-standard lifestyles of people and the advances in technology. Information technology is rife and the settings often have a dystopian nature to them. Deus X and Cyberpunk are two great games that are based on this theme. What draws many people to games with this theme is the way it looks and the fact that it’s focusing on a rather rebellious and unfairly treated demographic.

Middle Ages

Many historical periods and times such as ancient Egypt and the time of the dinosaurs are common themes in gaming. Many developers look to the Middle Ages for inspiration because it was a time when scientific and technological advances were few and far between and many people still believed in various supernatural things. Lots of fantasy games such as The Witcher and Skyrim are set in worlds inspired by this theme. The places in these games are lacking in the comforts and modern conveniences we enjoy today, and the supernatural characters of the fantasy genre have a prominent role to play.

Conclusion

These are a handful of the many themes that are popular in gaming. When creating video games, developers choose themes that will resonate with players, draw them in, and keep them playing. The key to success is in making the game stand out. If the theme is brand new, great. If it’s been done before, developers have to put their own spin on it so it attracts players.