It’s Parliament Week! And to celebrate I (Briony from the Digital Team) have decided to put together a list of videogames that have a strong political theme for you to enjoy. Don’t worry, I know the idea of a political themed game sounds incredibly boring (at least to me) but you’re guaranteed to find at least one of these games worth a play. If you’d like a better breakdown of the age rating and what the game includes in relation to this, head over to https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ . Also, don’t forget to hit us up on social media @bfc_lr to let us know what you think of the games below, or simply drop a follow. Happy gaming!
We Happy Few (!! PEGI 18!!)
We Happy Few is a great game that has a certain ‘George Orwell-esque' feel about it. The game starts by throwing you into a world that requires all individuals to be happy 24/7, with the government censoring anything that could be considered bad. But your character will quickly rebel against this. Trying to blend in with the world’s other inhabitants, you quickly find that they don’t take well to people who don’t abide by their not-so-normal rules. This game is really fun to play, with its quirky playstyle, equally quirky design, and interesting storyline, I would definitely recommend checking this one out. It’s even available on the Xbox Game Pass if you’re a PC or Xbox gamer like me!
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date:
10th August 2018
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
7.3/10
Sid Meier’s Civilization V
Now, I’m gonna be honest, the next couple of games in the list aren’t exactly new releases. But some of the best games aren’t the newest, and that is definitely the case with Sid Meier’s Civilisation V. If you prefer turn-based strategy games then this is one for you, using your turns to build armies, forge alliances, and expand your territory. Be prepared to spend hours in game though, as it’s rare that games are quick and can often take several saves across multiple days (don’t let that put you off though!). Also, it’s got SO much replayability, meaning you’ll never get bored and will definitely get your money's worth!
Platforms:
PC, Mac
Release Date:
24th September 2010
Age Rating:
E for Everyone
IGN Rating:
9/10
Assassin’s Creed II
If you’ve read some of my previous articles, or just know me as a person, you’ll know that I LOVE Assassin’s Creed. It is by far my favourite videogame series, and I will easily spend 200+ hours in game. Assassin’s Creed II is no exception to this, and whilst I played it quite a while ago, I believe it stands the test of time and will still be a great play now. This game is set within the political turmoil of Rennaissance Italy, specifically handling the Borgia and Medici clan conflict. I don’t want to spoil too much about the game, other than you need to play it if you can. The benefit of it being over 10 years old? It’s pretty much dirt cheap in most shops now!
Platforms:
PC, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac
Release Date:
20th November 2009
Age Rating:
PEGI 15
IGN Rating:
8.8/10
Far Cry 6 (!!PEGI 18!!)
Coming back to probably the newest game I could have found we have Far Cry 6! Far Cry is also a series that I love, and this game is definitely worth the play. You’ll be thrown into modern-day guerrilla warfare, fighting through a revolution, and aiming to burn a dictator’s regime to the ground. Now, I must give you a heads up that if you’re looking for a Far Cry game that changes things up and does things differently, then this isn’t the game for you. It’s a solid Far Cry game through and through, but it holds strong to its playstyle roots, and doesn’t massively differ. Obviously, the characters and the settings are different, but when it comes to taking down the opposition, capturing checkpoints, destroying plantations etc., it’s all the same. That isn’t to say I don’t recommend it though! I would actually highly suggest you give this a go if you can!
Platforms:
Stadia, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release Date:
7th October 2021
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
8/10
Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (!!PEGI 18!!)
Onto the last game in today’s list! Now, whilst this game may not appear to be political on the surface, I think the Nemesis system borders on the political aspect. I also love anything to do with Lord of the Rings, so it’s a win-win including this. If, like me, you’re a huge fan of anything to do with fantasy or Tolkien then I would highly recommend this game. Play as Talion, carving your way through Middle Earth, taking on enemy armies and strategically burning through their ranks. The Nemesis system sets out a clear hierarchy of your enemies’ ranks, who their lieutenants are, their weaknesses, and everything else you need to know to take them down (if you take the time to learn). I personally consider this careful targeting of strategic key people to be the political aspect of the game, interwoven with the combat. Definitely check this out if you get the chance!
Platforms:
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date:
30th September 2014
Age Rating:
PEGI 18
IGN Rating:
9.3/10
So, that's another gaming list down! Don't forget to hit us up on our social media (@bfc_lr) to let us know what you think of the games above, or just to say hi! Over there you can keep up with what the libraries are doing, the Digital Team and HELMs, along with any events we throw your way. Have a great week and see you back here for our next article!