Over the years, steampunk has become very popular, and there are a lot of video games that use the style. Here are 10 of the best ones.
The dystopian themes of cyberpunk may never reach more than a small group of fans, but they will always be a part of the style. Steampunk is a similar style that uses technology that is darker and more gritty. Steam and electricity are the main sources of power in steampunk, and it usually takes place in the Victorian era. Even though this overlapping theme doesn’t seem to get as much attention from people who aren’t into science fiction, it’s still a rich area with a lot of passionate fans.
With its 19th-century themes of rusted steam-powered machines and tools with lots of gears, the imagery is unique and vivid. This, of course, helps set the stage for some epic and moody game experiences. Even though there aren’t as many steampunk games as there are sci-fi books, movies, or cartoons, there are still a lot of great ones.
Sunless Sea
Steampunk is often known for its dark mood, and when you explore the empty seas in Sunless Sea, a 2018 game from Failbetter Games, you can definitely feel this. The game is an expansion of the browser adventure game Fallen London. It adds a lot of interesting background and scary sea creatures to the experience.
Most of the time, the trip in this steampunk game is slow and easy. The game’s rich settings and sad music are what make it stand out. As you walk through these underground ruins of Victorian-era London, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe. If you like games with a 19th-century theme, you should try this roguelike survival game for PC and PS4.
Professor Layton And The Curious Village
The Professor Layton series is one of the best examples of how retro games can be fun and silly at the same time. The main character has his own series, and this one takes place in a world that looks like Victorian England.
Like the other games in this series, these are for the Nintendo DS. However, because of how famous they are, they have also come out for Android, so this could also be a good choice for a mobile game. The Curious Village is the first game in the series. This makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to learn more about this world.
Frostpunk
Frostpunk is a steampunk survival city-building strategy game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where any source of energy is jealously guarded. The whole planet is frozen over because of a volcanic winter, and the player has to build a city, find other people, and get through the winter.
Players can try out a number of different scenes, all of which take place in the same setting but are different. The game came out first for Microsoft Windows. A year later, it also came out for iOS, macOS, and Android.
Machinarium
When you go for a steampunk look, you can make beautiful, charming art, and Machinarium, a graphic adventure game by Amanita Design, is a good example of this.
This game uses a simple point-and-click system and dresses it up with real-looking, dirty, and broken-down wastelands and machines. The steampunk style works well with the puzzles, which will have you fiddling with buttons, knobs, and other gadgets. This is a fun little artistic journey that is worth your time.
Professor Layton And The Unwound Future
This fun steampunk adventure game feels like a mix of a virtual cartoon show and a fantasy book. Fans of the Professor Layton puzzle series often say that this third game is the best one. A four-game prequel series and a series called Layton Brothers: Mystery Room are also available.
Over the years, a lot of people have liked the clever point-and-drag puzzles and the fun animated cutscenes that help set the scene. The English settings are full of cool set pieces and steampunk tools, like the time machine that Layton and Luke are asked to check out at the beginning of the game.
The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
The popular Legend of Zelda series from Nintendo has been a mainstay of fantasy tales, which tend to focus on magic over technology. Still, this unusual trip for young Link is mostly about taking the train. Similar to how Skyward Sword used flying and Wind Waker used sailing, this game uses a train that looks like it came from the 1800s. This makes it a true steampunk game.
Spirit Tracks for the DS still has the familiar fantasy tropes and exciting sword-based action that fans love, but it also has a bit of a retro-tech style that makes it stand out. When you’re on this 25-hour journey, it’s easy to get sucked in.
Steamworld Dig 2
This cute and colourful game has a steampunk vibe and gameplay based on adventure that fans of Minecraft and Terraria will love. In fact, the Steamworld Dig games are a bit like a smaller version of Re-Logic’s epic, but they are still full of fun things to do.
There aren’t many things that are more “steampunk” than a clunky, steam-powered robot hero. You might also feel like Indiana Jones as you explore huge caverns and mine for goods. Unlocking new steam-powered mechanisms and weapons, like pressure bombs, will make your bots work better and make your trip more fun.
The Misadventures Of P.B. Winterbottom
The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom is a puzzle platformer that players can find on Xbox Live Arcade and Microsoft Windows. It has been compared to games like Portal, but it has a strange and sometimes rude sense of humour.
In this steampunk game, the main character, who is also the name of the game, can do two major things: collect pies and make copies of himself. The style of the game is unmistakably steampunk, with gears and cranes on a black background that looks like rotoscope movies from the 1800s.
Grandia
While the PlayStation’s famous Final Fantasy games were making it big, Grandia was quietly being made by Game Arts for the rival Saturn. Soon after, the game was ported to the PS, and an HD Switch remake came out later.
Grandia has a good mix of colourful fairy worlds, magic, and technology, which gives it a sense of “grandiosity,” if you’ll pardon the pun. Fans are often attracted to the fighting system, which is a nice mix of turn-based and free-flowing action. Even though there aren’t a lot of “steampunk” features, there is a strong mechanical and industrial feel in many places during this 40-plus hour journey.
Dishonored
In current games, it has become popular to use dark, dirty colours to make scenes look more real. Yet, Arkane Studios’ action-stealth game stands out thanks to its heavy use of dirty industrial themes. The city of Dunwall feels sad because its buildings are old and rusty.
Even though the machines in Dishonored’s hard environments are powered by oil instead of steam, the game has a lot of the familiar steampunk style, which mixes dystopian science fiction with retro themes. This series of games for the PS4 and Xbox One has a lot of things that fans like, including the atmosphere and the satisfying, complicated stealth gameplay.
Skies Of Arcadia
Old airships are a big part of a lot of steampunk stories, and Skies of Arcadia uses this element in a clear and awesome way. When you sail your airship through the vast skies and visit the floating countries, it gives you a sense of awe and power that fans of this theme tend to love.
Skies has a unique sense of mood because it has a mix of different elemental powers, vivid fantasy themes, and a more technological edge. Fans of this classic Dreamcast game have said that it has a great setting, is fun to explore, and has rewarding turn-based combat.
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project is a must-see for anyone interested in the past of games, stealth games, or the early days of 3D.It was made for Windows in 1998, and both gamers and reviewers liked it a lot because it had stealth elements, a complicated story, and a main character, master thief Garrett, that they liked.
The City is the name of the steampunk setting, which is a mix of different architectural types and designs from the time of the Industrial Revolution. This huge city is run by three different groups, and Garrett meets all of them over the course of the story, which starts when he is a kid and goes on through his life.
The Order Of 1886
The Order of 1886 came out for the PlayStation 4 in 2015. It is set in an alternate universe with steampunk technology and style. In the story, the Knights of the Round Table are in a modern version of London. The player takes on the role of Sir Galahad and tries to protect the city from monsters.
According to the story of Penalty Kick Online game, some people became half-animal in the 7th or 8th century, around the same time that knightly groups became more powerful. The Order of Knights is the modern version, and the weapons and other things used in the game are a mix of mediaeval and steampunk technology.
Dishonored 2
The long-awaited follow-up to Dishonoured also has a steampunk style and sneaking elements.Dishonoured 2 has the same characters and plot as the first game. This time, it takes place in the 1850s in the made-up city of Karnaca. In addition to Corvo Attano, the main character from the first game in the series, players can also choose to play as Empress Emily Kaldwin, who guides them through the introduction.
The player can use side tasks to unlock non-lethal and stealth options, which makes the game more about strategy than close-quarters or long-range fighting. NPCs can be marked as friendly, murderous, or guilty, and the progress of each mission relies on who and how the player kills.
BioShock
BioShock was a big hit, and it helped pave the way for a new era of dynamic, open-world 3D games, along with games like The Elder Scrolls. This is a thrilling game because you have so much freedom, and the dark, gloomy underground setting of Rapture makes it even better.
The game and the series as a whole take a lot of their visual cues from steampunk, and it shows. This scary shooter has a lot of action, lets you explore, and has some light RPG elements. The end result is an experience that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s a technical wonder.
Final Fantasy 6
In a change from Square’s previous Final Fantasy games, which were mostly set in the Middle Ages, this famous 6th version goes all the way into steampunk game land. This SNES gem shines with its darker themes and gritty steampunk overlay, just like FFVII did with its cyberpunk elements.
Even though the game’s dark atmosphere and moving story are the main attractions, the gameplay is still fun. Fans have said that the fight system is very detailed and has a lot of unique skills, spells, and party member choices.
