Summary
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.
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 inentries that take place in the UK.
London is one of the most well-known cities in the world, and so it would make sense for avideo game to take place in it.The Getawayis set in the city, being based on British gangster movies, and resembling gameplay similar toGrand 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.
2025-07-30
Genre
Adventure
Despite the name of the studio that created the game, The Chinese Room is, in fact, a British developer.Dear Estherreflects 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.
In the franchise’s previous instalments, theWatch Dogsseries 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 aWatch Dogsgame, 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.
AsAssassin’s Creedhas always based itself on visiting real historical locations, a game set in the UK was only a matter of time.Assassin’s Creed Syndicateis 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 gamebefore Ubisoft switched things up inAssassin’s Creed Origins, introducing more RPG elements.
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.
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 asResident EvilandLeft 4 Dead.However, there are some zombie games that take place in the UK, such asKilling FloorandZombiU, the latter of which was initially launchedas a Wii U title.
ZombiUis 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.
Everybody’s Gone To The Raptureis a spiritual successor toDear Esther, made by British video game developer The Chinese Room. Instead of taking place in Scotland likeDear Esther,Everybody’s Gone To The Raptureis set in England, specifically Shropshire.
Much likeDear Esther,Everybody’s Gone To The Rapturetasks 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.
Assassin’s Creedhas already visited the UK beforeValhalla, inAssassin’s Creed Syndicate.However,Assassin’s Creed Valhallais 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 toAssassin’s Creed’sstory.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.
Some games don’t need a story-driven reason to be set in the UK.Untitled Goose Gamefits the bill, as players control a goose who annoys the residents of an English village while completing objectives.
Chaotic and crazy scenarios occurring in a British village have been a unique theme for certain media pieces, such asHot Fuzz.The juxtaposition of a quaint and almost boringly normal village with a chaotic character or event works extremely well, andUntitled Goose Gameexecutes this fluently, creating a very humorous experience that can leave players wanting forother similar games.
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 Legacyis one such example, as it isbased in the world ofHarry Potter,which itself is set in the UK.
While there have beenHarry Potterstories 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.
Forza Horizonhas always been set in different locations for each game, and the fourth installment was based in the UK. EachForza Horizongame 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 4also introduced seasons, fitting for the UK, andchanging how the game playsand looks.
