In the world of video games, much like that of movies, US and European culture tends to dominate when it comes to major releases, as zombies invade New York and romcoms are set in the almost cliched settings Paris or London.
However, as the entertainment industries and burgeoning customer bases in India and the rest of Asia continue to grow, more and more Indian cultural elements are beginning to seep into the world’s mainstream entertainment channels.
This is most certainly the case when it comes to online games, as gamers now expect the titles they play to transport them to as many exotic locations as possible. Here are just some of the games that are harnessing Indian culture to give their levels, avatars, and soundtracks a little bit of added spice.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
This is something of a classic in video game terms, but this Prince of Persia version still stands up, and was set in a Maharajah’s palace.
The game’s prince protagonist is tasked with correcting a deadly mistake he made, which meant he turned the entire local population into monsters. Only he can reverse the effects of the Sands of Time, as he goes about solving puzzles and battling enemies.
While much of the scenery and buildings in the game were fictional, they still harked players back to ancient times, when India was a very different looking country than it is today.
Bollywood-inspired Reel Spinners
Of course, it is not just RPGs and open world games that have adopted elements of Indian culture to pep up or 100% Indian-inspired titles. Plenty of classic casino games have also followed the trend.
There have been a number of slot games that have catered to existing Bollywood fans, as well as those players who might be new to the Indian concept of musical cinema. One such game is Bollywood Story, which intertwines a classic Bollywood love story with the mechanics of spinning reels and Wild symbols, all of which is set to a traditional Bollywood style soundtrack.
Another similar game that is infused with all things Indian is The Wonders of Taj Mahal, which uses the iconic building as its backdrop. Games like these often have multiple bonus features as well as factoring in promotions in which jackpots can hit every day. They also obviously keep fans of Indian culture entertained with their eye-catching visuals and catchy sound effects and tunes.
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has traveled all over the world, taking in places as varied as Viking heartlands in Scandinavia, all the way through to Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. It was therefore only a matter of time before the game’s protagonist found his way to India, and that moment came in the second part of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles.
The game’s main character, Arbaaz Mir, goes about exploring an ancient city during the reign of the Sikh Empire, as he tries to get his hands on a secret and powerful item that is under the control of a master Templar. The game is as expansive and rich in detail as gamers have come to expect from the Assassin’s Creed series, and there’s even special Indian weapons available to use that are rendered with great historical accuracy.
Ludo King – Leading a Mobile Revolution
While all the games above ape the sights and sounds of India, there is a whole other genre of game that is busy shaping Indian society itself. That genre is mobile games, which have captured the imagination of Indian players, often by taking old Indian classics like Ludo, and turning them into endlessly playable mobile games.
Ludo King is the most popular of these, and its popularity hardly seeming to wane as the years go by.
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