Ireland is one of those places I’ve dreamed about visiting ever since I was a little girl. I’m not sure if it began with my love of Lord of the Rings (the rolling green hills of the Emerald Isle always made me think of the Shire) or if it was there all along, an echo of memories passed down from distant ancestors. It’s the kind of longing that feels like missing a home you’ve never been to, except perhaps in your dreams.
I’m planning to go—hopefully, sooner rather than later. In the meantime, books and movies have helped me make the journey a thousand times over in my mind. Video games, too, have played their part, though the industry is depressingly lacking in options. But for those like me who’d love to explore fair Éire from the comfort of home, I’ve dug up at least eight beautiful video games set in Ireland to add to your to-play list.
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with These Video Games Set in Ireland
Ireland is known for its storytellers, and with its rich folkloric history and picturesque scenery, it’s shocking to me how few video games are actually set in Ireland. Many games do take inspiration from Celtic mythology, especially in terms of monster design, but are often set in fantasy worlds rather than the actual “Land of Saints and Scholars.”
The following games, however, take no such leaps. They are firmly Irish in flavor and setting, even if the specific locations in which they take place are fictional or vague.
‘Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (Wrath of the Druids)’
Ubisoft, 2021
Easily one of the visually prettiest games on this list (thanks, in no small part, to also being the newest game on this list), the Wrath of the Druids expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla lets players traipse across 9th century Ireland at their own pace. If you just want to walk around exploring gorgeously rendered landmarks like the Giant’s Causeway or Dublin’s River Liffey, you can do that. Or if you want to take out your frustrations about the price of traveling abroad on some cultists calling themselves the Children of Danu, you can do that too.
‘Folklore’
Game Republic, 2007
Folklore is probably the quintessential Irish game that most players in search of a digitized Emerald Isle have already heard of. Set in both the real coastal city of Doolin in County Clare and a fictional interpretation of the Celtic Otherworld, Folklore is an enchanting experience full of mythological characters and creatures, including brownies, Cait Sidhe, the Fomoire, and more.
‘Clive Barker’s Undying’
EA Games, 2001
Though the graphics can no longer compare to what today’s developers can achieve, when Clive Barker’s Undying came out, it looked breathtaking—and the story remains one of my favorites to this day. Of all the games that deserve remakes, this is the one I yearn for the most. Set in an unnamed Irish coastal town during the 1920s, Undying follows player character Patrick Galloway as he undertakes the dangerous task of helping a dying friend unravel the mystery of a curse that’s plagued his family for decades. It’s beautiful and grotesque—it’s Clive Barker, after all—and exploration is limited to the family’s estate, but if you’re looking for a classic horror game with an Irish twist, this one’s for you.
‘If Found’
Dreamfeel, 2020
If Found is a sci-fi visual novel with a split premise: one half of the game revolves around a space explorer named Doctor Cassiopeia trying to prevent the end of the world, while the other half focuses on a young transgender woman named Kasio just trying to live her best life in Ireland in 1993. Developed by Irish studio Dreamfeel, If Found takes many of its emotional cues from studio director Llaura McGee’s experiences as a trans woman growing up in a small Irish town in the 90s.
‘The Little Acre’
Charles Cecil & Pewter Game Studios, 2016
A charming, family-friendly point-and-click adventure set partly in 1950s Ireland, The Little Acre features an adorable hand-animated art style that feels like what you’d get if you crossed Don Bluth with Daedalic Entertainment. (I say “partly” set in Ireland because, like a few other games on this list, the plot involves crossing over to another world, Alice in Wonderland style.) It’s short and sweet, and incredibly nostalgic.
‘So May It Be: A Witch Dating Simulator’
Planchette Games, 2020
Another indie gem from an all-Irish, all-female development team, So May It Be is a cute, quirky dating simulator with an early 2000s urban aesthetic. It’s exactly what the label says: a game in which you play as a witch, hanging out with other witches, doing witchy things, and (potentially) falling in love. Equally ideal for St. Patrick’s Day or Valentine’s Day—or just any day you need a sweet, chill game to relax with for an afternoon.
‘Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag’
HitGrab, 2020
One more indie hit for the road! Part action-adventure, part platformer, Clan O’Conall and the Crown of the Stag follows three siblings on their quest to retrieve the titular crown from Caoranach, mother of demons and prevent all-out war between mortals and the Fae folk. It’s light on story, but lovely to look at—perfect for anyone else around here who absolutely adores movies like The Secret of Kells.
We Need More Irish Video Games, Friends
They say you should write the book you want to read—or in this case, make the game you want to play. I’ve done my part—my very first game, The Harbinger’s Head, was set in 19th century Ireland and featured a host of mythological creatures from Celtic lore to interact with, including one very grumpy dullahan.
It’s your turn, now. And if you can’t make them yourself, help me find more to play and share. Leave a comment below with any titles I might have missed. Here’s to playing many more video games set in Ireland in the years to come—sláinte!
Kim Berkley is a fantasy author and narrative designer of vaguely Celtic descent who loves writing for games as much as playing them. She is the creator of such interactive fiction titles as The Harbinger’s Head, chiaroscuro, and The Dragon’s Last Flight.
