If you scroll through the “Culture” section on the New York Times, Associated Press, or BBC, you can easily come across headlines related to music, films, and TV shows. However, finding information about the video game industry is a much more challenging task. Although video game spending in the US totaled $57.2 billion in 2023, the industry is often glossed over in the media in favor of more “sophisticated” topics. This does not represent the products that are actually being consumed by the population and perpetuates the misconception that video games are not important enough to deserve coverage.
Because of this lack of representation, the general public’s knowledge of video games is often limited to Minecraft, Roblox, and Tetris. However, the industry is so much more diverse than this, encompassing a wide range of genres and styles. Furthermore, video games are not limited to the United States by any means—in fact, players and developers are located in countries all over the world.
In the spirit of celebrating the diversity of the video game industry, here is a list of games from every permanently inhabited continent. (Sorry, Antarctica!) The games are listed in alphabetical order by continent, and all of the following selections are available on Steam.
Africa: Terra Nil (2023)
Terra Nil is a great choice for anyone who enjoys relaxing games about nature. It’s an environmental strategy game developed by Free Lives, a South African studio. The challenge is to transform a desolate, formerly inhabited planet into a lush wilderness. The player is responsible for creating a variety of habitats in order to provide homes for the returning animal species. The music is very peaceful, and the beautiful graphics enhance the experience.
Asia: Carto (2020)
Carto, a Taiwanese adventure game, is perfect for players looking for a creative challenge. The storyline follows a young girl named Carto who was separated from her grandmother and crosses forests, deserts, mountains, and more in order to reunite with her. Along the way, the player faces many puzzles that are solved by manipulating pieces of the map. Some of the puzzles are difficult, but they can be worked out with patience and critical thinking.
Australia: Dinkum (Early Access)
Dinkum is a fun alternative for fans of Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. The setting is a wide open island inspired by the Australian Outback. There is a lot of freedom, between farming, exploring, friendship, fishing, and more. The incorporation of Australian slang, food, and wildlife adds an extra dimension to this sandbox game. It is important to note that this game is still in “early access”, meaning it isn’t fully developed yet, but that doesn’t cause any major problems in terms of gameplay.
Europe: Alba (2020)
Alba is a British adventure game ideal for people interested in animals and conservation. The protagonist is a young girl on a weeklong trip to see her grandparents on an island in southern Spain. It’s a relatively short game, but there’s still a fun and well-developed storyline. The quests are centered around protecting the wildlife on the island, and the player is challenged to take photographs of all the animals. The soundtrack and emphasis on native species create an immersive experience of Spain’s culture and environment.
North America: Été (2024)
Été, an artistic exploration game, is perfect for anyone who enjoys creating digital art. It was developed by Impossible, a Canadian studio based in Montréal, which is also where the game is set. Été is an excellent choice for French students—the game is available in both English and French, so the player has the option to immerse themself in the language. The player receives commissions to create digital “paintings” from characters around the city, and the graphics are in a watercolor-like style.
South America: Outlanders (2019)
Outlanders is a fun choice for players interested in series like Anno and SimCity. It’s a village management game developed by Pomelo Games, a studio from Uruguay. The player acts as the leader of a migratory group of people who set up settlements on different islands, and each location features a unique combination of difficulties and opportunities. The main task is to keep your citizens fed, housed, and happy, which is often more challenging than it sounds.
From computers to consoles, video games are all around us. Developers are shaping our modern society, while simultaneously being influenced by the cultures that they live in. The international community of video gaming demonstrates how interconnected our world has become, and through playing games from different countries, we can come to a personal understanding of foreign cultures and people groups. Whether you’re a serious gamer or have never played in your life, I hope that this compilation will encourage you to branch out and appreciate the diversity that the video game industry has to offer.
