In a year which saw the online multiplayer game Fortnite rise to suddenly dominate the headlines in a similar way to cryptocurrency in 2017, the world of gaming managed to quash a growing belief among the analysts who foresaw an end to single-player games with a lack of innovation and the draw of multiplayer games being too strong. Companies like Electronic Arts have leaned into this thesis to their detriment, with 2018 seeing a huge range of incredible innovative single-player games earn huge player bases across all forms of gaming.
Here, we’ll be focussing on the innovative games which have taken inspiration from history to push forward a new era of gaming where the single-player experience is once again valued.
God of War, Norse Mythology
Source: GameSpot, via Twitter
The God of War game series has been running since 2005, and while many acknowledge that some of the games were masterpieces of the time, its fan base had been whittled down to little more than a cult following with its later renditions: until 2018. The protagonist Kratos was originally based on Greek mythology’s divine personification of strength, but with the 2018 release of God of War, the developers did away with the Ancient Greece theme and switched to Norse Mythology.
But, along with a switch in theme, SIE Santa Monica Studio brought in a huge range of RPG elements, a new combat system and, to the surprise of https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2018/04/25/god-of-war-is-a-clear-goty-contender-but-it-could-also-be-a-potential-goat/#145b161c7f38 a powerful story that skewed the regular tale of the rage-filled Kratos into a thoughtful take on him learning to be a good father. The incredibly well-written and enticing game innovated its own franchise to deliver a brand new single-player experience which went on the win the Game of the Year award.
Centurion, Ancient Rome
Source: Inspired Gaming
There’s room for innovation across the whole world of gaming, not just those concerning consoles and controllers, but many developers simply stick to the status quo: not Inspired Gaming. Set in the theme of Ancient Rome, players of Centurion join play alongside the Roman army in unique, themed features which immerse players in the historical theme while still keeping the traditionally high jackpot sum that’s up for grabs.
As shown by https://games.paddypower.com/game/centurion-gip, in Centurion, players will find rewards in the Prizes on Parade, on Roman soldier shields, and along the Road to Rome. Furthermore, the Centurion can come along to bring the player blocks of wilds for Wild Power Spins, modify the reels to find wins, and the Caesars Free Spins mode brings with it a win multiplier, demonstrating the power for the Caesar. The game is loaded with Ancient Rome features which give players a huge number of ways to play as a member of the great civilisation.
Red Dead Redemption 2, American Old West
Source: R.J. Brian, via Twitter
The long-awaited sequel to Rockstar’s smash-hit Red Dead Redemption (2010) finally hit the shelves in 2018, proving to be well worth the wait. The developers not only built upon the incredibly popular game mechanics of the first game and some elements of their other overwhelmingly popular franchise, Grand Theft Auto, but also went even further to provide a level of depth not seen on this scale before.
Everything in Red Dead Redemption 2 has set a new standard for games of its ilk, with an extra focus on realism, which includes beard growth, eating, sleeping, need to clean your guns, a huge population of non-playable characters, random encounters, tracking, horse tiring, and so much more. Still, there is more innovation to come according to https://www.gamespot.com/articles/red-dead-redemption-2-will-redefine-our-industry-t/1100-6460917/ as the multiplayer mode will also set a new standard in that realm of gaming.
Red Dead Redemption 2, Centurion, and God of War all take their inspirations from the past, but load the games with incredible innovations which are driving gaming to a new standard.
