Summary
Welsh history, languages, and folklore are often used in popular culture, whether it’s the inspiration behind the Elvish language used in theLord of the Ringsbooks or ghost stories inspired by Welsh folklore. However, this rich history often goes unnoticed outside of Wales. Welsh representation in video games can be found in several games that utilize fantasy and history, with settings and Welsh-speaking or sounding characters. But many audiences may not be familiar with these elements' origins.
The Welsh culture proudly dates back to the Ancient Celtic Bretons. Unsurprisingly, for a nation with the red dragon (Y Draig Goch) adorning the flag, there’s a lot of history and lore to tap into and use in video games. This list will explore games influenced by Welsh culture, characters, history, and language.
Maid of Skeris a first-person horror game set in 1898 and puts players in the role of Thomas Evans as he searches for his fiance, Elizabeth. The game is a run-and-hide style horror similar to theOutlastseries as he must use stealth and outsmart the creepy cult members, the Quiet Ones that occupy the Sker Hotel.
The game takes inspiration fromTheMaid of Skernovel by R.D. Blackmore. Even though Sker Island in the game is fictional, the hotel is based on the real Sker House within walking distance of the seaside town of Porthcawl, Wales. The game and the novel are inspired by a local ghost story connected to Sker House, which is said to be haunted by the spirit of Elizabeth Williams. According to the stories, Elizabeth died of a broken heart after being locked away in a room by her father. Sker House is Elizabethan, but was originally built on the foundations of a Cistercian monastic grange over 900 years ago.
6Tales From The Dancing Moon
Set In A Welsh Village Along The Gower Peninsula
Tales From the Dancing Moonis an isometric life-sim RPG in Early Access on Steam. It is being developed by solo developer DJMonkey, who contributed to the development of some of the base-building tools inNo Man’s Sky. The story unfolds with a mysterious plot, focusing on a protagonist who finds themselves awakening in a village known as Illisor.
The village is designed as a Narnia-like parallel universe version of Rhossili (Illisor pronounced backward). Rhossili is a town located within Swansea on the Gower Peninsula.Tales From the Dancing Moonis based on the developer’s experiences visiting Swansea and Rhossili. Despite being in Early Access, the world and characters are already a joy to explore and interact with.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flagis often regarded as one of the best entries in the series. It is set during the Golden Age of Piracy and centers on aWelsh protagonist, Edward Kenway, a pirate from Swansea who renames his ship The Jackdaw after the bird. In Welsh and Greek culture, the Jackdaw symbolizes thievery and omens of death.
Kenway isn’t the only Welsh pirate featured inAssassin’s Creed: Black Flag.Kenway also interacts with Bartholemew Roberts, an infamous real-life Welsh pirate from a small village called Casnewydd Bach. He was also known as Black Bart, and historians regard him as one of the most successful pirates of the Golden Age. Edward Kenway is voiced by Swansea actor Matt Ryan, known for playing and voicing John Constantine in live-action TV shows and animated movies.
Koudelkatakes place in the Welsh town of Aberystwyth. Most of the action takes place in the fictional Nemeton Monastery, built in the 9th Century. The Victorian-era JRPG mixes elements ofResident Evil’sexploration and pre-rendered backgrounds with turn-based combat, making it stand out from the traditional fantasy-based JRPGs on the PS1 at the time.
Players take on the role of the titular Koudelka, a Romani psychic drawn to the Nemeton Monastery turned mansion. In Celtic lore, Nemetons are sacred places of worship, and the source of power for an evil deity in the series. The Monastery’s appearance was based onSt. David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, Wales.Koudelkais the first entry in what became known as theShadow Heartsseries on the PlayStation 2.
Final Fantasy 16is a darker and more somber game compared to its whimsical predecessors. The game has a dark fantasy setting, reminiscent of the medieval backdrop ofGame of Thronesand its characters. The Iron Kingdom boasts a medieval Celtic aesthetic, complete with a formidable stronghold named Caer Norvent. “Caer” is the Welsh term for “castle,” making the English translation similar to Castle Norvent.
Interestingly, the Ironblood Fanatics and the optional bosses, the Mageth Brothers, have an attack named Crea Y Cwm, which translates as “create the valley.“Final Fantasy 16has similar atmosphere toGame of Thrones. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that the game would incorporate elements from Celtic, Welsh, and European medieval history.
Drakengardis a dark and mature medieval fantasy set in thesame universe as theNierseries. It’s an action RPG with complex characters, multiple endings, and gameplay that centers on action on the ground and the skies when riding a dragon. Players take on the role of Caim, a warrior prince forced to make a life-saving pact with a dragon that may have destroyed his empire and killed his family.
While the setting seems to be influenced by Northern Europe, Caim’s kingdom was known as Caerleon. Caerleon shares its name with a historical town in Newport, Wales. Caerleon is the site of the Roman fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hillfort. It holds a significant place in British archaeological history. Moreover, Caim is a derivative of the Welsh name Cai and, a common first name in predominantly Welsh-speaking regions in Wales.
Ni no Kuniis a fantasy JRPG developed by the same team behindDragon Quest 8,and featuring animated cut scenes byStudio Ghibli. It’s a timeless coming-of-age story with beautiful cartoon-style graphics and an incredible soundtrack. Players take on the role of a 13-year-old boy named Oliver as he travels between his hometown, which resembles American towns from the 1950s, to a fantasy realm of magic, witches, monsters, dragons, and fairies.
The fairies inNi no KuniPeople speak with accents and dialects unique to the South Wales Valleys. Oliver’s fairy companion and guide, Drippy, is voiced by Welsh actor Stefan Rhodri (House of the DragonandThe Last Kingdom).The localization team looked to Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert as the inspiration for Drippy, stating “The decision to make Drippy Welsh was a very natural one.” Welsh actors Owain Rhys Davies (Twin Peaks 2022),and Matthew Gravelle (Broadchurch, Elden Ring)voiced Smiley and Surely.
