One of the most popular tropes in gaming is to include monsters. There have been so many weird and wonderful creations over the years, from the gorgons and cyborgs of Greek mythology to the likes of Siren Head and Cartoon Cat from Trevor Henderson. There is no limit to the amount of inspiration that game developers can draw upon.
Monsters can have different effects in games as well. They can be used to generate feelings of horror, but they can also be great for action and fantasy offerings. What have been some of the most interesting otherworldly creations to have appeared in games over the years?
Monsters are a Popular Theme in Games
For players in search of games absolutely packed full of monsters, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an excellent option. The award-winning title from CD Projekt Red features every type of beastly creature you can think of, from vampires to ghouls, and wyverns to werewolves.
As you traverse the sprawling open-world landscape, you’ll encounter thousands of monsters, some of which are seriously creepy. For instance, the storyline featuring the three Crones has often been cited as the most disturbing part of the game.
For horror fans, Until Dawn is one of the scariest games out there. The immersive title is like playing out the storyline of a movie, and players get the chance to control each of the characters at different times.
The beauty of this game is that there is a lot at stake: you can complete the game with all the friends surviving, or none of them. The main antagonists in this one are the wendigos, and these nightmarish creatures are enough to keep people up at night.
Historically, wendigos have had a penchant for human flesh, and they are desperate to hunt and kill the helpless protagonists of this fantastic offering from Supermassive Games.
Historic Monsters can Often be Traced to Ancient Mythology
Many of the monsters that appear in modern games can be traced back to ancient mythology, with the Greeks often offering inspiration. The action-packed story of Theseus and the Minotaur is one of the greatest tales from those times, and developers have been keen to include this half-man, half-bull in games over the years.
The minotaur is not the scariest of creatures, but it’s a fantastic choice for action games. In these types of games, there are often fierce battles between beasts and warriors. The minotaur is a good addition to the melting pot of feuding beings in this genre. Another recent title to feature the labyrinth-dwelling beast was Theseus from Reply Game Studios. The immersive VR experience allows players to feel like they’re the legendary Greek hero.
Other monsters from thousands of years ago to feature in games have included Medusa, sirens, harpies, and Scylla. There are too many to mention, and there is an endless supply of inspiration for game developers.
When games can create an iconic and unforgettable monster experience, they go down in history. That’s why titles like Until Dawn will always be remembered fondly. The monster trope in gaming is going nowhere, and these horrific beings will be one of the most common features in the industry for many years to come.
