Best Of
Step into a world where Victorian-era aesthetics meet advanced steam-powered technology.
Steampunk games transport players to alternative histories and fantastical realms, where brass gears turn alongside clockwork marvels.
So what are Steampunk games and which are some of the best.
What are Steampunk Games?
Steampunk gamesare a subgenre of games that incorporate science fiction and fantasy themes.
The term steampunk was first coined in 1987, when sci-fi author K.W.
Jeter used it to describe a style ofsci-fi fantasyfeaturing Victorian technology powered by steam.
It then grew in popularity all through the 1980s and early 1990s.
Over the years, steampunk games have grown from a subgenre of literature to encompass multiple forms of media.
Today, its a subculture in gaming that has accrued a loyal fanbase of Victorian fantasies.
Gameplay
Steampunk games can take on any genre.
Often, steampunk games dabble in science fiction and fantasy.
The setting can take place in the 19th-century Victorian era of industrialism or the American Wild West.
Among the games available, these best steampunk games tower above the rest.
Frostpunk
The survival game,Frostpunk, ought to be at the top of your must-play steampunk games.
It bestows upon you the power of rulership over the last city on Earth.
But theres a more significant catch.Frostpunkisnt like any city.
Its situated on a frozen land in an alternate history in 1886.
The winter will persist for the foreseeable future, and so every energy source must be protected and conserved.
To get through the winter, youll find ways to generate heat.
But steam power remains a crucial resource to keep a close eye on.
Its the perfect game to devour steampunk aesthetics, with its Industrial Revolution London-esque infrastructure and distinct gothic charm.
You feast your eyes, using open-ended exploration to study ancient technology in the Victorian and Middle Ages.
The trick is to get away with several robberies.
But also, youre stealing as a means to the end of chaos and destruction.
While the firstThief: The Dark Projectwasreleased in 1998, it spun three sequels, all worth diving into.
Moreover, the series inspired many more stealth games, likeHitmanand the steampunk genre as well.
Dishonored
Alternatively, considerDishonored, which takes you to a plague-ridden fantasy industrial city called Dunwall.
At its heart is a compelling story following Corvo Attano, bodyguard to the Empress of the Isles.
Its heavily industrial, pulling the curtain back to portray a more authentic classist dismal tone.
You get the full package, complete with fantasy and dangerous, sometimes unreliable technology.
Robots roam around, nailing a futuristic vibe.
But also, paying close attention to historical detail, whether Victorian architecture, paintings, or sculptures.
BioShock: Infinite
You could trek down to airborne 1912 Columbia instead.
The mission requires you to brave multiple trials and a tyrant to rescue an imprisoned girl.
But steampunk lovers will appreciate the heavy emphasis on the Victorian era.
Beyond the Victorian era, however,BioShock: Infinitefocuses on alternate and futuristic takes on late steampunk.
It manages to capture early 20th-century dystopia.
But beyond historic references, it pushes the breadth of imagination with killer automatons and high-tech gear.
SteamWorld Dig
The platform mining adventure draws heavily fromMetroidvaniaand steampunk.
It gives you doses of heavy exploration in a charming, content-packed world.
But also puts emphasis on steampunk, via its clanky robotic Rusty powered by steam.
Youll have to dip into your Indiana Jones side, exploring twisted caverns for treasure.
Throughout your playthrough, youll discover steampunk gear and weapons that increase mining efficiency.
Watch out for enemies, too, lurking in the shadows.
But there are also lots of secrets that cement the rewarding experienceSteamWorld Digprovides.
It doesnt get any more specific than having steam in its title.
But at least the gameplay delivers on its promise of fun-filled adventure.
Evans I. Karanja is a freelance writer who loves to write about anything technology.
When not writing, he can be found playing video games or watching F1.
