The Best Games Set In China

Not only is China under-represented in video games, but it’s difficult to find games made in China or set in China with English language versions. However, that is changing fast, with some of the most exciting upcoming games coming from a whole new market.

Whether it’s old cult favorites, grand strategy games, or under-played classics, there is so much to enjoy when it comes to this setting, and we’re very likely going to get a lot more of it in the coming decade, so now’s the time to brush up on what came before!

7 Jade Empire

Imperial Emerald

Most gamers are likely to know BioWare for its incredible Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Star Wars RPGs, but in comparison, most have completely forgotten about the underloved gem Jade Empire. Released by Bioware in 2005 and later for PC in 2007, Jade Empire sought to distance itself from a growing pack of Western-based RPGs by drawing upon Chinese mythology and martial arts.

What results is a real delight of a game that has a combat system infused with kung-fu goodness, but also a robust dialogue system and narrative to go alongside it. Despite not being commercially successful, Jade Empire developed something of a cult following, and its influences can be readily seen in subsequent Bioware efforts with some even arguing that it’s long overdue a remake.

6 Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China

Ming Dynasty Needs A Reboot

It’s an understatement to say that the Assassin’s Creed franchise has enjoyed incredible popularity, and that may have reached its peak in the mid-2010s when new entries were rolling out on a yearly basis, if not faster. Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China was one of these releases, downsizing the massive open worlds of the mainline franchise into a 2D stealth platformer for mobile consoles that is way underrated compared to its bigger brothers in the franchise.

The Chronicles games explored incredible and risky settings that the mainline games weren’t likely to visit, so Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is likely the closest a mainline game will ever get to China again. Still, it’s a great little game with truly stunning art direction that takes inspiration from traditional Chinese paintings and marks a clear experimental step for a franchise that was trying to find out where to go next.

5 Romance of the Three Kingdoms 3: Dragon of Destiny

A Story Of Epic Proportions

It’s safe to say that most Western gamers won’t have heard of the Romance of the Three Kingdom series, the Japanese made a tactical grand strategy game that began all the way back in 1985 and enjoyed its most recent entry in 2020. Based on the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou (originally, the English title of the franchise was lifted from the 14th-century novel of the same name), the game tells the story of the Three Kingdoms era in Chinese history that followed the famed Han dynasty.

The series is pretty hardcore for grand strategy, played across a map of China and requiring careful management of statistics based on cities and characters to wage war, or try and keep the peace through diplomacy. Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Dragon of Destiny is generally considered to be the best in the long and storied franchise, but that’s like trying to pick a favorite Final Fantasy game – it’s basically impossible.

4 Chinese Parents

Tiger Moms and Dads

The joy of worldwide gaming is that sometimes a little-known indie can break through to a global audience, using specificity to deliver universality. Such is the case with Chinese Parents, a delightful casual sim from 2018 that tries to emulate what it’s like to be a kid in a tough school system facing their final exams soon.

It’s a genuinely sensitive and cozy portrayal of school life, clearly inspired by the likes of Tokimeki Memorial, but bringing it to the modern day and fleshing out a whole side of the world that most Western gamers don’t get to see.

3 Age of Wushu

Wuxia With Friends

Though there are plenty of MMORPGs out there made by Chinese companies that are extremely popular worldwide, relatively few actually take place in China. Releasing in 2012 to fit that gap, Age of Wushu is an MMORPG that takes direct inspiration from Wuxia martial arts films in a story set during the glory days of the Ming Dynasty in China.

Though its player count has undeniably fallen since release, the game was well-loved on release for having a new take on the MMORPG genre, particularly due to its choice to not have classes, but instead allow players to join a set of factions that provided unique skills for each. It was a bold move to try and get some market share. Though it’s not well remembered today, there’s still a hefty contingent out there who are major proponents of this underrated MMORPG.

2 Black Myth: Wukong

The Big Breakout

As perhaps the most popular game to be made in China, about China, ever, there was no doubt of Black Myth: Wukong making its way onto this list. Released in August 2024, Black Myth: Wukong meaningfully iterated on the Soulslike genre by bringing it into the world of the Chinese novel Journey to the West and bringing a whole new world of stories to gamers looking for something new (and it’ll keep them busy for a long time, too, considering the number of side quests).

Despite being based on the Soulslike formula, Black Myth: Wukong meaningfully iterates on the genre with plenty of complexity, including a series of combat stances combined with resource management, well-timed dodges, and special abilities where the player can transform into mythological beings. It’s a sturdy strong entry into the subgenre, and its commercial success all but guarantees sequels in the future.

1 Total War: Three Kingdoms

Empires To Rival Rome

As the Total War games gained a reputation for bringing historical periods to life like never before for strategy gamers, it was only a matter of time before Creative Assembly turned towards the incredibly dense and detail-rich history of China in the form of Total War: Three Kingdoms, one of the very best in the Total War franchise.

Set during the tumultuous period following the Han dynasty when China fragmented into many complex warring factions, Creative Assembly bring their strategy game prowess to bear on the incredible historical period with amazing attention to historical detail, as well as en masse battles the likes of which had never been seen before in the context of China in video games. It was a big step forward, and no doubt introduced a lot of Western gamers to one of the most interesting periods ever recorded in history.