Games developers are constantly taking inspiration from the world around them when they are creating new concepts. This leads to a lot of different games that have natural themes. We see the world of nature every single day, and people relate to it, too, so it is little surprise to see so many games that touch on wildlife and the natural world.
Let’s explore some of the specific games as well as types of games that may have some roots in nature.
Slot Games
There are thousands of different slot games on the market. Usually pretty simple, the developers are often looking for new themes and interesting additions for progressive slots (which can build up big jackpots) and standard slot games.
There are commonly new games released in the slot games niche that focus on nature, and some of the most popular specific themes include jungle-themed as well as animal-themed slots, plus Wild West and American-themed slots with rattlesnakes and buffalos among some of the symbols.
Irish-themed slots are also very popular and a huge number of these are set among mountains and hills as the backdrop to provide a happy and upbeat setting.
Farming Games
There are some very popular farming games out there, which challenge the stereotypes that a lot of people have about gaming. There are farming simulation games where the whole idea is to plant crops, drive and use the farm machinery and ensure a successful harvest.
On top of this, one of the most successful games that involve farming is Stardew Valley. This game became a real sensation and takes an RPG approach to become a farmer and embedding in a new community, Stardew Valley. In the game, farming plays a huge part and you can choose between different types of crops, animals, and other approaches.
Stardew Valley has plenty of players that are kids and adults alike and for those who like the feel of nature and agriculture, it can be a fun experience.
Animal-Themed Games
The natural world extends to animals, too, and there are quite a few games that could be classed as being in an animal niche.
For instance, there are zoo simulation games including Planet Zoo and Zoo Tycoon. The idea in these games is to create an amazing zoo to keep visitors happy but they also have features like conservation and breeding programs. They can be a good way for people to learn about the animal kingdom.
On top of zoo simulators, there are some other interesting simulation games. There are even some that are downright bizarre. Goat Simulator is a series of games where the main player takes control of a goat. It is an open-ended sandbox game with a surprising amount of opportunities for mayhem, and it can be played on a console or PC.
Adventure Games Set in Nature
A lot of modern games have an open-world approach, and this means that there is a huge amount of natural habitat within them to explore. Players are encouraged to spend time checking out all of the different locations and engaging with mountains and wildlife.
One of the best examples of this is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This award-winning game is set in fictional worlds with a huge amount of nature for players to explore. Even the name of the game alludes to the wilderness. Zelda games have come a long way since the very earliest, blocky characters we remember from the 1990s.
There are more games with action and adventure in them which are set in nature, such as the Far Cry series. While nature is not the main focus of most of these games, they always have an interesting map to explore which contains its ecosystem. Far Cry took this nature theme a step further when they made Far Cry Primal which takes you back to prehistoric times and allows players to explore a natural world featuring predators that have long been extinct.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is another game that has elements of survival and incorporates plenty of nature, simulating running a clan of evolving primates and focusing on the whole of human history, starting in Africa and gradually guiding a clan through a version of evolution. The game is very well-reviewed and is available on a PC or console.
Summary
When you think about it in detail, you’ll realize that a huge number of different games feature the natural world, whether it is the world we live in or a historic or even fictional representation such as that we see in Zelda games.
Even the most simple games often have some element of nature involved, and more complex games can involve farming, breeding animals, and the human relationship with nature.