Summary
In all forms of fiction—whether in video games, movies, novels, comic books, or animation—monstershold a unique appeal. They are often as fascinating as they are terrifying, as many people possess a natural curiosity about the strange and unknown, especially if they are based on or inspired by movies.
Over the years, video game developers have explored the intriguing world of monsters to evoke the same emotions as classic films. These monsters can serve as foes, main protagonists, or even both, and they have inhabited large, expansive open worlds found in RPGs and various other genres.
Few expected that an RPG starring a shark would be quality, butManeatershows that any bizarre concept can be executed effectively. Players take control of a shark whose mother was brutally murdered by a cruel hunter, so the shark must feed and continuously evolve to get revenge. Thankfully, the shark has an entire harbor with connected rivers and lakes to explore.
Fans of movies likeJawsandDeep Blue Seacan enjoy the role reversal with the shark being the hero, going up against other apex predators such as orcas, crocodiles, and other sharks. It’s far from complex, butplaying a shark is addictive and fun, with plenty of references to shark movies, and enough RPG elements to allow the player to build the superpowered shark of their dreams.
Thalassophobic individuals may struggle to playSubnauticabecause the entiregame is set on an alien planetthat is almost entirely ocean. From the highest of reefs to the lowest trenches,Subnauticaquickly became a beloved survival game just because of its setting and fascinating aquatic creatures lurking below the surface.
Giant sea monsters are seen throughout and there are gentle ones like the Reefbacks and the Sea Emperor, but then there are aggressive ones that will make most players scream. The Reaper Leviathan, The Sea Dragon, and the Ghost Leviathan are all kaiju that will bring back memories ofCloverfield,Underwater, andPacific Rimin both good and bad ways.
Set in the rural side of Oregon,Days Gonetakes a page out of several zombie movies and even some television shows. The focus on survivors in the countryside is akin toThe Walking Dead, but the virus-based zombies that swarm like insects feel like a mix of28 Days LaterandWorld War Z.
Days Gonetells a more personal story, showing the life of Deacon St. John, not long after the apocalypse, in a world with zombie-like monsters known as Freakers. Not only are the zombies a challenge to deal with, but the world takes full advantage of the motorcycle gimmick, with players having to monitor and manage how much fuel they consume to traverse the mountainous areas.
Ever sinceCastlevania: Symphony Of The Night, the franchise has embraced an open-ended style, so it makes that that at some point, Castlevania would try an open world.Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2saw the rebooted timeline return with Gabriel Belmont after taking on the name of Dracula but reawakened in modern-day London with a new threat to the world.
As with all other entries of the long-running franchise,Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2is filled with all kinds of monsters. From creatures out of Greek mythology to the gothic folklore thatthe Universal Monsters helped popularize, Dracula faces them all as well as man-made threats.
For over twenty years,Diablogames have been all about slaughtering monsters across the world of Sanctuary, andDiablo 4is no different. It mixes gothic horror and high fantasy to create a world that is a monster fan’s dream, with creatures from many kinds of mythologies. Demons, zombies, vampires, ghosts, and goatmen are just the peak of a large iceberg.
On top ofa highly-detailed character creator,Diablo 4features the most expansive world yet. Thanks to the quasi-MMO structure,Diablo 4features a world where different players can partake in quests solo or together. The world of Sanctuary is seamless, with no loading screens between the different areas, allowing for exploration like never before and even more monsters to slay.
Dragons are the least of players’ problems inThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The Dragonborn has to contend with giant spiders, undead warriors known as Draugr, ghosts, spriggans, trolls, giant spiders, and mechanical beings, just to name a few fantasy monsters.
Whether it is side missions or even part of major storylines, there are monsters to encounter everywhere across the province ofSkyrim, which has remained a beloved RPG adventure for over fifteen years thanks to its massive world to explore. Additionally, the player can choose to become a monster to fight other monsters,such as being a werewolfor a vampire.
Despite never taking place on an island, the long-awaited sequel,Dead Island 2, takes the initial concept of the first game and expands on it with more action, special mutant zombies, weapons, anda far bigger open world mapthat continues the events of the first game. Now, the infection has spread to Los Angeles, which has been renamed to Hell-A.
The RPG elements add a nice flavor toDead Island 2and, thanks to the irreverent style of humor,Dead Island 2is not only a well-made zombie game, but it is also a love letter to zombie movies. There are references and nods to golden zombie classics likeDawn Of The Deadand even horror icons, such as Wes Craven and Stephen King.
While trying to reunite with Ciri and save her from The Wild Hunt and various other factions, Geralt Of Rivia is still a monster hunter by trade inThe Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. As a Witcher, Geralt meets all kinds of folk who need his help, thus plunging him into a world of dark mythological monsters.
The Witcher 3is filled with ghouls, witches, trolls, vampires, werewolves, and so many more monsters from European folklore. In many ways, it strikesa perfect balance of horror and fantasy, thus appealing to people who enjoy dark fantasy movies, such asConan The Barbarian,Legend, andThe 13th Warrior.
Vampyrlooks, sounds, and feels like the gothic horror movies of the past from Universal and Hammer, with the protagonist beinga powerful vampire named Jonathan Reid. It allows players to explore early 20th-century London, with the freedom to be as evil or as good as they please, with many citizens for Jonathan to help via quests or victimize.
Similar toMass Effect, many choices do matter inVampyr, affecting the entire world around Jonathan Reid. Combined with action RPG gameplay that mixes weaponry with vampiric powers,Vampyrbecomes the ideal vampire simulator, especially if someone is a fan ofDraculamovies,Nosferatu, andLondon After Midnight.
