You don’t have to be a bardolator to recognize that Shakespeare has had a long-lasting impact on the way we tell stories. Shakespearian notions of tragedy have shaped the way many of them are told. Of course, as video games become more focused on telling enthralling stories, we have seen these influences become more and more pronounced in the medium.
Sometimes Shakespeare's work is directly referenced in video games. These references exist as a nod to the bard. Other times, though, there are obvious parallels between the stories in the games we love and Shakespeare’s noteworthy work. Either way, these games are a testament to the legacy of this great playwright.
10 Suikoden 3
Suikoden 3 has one of the more whimsical implementations of Shakespeare in video games. At one point in the game, you will gain access to a theater. This will allow you to cast different characters to act out certain plays. Some of these depict events from other games in the series, but you can also have your characters act out Romeo and Juliette.
Better yet, depending on the characters, the depiction of the play will change dramatically. Some characters become nervous and stumble over their lines, others will go completely off-script. You have over-actors, under-actors, and everything in-between. While it may only play a minor role in the game, it is absolutely a ton of fun.
9 Killzone Shadow Fall
While Shadow Fall may not have been the Killzone title that fans wanted, it did have one very interesting element that absolutely deserves praise: the relationship between Kellan and Echo. These two come from different worlds, yet, in the calamity of it all, choose to side with each other instead of the factions they were born into.
It is all very Romeo and Juliette-esque (even if it isn't strictly a romantic relationship). Though, you know, set in a futuristic military shooter setting. In typical Shakespearean fashion, it is also a story that ends tragically. Say what you will about Shadow Fall, it did some interesting things.
8 The Curse Of Monkey Island
The Curse Of Monkey Island is another game that very directly references Shakespeare. Here we get to see what Shakespeare would look like if it had been rewritten to better attract pirates. Which, of course, gives us such classic lines as “To swab or not to swab” or “A Pirate, by any other name, would still reek”.
And of course, the fan-favorite Murray makes his debut in The Curse Of Monkey Island. For those not in the know, Murray is a sassy, disembodied skull. So you know there are going to be more than a few Yorick jokes. Shakespeare was never afraid to add some levity to his work. We would like to believe that he would have appreciated The Curse Of Monkey Island and its brand of humor.
7 Elsinore
Elsinore isn't just a Shakespearian game, it is an outright adaptation of Hamlet (though one that definitely isn't afraid to take liberties). Elsinore features a time-loop-style gameplay system. You take control of Ophelia and must do your best to help avoid the Shakespearian tragedy that typically concludes her story.
This point-and-click adventure does a great job of adding something new to the formula, as the player has a tremendous amount of latitude to influence events. It does rely on trial and error, but it also allows you to experiment with the story of Hamlet, remixing it on the fly. Some people will think that is sacrilege, but playwrights from Shakespeare's era routinely took each other's work and iterated upon it. Without the Spanish Tragedy, we wouldn't have Hamlet. And now we can say that without Hamlet, we wouldn't have Elsinore.
6 Final Fantasy 9
While there are a number of Shakespeare references sprinkled throughout the Final Fantasy series, it is Final Fantasy 9 that really takes things to the next level. The beginning of the game shows a play being performed, it is the story of star-crossed lovers who are forbidden to be together due to their different upbringings.
The lead character in the play is King Leo, which is almost certainly a King Lear reference. Actors in the troop performing the play, such as Cinna and Marcus, are also named after characters from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Finally, one of the reoccurring characters in the game is Puck, who shares a name with one of the key mischievous characters from A Midsummer Night's Dream. It isn't anything too substantial, but these references are a fun way to pay homage to the influential playwright.
5 Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
The setup for Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver is a simple one. Kain, who is a ruthless leader, is jealous of Raziel, a popular general in his army who is gathering power. In a jealous fit, Kain strikes him down. Raziel then becomes a vengeful spirit who seeks to get his revenge on Kain. A fitful jealous king who is haunted for his unjust actions and plagued by ghosts? That sounds more than a little like Macbeth
The similarities don't stop there, either. There is quite a bit of monologuing in Soul Reaver: Raziel takes solace in his own thoughts. Frequently, he agonizes over his past and plots his revenge. This style of narration won't be unfamiliar to fans of Shakespeare, as the bard's plays are chock-full of characters who like to monologue. Soul Reaver may not appear to have much connection to Shakespeare at first glance, but his influence is plain to see.
4 Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story is a game that features twists and turns tethered to hidden machinations and concealed intent. The story is also, in many instances, classically tragic. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call it distinctly Shakespearean.
Matsuno tipped his hand here, it seems. Vagrant Story features characters named Romeo Guildenstern as well as Rosencrantz. Names that are of course taken directly from Shakespeare’s most famous works. Referencing Hamlet is also appropriate, as that too was a work of fiction that dealt heavily with the machinations of man.
3 Dishonored
Dishonored is a classic story of revenge. Which, you know, immediately puts it in Shakespeare’s wheelhouse. However, Corvo, in his pursuit of revenge, doesn’t simply stab those who wronged him in the back; instead, many of his options for revenge feel like something directly out of Titus Andronicus or Othello.
Corvo makes certain that the people who betrayed the queen and framed him for her murder, meet twisted and dark ends that are tailored to each of them. If you are going to tell a great revenge story, Shakespeare is never a bad source of inspiration.
2 Final Fantasy Tactics
The story of Delita in Final Fantasy Tactics is so Shakespearean it hurts. His sister is killed in the first act, which spurs him on to gain power for himself. Power he claims through double-crossing and plotting. Eventually, he is able to marry into a position of authority. An arrangement he is able to manipulate by uncovering the schemes of others.
And, for all his scheming, and all his conniving, Delita’s story ends on a dour note, where he has managed to secure everything he had wanted, but it has left him alone. There are notes of Titus Andronicus as well as Othello sprinkled throughout Delita’s tragic story.
1 Haven
Haven is a story about two young lovers who have decided to run off together because their families are in opposition to their love. If this plotline reminds you of anything, there is a reason for that. Emeric Thoa, the creative director, has said that the pitch for the game was very loosely based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (but in space).
The main difference is that this is an example of a what-if scenario where the two lovers escaped. Haven is already one of the best depictions of a relationship in games. It having ties to one of the most famous love stories ever penned is just the cherry on top.
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