Master Steampunk Computer Games Thread

[Reality_is_a_Dream]

The Submachine series are escape the room style games and are very Steampunky.




http://submachinegames.com/
Here is Submachine 0, with links to 1-4 at the top.  When you beat these, google Submachine 5: The Root

[Josh of Vernian Process]

lol... well the Skies of Arcadia soundtrack is nothing to guffaw about either my friend!

Here's a couple examples why (just to further get you curious):

Opening Theme (this is the title screen music)
Valutian Empire Theme (this is the theme of the main antagonists in the game)
Overworld music (this is what plays when you travel the overworld in one of the many airships you aquire throughout the game. The music also changes as you enter each new land to reflect the style of that area).
Ending Medley (this music always brings a tear to my eye... but mostly because I know the journey is over)

[lady sakara]

Not my type of game play that one (cant stand the little people)..i prefer hands on first/third person type game.

BioShock has steamy elements, like the Big Daddy and the general 20s diesel feel.

[Nillerus]

lol... well the Skies of Arcadia soundtrack is nothing to guffaw about either my friend!

Here's a couple examples why (just to further get you curious):

Opening Theme (this is the title screen music)
Valutian Empire Theme (this is the theme of the main antagonists in the game)
Overworld music (this is what plays when you travel the overworld in one of the many airships you aquire throughout the game. The music also changes as you enter each new land to reflect the style of that area).
Ending Medley (this music always brings a tear to my eye... but mostly because I know the journey is over)

You have successfully piqued my interest sir! However, the only iteration of the game I seem to be able to find is Skies of Arcadia Legends, which apparently glosses over some errors, and permits the fairer sex to show less ankle. Will this have a detrimental effect on my experience of the game? A duel should never be fought erroneously!

[Josh of Vernian Process]

I haven't played Legends, but from my research it fixed a lot of problems with the original (i.e. frequent random battles), and added two new characters that you can unlock, as well as further story arcs.

lol... well the Skies of Arcadia soundtrack is nothing to guffaw about either my friend!

Here's a couple examples why (just to further get you curious):

Opening Theme (this is the title screen music)
Valutian Empire Theme (this is the theme of the main antagonists in the game)
Overworld music (this is what plays when you travel the overworld in one of the many airships you aquire throughout the game. The music also changes as you enter each new land to reflect the style of that area).
Ending Medley (this music always brings a tear to my eye... but mostly because I know the journey is over)

You have successfully piqued my interest sir! However, the only iteration of the game I seem to be able to find is Skies of Arcadia Legends, which apparently glosses over some errors, and permits the fairer sex to show less ankle. Will this have a detrimental effect on my experience of the game? A duel should never be fought erroneously!

[Gertrude Babbage]

As far as real, thoroughbred steampunk games go, arcanum is the only real contender as far as I am concerned.

Uh oh... now thems fightin words

I actually think that my beloved Skies of Arcadia could run circles around the "so-called" Steampunk stylings of Arcanum.

Do you take part in epic airship combat (on a regular basis) in Arcanum? I think not!

Sir, I retract my words until further notice. I haven't actually played Skies of Arcadia as of yet. I shall endeavour to get my grubby fingers on it, and if it falls short of your most excellent promises, we shall duel! 

Skies of Arcadia could most certainly run circles around Arcanum!

"Epic airship combat"? Check. Imperial Armada? Check. Gilder & his dueling pistols? CHECK!

Of course... there are no dwarves in Skies, but we all make sacrifices.

 

[Nillerus]

As far as real, thoroughbred steampunk games go, arcanum is the only real contender as far as I am concerned.

Uh oh... now thems fightin words

I actually think that my beloved Skies of Arcadia could run circles around the "so-called" Steampunk stylings of Arcanum.

Do you take part in epic airship combat (on a regular basis) in Arcanum? I think not!

Sir, I retract my words until further notice. I haven't actually played Skies of Arcadia as of yet. I shall endeavour to get my grubby fingers on it, and if it falls short of your most excellent promises, we shall duel! 

Skies of Arcadia could most certainly run circles around Arcanum!

"Epic airship combat"? Check. Imperial Armada? Check. Gilder & his dueling pistols? CHECK!

Of course... there are no dwarves in Skies, but we all make sacrifices.

 

No dwarves!? NoooOOOOooOOOOoo!

[Fiachna]

I'm going to throw Timeshift in here, there are some definite steampunk elements there, from airships to huge factories. Whilst it is set in the future, it does have some definite steampunk flavours. (Imperial armada, Epic Airship Combat  )

[Doc Rivets]

Here's two I don't know a lot about personally, but heard about recently.

First is a RTS game "Victoria - Empire Under the Sun". Control any country in Europe for the period 1835-1935, by trade, conflict, economics, politics, etc etc you know, all that micro-managed RTS stuff. They don't grab me, but my wife is terrifying at these sorts of games. There's also an add on supplement pack called "Revolutions"

Second is a FPS called "Damnation" supposedly with steampunk themes although I think its also post apocalypse era? Again, FPS games tend to bore me after the first few levels, you know it all gets to be about the same...shoot bang fire arrrgh powerup, fight big boss at the end...next level! Only FPS I ever played and liked was the ww2 Brothers In Arms series. Definately NOT steampunk.

Doc

[Josh of Vernian Process]

I'm going to throw Timeshift in here, there are some definite steampunk elements there, from airships to huge factories. Whilst it is set in the future, it does have some definite steampunk flavours. (Imperial armada, Epic Airship Combat  )

Timeshift most definitely has some Steampunk elements in it. The bulk of the game is set in a weird totalitarian 1930's style world. But the airships, vehicles, and weapons kind of have a Victorian flair.

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Since this is now the master thread for the topic. I should repost this from one of the older more extensive threads:

Complete list of known games featuring Steampunk aesthetics (current as of 2007):

Alone in the Dark 1-3 (1992)
American McGee's Alice(2000)
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura(2001)
Bang! Howdy(2006) wild west setting, with some purely mechanical units
Battalion Wars(2005) Xlyvanians copy World War I Germany to some extent, but with more extravagant vehicles: Iron Legion uses antiquidated technology and uniforms.
BioShock(2007)
Blood Bros.(1990) "wild west" setting, steampunk touches in humorous tone
Boogie Wings(1992)
Breath of Fire series(1993-2003) Use of Industrial technology in various villages and usable machinery.
Castlevania series(1986-2006) Clockwork and steam-driven constructions, ranging from medieval-age to a near-futuristic (cyberpunk) setting.
City of Heroes(2004) Nemesis and Clockwork villains
Chrono Trigger(1995)
Dark Cloud 2(2002)
Darkwatch(2005) World of Sacred Device]]
Dreamfall (2006)
Final Fantasy series(1987-TBA)
Gadget: Invention, Travel, & Adventure(1993)
GunValkyrie(2002)
Jak and Daxter series(2001-2006)
Jade Empire(2005) (Asian Steampunk elements including celestial machinery, airships, and rocket powered aircraft)
Lighthouse(1996) For its visual style in transportation and mechanisms.
Martian Memorandum(1990)
MediEvil II(2000)
Morrowind(2002)
Myst series(1993-2007)
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath(2005) (Western/Steampunk/Fantasy)
Okami(2006) Demon Technology features Steampunk elements.
Planescape: Torment(1999)
Progear(2001)
Pandemonium(1996)
Ring of Red(2000)
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends(2006)
Rocket Knight Adventures(1993) (Steampunk Vehicles/Settings)
Rule of Rose(2006)
Sakura Wars(1996-2006) series
Septerra Core(1999)
Shades of Violet(2008) Upcoming Steampunk themed Adventure game.
Shining Force(1992) Steampunk elements, from characters such as Guntz through Lyle
SkyGunner(2002)
Skies Of Arcadia(2000)
Slouching Towards Bedlam(2003)
Space: 1889(1988)
Steamband(2002-present)
Steambot Chronicles(2005)
Steel Empire(1992)
Syberia(2002-2004) series
Super Monkey Ball Adventure(2006) (the stage Moonhaven is a Steampunk themed floating city)
The Chaos Engine(1993-1996) series
The Dark Eye(1995)
The Longest Journey(1999)
Thief(1998-2004) series
TimeSplitters Future Perfect (2005) The levels Scotland the Brave, You take the High Road (this level in particular) and Future Perfect. It also contains such characters as Robot Louis Stevenson, a steam powered robot.
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams(1991)
Wachenröder(1998)
Wild ARMs(1996) series (Western)

[Nillerus]

Good show old chap, rather.

[Fiachna]

Hmm, haven't seen this one out there, an upcoming action/adventure by Australian developer Fuzzyeyes, Edge of Twilight This is one I'm going to be watching pretty closely, not to mention I like to listen to the background music on the site

[Doc Rivets]

Impressive list there, VP, but...  Morrowind has steampunk elements? I have this game... did I miss something? I never played it right to the end (RPG ain't my speed unless its around a table with beer and pizza), so... maybe I did miss something, but it always struck me as pretty straight D&D type fantasy

Doc

[Monti Christo]

Champions: return to arms wasn't mentioned, but it has an entire clockwork junkyard level, with steam vents and evil automaton.

[Zorch]

As I consider myself an authority on good obscure computer games, I would like to point out "Stratosphere" - a fairly unknown and very good floating island combat sim.  It tends to lead more towards mid evil fantasy, but I think it still has a steampunkish slant.  Heck it has dueling floating islands in the sky!  What more could you want??

[Doc Rivets]

DAMNATION is out Dec 12th and gets my vote as Steampunkiest Christmas release. Looks good, although has a Steampunk Wild West feel, but after all the "great" days of the American Wild West (the greatness is debatable depending on who you ask - don't ask my wife, she's part Cherokee.) was during the period 1865 to 1895, right in the "heart" of the steampunk type era.

check out the visuals here
http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/gallery/1952/Damnation/p1/

Doc

steam powered six shooter salesman to the old west

[Owen_Stagg]

DAMNATION is out Dec 12th and gets my vote as Steampunkiest Christmas release. Looks good, although has a Steampunk Wild West feel, but after all the "great" days of the American Wild West (the greatness is debatable depending on who you ask - don't ask my wife, she's part Cherokee.) was during the period 1865 to 1895, right in the "heart" of the steampunk type era.

check out the visuals here
http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/gallery/1952/Damnation/p1/

Doc

steam powered six shooter salesman to the old west

I thought it was delayed until sometime early next year.

EDIT: Multiple sources point in several different directions. The Codemasters site lists the launch as Dec 2008, but the official Facebook group has it listed as early 2009.

[Doc Rivets]

ah well, if its CODEMASTERS saying that its December, you can be assured... it WILL be late! I dont think they have had a release on time in the last three years.

still should be worth waiting for

Doc

[Owen_Stagg]

still should be worth waiting for

Doc

Yeah, I can't wait to take the shooter vertical.

[Doc Rivets]

the vertical is a direction not often well explored in fps. t's been said, "a monkey doesn't look above eye level", which is why jaguars climb trees. The vertical element in combat situations is best not overlooked.

Doc

[dr490nw4rri0r]

Nobody's mentioned metroid yet.

One of the newer versions for the Wii has a whole steampunk level in it.

[Nex]

http://igwarlord.isotx.com/

:

Iron Grip: Warlord, the full game the people who made the Iron Grip HalfLife 2 mod have done is pretty cool.

It used a lot of concept art by Keith Thompson (http://www.keiththompsonart.com/index.html) which is utterly stunning.

The game isn't the most polished thing ever, but is a great mix of FPS and RTS, for a groups first full game it is brilliant and very steam/dieselpunk. At worst download the demo and have a wee play about, it's what I'm doing.

[Maverynthia]

If I might add a couple titles:

Granado Espada: Korean MMO. Set in a Victorian Era style setting with colonization, clockwork treasure golems and a whole "Lost World" area. Some of the costume can get a bit out of Era but overall it tends to stick to the theme.

Neo Steam: A Korean MMO that dubs itself as steampunk. http://ns.gamenetworks.com/index.asp It seems to be more fantasy with gears, but I still think it's worth a mention.

[elShoggotho]

Seconding Steel Empire. Evidence!