One of the quickest ways to closely connect with people in other cultures is to learn the very language that they speak. Believe it or not, language reveals tons about a culture, and language in video games is no exception to this.
Playing video games in another language is one of the quickest ways to not only learn that target language, but hear the differences in culture for yourself.
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In the case of translated video games or stories taking place in other countries, this allows players to hear characters speaking their native language.
These characters, and the games that they’re from overall, thrive while using their mother tongue, and it’s led to several players opening these games in their native language to hear it for themselves.
However, regardless of what language they’re speaking, these games are best played in their native language, with a bonus point for players who are trying to learn how to speak it.
10Genshin Impact
Mandarin Chinese
Genshin Impact
When playing agacha gamelikeGenshin Impact(calledYuánshéninMandarin), players are more addicted to the gameplay and the unofficial gambling than they are paying attention to the languagethe charactersare speaking.
Developed by Chinese gaming companymiHoYo, thisanime mobile gametakes place in the fictional world ofTeyvat, which consists of different regions based on real-world cultures.Liyue, in particular, is based on Ancient China.
Because of this, it’s only natural to be curious about how this game sounds when played in Mandarin.
Long story short, it sounds wonderfully fluid – it should, anyway, considering most of the characters' names are actually being said correctly. It’s gotten to the point where some gamers aresinking their timeinto the app not just for the game itself, but to jump-start learning Mandarin Chinese.
Plus, considering it was created in Mandarin first, there are no translation errors, more voiced lines in total, and the cultural norms showcased in the game are properly represented.
9Martha is Dead
Martha Is Dead
A twin’s worst nightmare is the loss of their other half – and, unfortunately, in the case ofMartha is Dead,that’s exactly what happened toGiulia.
Apart from the gut-wrenching loss of her sister Martha and the war currently ravaging1944 Italy, Giulia also has to deal with the supernatural and some of the most intensepsychological horrorsin her life.
Usingphotography, you work to uncover what truly happened to her twin, and you’re in for some of the most gruesome scenes in video games.
That being said, since the game deals with a war-ravaged Italy,Italianis the game’s default language, and it should be played that way.
Sure, you can set it to English, but why would you? Italian studioLK Studiosdid a nice job capturing this era of Italy, and it’s even reflected in the language.
Plus, it adds that extra layer of immersion that players crave, something that puts them right into the world, and unable to escape from it.
8Lineage II
Lineage 2: Revolution
To this day,MMORPGsare an intensely popular genre in the gaming community, with several different studios trying their hand at the next success. Nothing hit the mark quite likeSouth KoreanstudioNCSOFT’sLineage II, though.
To put it simply,Lineageput South Korea on the MMO map, and as such, it’s only fair to give the game a play inKoreanat least once. Not to mention, it just sounds so much cooler.
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Lineage IIis similar toThrone and Liberty,for those who enjoyed the game, and it’s a game that players have long been begging for another sequel.
Still, the game is quite old, so a lot of the official servers that are online aren’t as grand as they used to be.
Private servers are a different story, offering a different type of nostalgia for those who grew up on computer games.
7Remember Me
Remember Me
Before playingRemember Me,it’s important to remember something crucial: the game itself is relatively underwhelming, butthe Memory Mixing alone is well worth it. Plus, if you play the game inFrench, it’ll be a much more enjoyable experience.
Thegame takes place in Paris, or at least a version of it. It’s a new, futuristic take calledNeo-Paris, set in the year 2084 specifically.
It blends the new technological advances with historically preserved buildings, showcasing a rich culture that’s best observed in its native language.
Combined with the unforgettable experience of messing with memories, it’s just far more enjoyable than playing this game in English.
(Unless, of course, you’re my fiancé, whose first language was French … in that case, you’ll just trigger war flashbacks.)
6Far Cry 6
Let’s be honest, a lot of us didn’t playFar Cry 6inSpanishbecause we wanted to witnessGiancarlo Esposito’sacting in all its glory. Genuinely, no shame in it, he’s an incredible actor.
But make no mistake, the Mexican voice actor for the Spanish dub (Gerardo Reyero) does an excellent job and should be applauded for his work onFar Cry.
Far Cry 6is an excellent commentary on the costs of imperialism and the rise of fascism, yet still maintains a distinctly fun andunique experience of being a guerrilla fighterthrough anFPSlens.
Playing it in Spanish just feels more authentic to the message, with a distinct touch of accuracy that rallies you like a war cry.
5The Witcher
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcherwasn’t released as a game first; in fact, it was a novel byPolishwriterAndrzej Sapkowski, with a clearemphasis on Polish folklorein the stories.
So, when the games were adapted by Polish studioCD Projekt Red, it was all the more faithful.
Needless to say, playing the games in Polish is equal parts a no-brainer and a genuine treat. There’s already an insane amount of detail inThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,so imagine experiencing what’s not lost in translation.
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No alarms required to attend these schools, just a console.
Not to mention, it’s a lot more faithful to the source material and all of its intentions, with equally talented voice acting to match.
If anything, replaying the games in Polish just makes us all the more excited aboutThe Witcher 4and all thecool new surprisesthat will come along with it.
4S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
It takes a lot to develop a game at the best of times, it’s another to try and develop onein the middle of an active warzone. Despite this, that’s exactly whatUkrainianstudioGSC Game Worlddid withS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Sure,the game is buggy, but it’s beautifully so, and an outright victory of resilience that they could launch. It still ended up being one of thebest horror games of 2024despite all of its setbacks.
So, when opening the game for the first time and given the choice between English or Ukrainian, pick Ukrainian.
The experience is wonderful; and with the added perk of lips matching with the new language rather than looking like an outright dub.
It’s an added touch of immersion in an already unforgettable world, and a testament to the insane amount of work and struggle GSC Game World has persevered through to share it with the world.
Cantonese Chinese
Sifuis amartial arts game(kung-fuspecifically) where you’re able to come back from the dead with the help of your Talisman, butit comes at the cost of your age.
It really makes you ask: is it worth dedicating all this time to revenge?
The game’s default language is English, but its native language isCantonese, allowing for theAA game to truly harness its AAA cinematic appeal. There is a distinct difference in the acting and tone altogether.
The voice acting feels more personal, with a genuine bite to the vengeance and rage that’s bubbling underneath. Combine that with some of the most unique boss designs you’ll ever see, and it’s an experience unlike any other.
I’m not going to lie, I’m so used to this game in Cantonese that whenIt Takes A LifeinThe Secret Levelcame out (in English), it was genuinely jarring. It made me remember that Cantonese isn’t the default, but it honestly should be.
2Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
Ubisoftmay be going through it as a studio, but they do an excellent job at portraying cultures and all of their intricacies, and they outdid themselves withAssassin’s Creed: Mirage. The way thatArabculture is displayed is fantastic, andArabicis finally treated like the beautiful language it is.
This is also deeply personal – my mother was born in Iraq, and while I’mChaldeanrather than Arab (there’s a distinct difference), I grew up surrounded by vibrant Middle Eastern cultures.
It also just so happens thatBasim’svoice actor,Eyad Nassar, is one of the best voice actors in the Middle East.
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His performance with Basim is wonderful (funny enough he sounds like a relative of mine), and it was genuinely so refreshing to see my culture represented – and for once, we weren’t terrorists. It’s colourful, rich and full of life, and it’s beautiful.
Not to mention one more striking detail about the Arabic dub: normally, dialects are essential.
It’s practically impossible to know Arabic without understanding all its dialects – but in the game, they speakClassical Arabic. There’s no specific dialect or accent attached, which is just perfect forAssassin’s Creed.
1Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best game to play in its native language isGhost of Tsushima,either playing theJapanesedub in color or in the iconicKurosawa mode.
Playing as the samuraiJin Sakai, you have tosneak (and fight)your way throughMongol Territory, reclaiming your home andlooting all of your enemies' resourceswhile you’re at it.
It’s emotional, it’s powerful, it’s fun in all the right ways and a cinematic masterpiece when spoken in Japanese.
Plus, the Japanese cast did such a fantastic job with their roles that many players prefer them to the English dub, with thedirector himself wanting the movie adaptation to be in Japanese.
And one more tidbit as someone who speaks Japanese: there’s an entire layer of subtext in the language, a hidden hierarchy that comes out in layers of politeness. If you speak Japanese and play the game as such, you’ll catch all those extra layers.
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Rock, Flag, and Eagle!
