Top 10 Best Video Games Set In The Middle East

The Middle East is a region steeped in history, culture, and vibrant landscapes that have inspired countless works of art and entertainment, with video games being no exception. From epic tales of heroism to gripping explorations of war and politics, the best video games set in the Middle East give players the opportunity to explore and experience this unique part of the world from the comfort of their own homes.

Our list of the top best video games set in the Middle East features 10 critically acclaimed titles ranked by their Metacritic scores.

#1- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)

🏆 Metascore (Xbox One): 95/100

🎮 Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

🌎 Location: Afghanistan and the Angola–Zaire border region

📝 Genre: Open-world action-adventure stealth video game

Few games can match the sheer depth and complexity of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Everything in this game is designed to keep players on the edge of their seats and provide them with around 50 hours of core gameplay. The game’s lead designer, Hideo Kojima, turned the Afghani countryside, villages, and mountains into a huge playground where players can explore, experiment, and engage with the game’s systems in a variety of often surprising and funny ways.

#2- Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time (2003)

🏆 Metascore (PlayStation 2): 92/100

🎮 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox

🌎 Location: Ancient Persia (now modern-day Iran)

📝 Genre: Action-adventure video game

Despite not claiming the top spot, we believe that the 2003 reboot of the Prince of Persia franchise represents the enchanting qualities of the Middle Eastern region better than any other game. Unlike the original Prince of Persia from 1989, The Sands of Time immerses with its (at the time) beautiful 3D graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and dynamic combat. The game is set in ancient Persia, where the Prince and his army attack a Maharaja’s palace, inadvertently releasing the Sands of Time, transforming most people into savage monsters under the control of the Sultan of Azad.

Note: A remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is currently in development.

#3- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011)

🏆 Metascore (PlayStation 3): 92/100

🎮 Platforms: PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4

🌎 Location: Multiple locations across the Middle East

📝 Genre: Action-adventure video game

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception takes players on an unforgettable journey across multiple locations in the Middle East, including a bustling market in Yemen, a hidden city in Syria, and a desert oasis in the Rub’ al Khali. The game’s stunning visuals, motion capture animations, and immersive storytelling make players feel like they are part of a thrilling Hollywood blockbuster. If you love games that blend action with exploration and light puzzle-solving, then this one will put a big smile on your face.

#4- Journey (2012)

🏆 Metascore (PlayStation 3): 92/100

🎮 Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, iOS, and Microsoft Windows

🌎 Location: Unknown desert in the Middle East

📝 Genre: Indie adventure game

Journey is an indie adventure game with simple yet often breathtaking graphics. The game has you exploring an unknown desert in the Middle East, where you can encounter mysterious creatures, stumble upon ancient ruins, and even meet other players. With no dialogue or explicit narrative, it’s up to players find out what’s going on and make sense of the memorable experience that has been praised by a myriad of video game critics.

#5- Assassin’s Creed I (2007)

🏆 Metascore (Xbox 360): 81/100

🎮 Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows

🌎 Location: The cities of Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus

📝 Genre: Open-world action-adventure video game

In the original Assassin’s Creed action-adventure video game, you step into the shoes of the elusive and deadly assassin, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, as you go on a series of stealthy (and sometimes not-so-stealthy) missions set in the bustling cities of Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus. When released in 2007, the game dazzled players with its detailed open-world design, allowing them to freely explore and interact with the game’s beautifully realized cities. Many other Assassin’s Creed games have been released since then, giving us one of the most beloved and successful franchises in gaming history.

Also Read: DDoS Attacks Are A Growing Threat In Gaming

#6- 1979 Revolution: Black Friday (2016)

🏆 Metascore (PC): 80/100

🎮 Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, Microsoft Windows, and macOS

🌎 Location: Iran

📝 Genre: Narrative-driven adventure drama

1979 Revolution: Black Friday is a masterful narrative-driven adventure drama set during the Iranian Revolution. The game places players in the role of a photojournalist who is caught up in the events of the revolution as tensions mount between protestors and the oppressive regime. Following a familiar narrative-driven formula popularized by Telltale Games, the game presents players with often difficult choices intended to challenge their morality and values.

#7- Spec Ops: The Line (2012)

🏆 Metascore (PlayStation 3): 77/100

🎮 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Linux, Xbox 360, and macOS

🌎 Location: Fictional version of Dubai

📝 Genre: Third-person shooter video game

This third-party shooter video game isn’t just one of the best video games set in the Middle East (a fictional version of Dubai, to be more specific); it’s also an underrated hidden gem that forces players to confront the brutal realities of war. While it may not have received the highest Metascore, Spec Ops: The Line is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who plays it, and you can buy the game for next to nothing during major seasonal sales on Steam, Microsoft Store, and PlayStation Store.

#8- Pharaoh: A New Era (2023)

🏆 Metascore (PC): 79/100

🎮 Platforms: Microsoft Windows

🌎 Location: Egypt

📝 Genre: City-building video game

While Pharaoh: A New Era has only recently been released, it’s already making waves in the city-building genre because it’s a remake of the original Pharaoh (1999), a brilliant city builder that garnered mainly positive reviews. The remake brings to the table beautiful graphics, a carefully crafted soundtrack, and many quality-of-life features that make it far more accessible than its predecessor. Unfortunately, the game is still quite buggy, but the developers are actively working on addressing these issues. In a few months, it could be a must-buy for all players who love games that are set in the Middle East.

#9- Serious Sam 3: BFE (2011)

🏆 Metascore (PC): 72/100

🎮 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch

🌎 Location: Egypt

📝 Genre: First-person shooter video game

Serious Sam 3: BFE is a bombastic and over-the-top first-person shooter that delivers an intense and satisfying experience. As Sam “Serious” Stone, you battle waves of enemies as you progress through 10 chapters set in Egypt. What’s great and unique about this shooter is that you can experience it together with up to 4 friends locally on one screen or with up to 16 friends online. Once you get tired of Serious Sam 3: BFE, you can check out Serious Sam 4 and its standalone expansion Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, which are set in France, Italy, and Russia.

#10- Disney’s Aladdin (1994)

🏆 Metascore (PC): Not Rated

🎮 Platforms: originally released for DOS and later remastered for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows

🌎 Location: the fictional city of Agrabah, which is located somewhere in the Middle East

📝 Genre: Side-scrolling platform game

Disney’s Aladdin is a charming side-scrolling platform game that follows the plot of the beloved animated film of the same name. The game was first released in 1994, and you can still play the original DOS version on basically any major platform using DOSBox, a free and open-source DOS emulator. If that sounds like too much hassle to you, then the remastered version of Aladdin included in the Disney Classic Games Collection is just what you need to embark on an adventure to rescue Princess Jasmine from the clutches of the evil sorcerer Jafar.