People in the Czech Republic love gaming. The country is home to some amazing software companies and experienced developers. Over the years, these developers have created some of the best games played on a global level. As video game development advances in the world, it is slowly becoming one of the most promising creative industries in the Czech Republic. As a matter of fact, this is one of the few European countries where this field is thriving faster than anticipated, with numbers growing every year.
The Czech Republic tackles gaming on every level. You can now go to online-casinocz.com and find information on casinos that offer hundreds of slot machines, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, and other casino titles. Endorphina, the most popular Czech developer for such games has created some of the gamblers’ favorite titles, played all around the world.
It’s not only casino games that are played and developed in the country. In the last couple of years, we’ve witnessed the rise of 3D action games like Mafia, Vietcong, and Operation Flashpoint. A lot has changed since the 1980s when the country first dipped into the market.
In this article, we’ll discuss the biggest Czech accomplishments in the world of gaming.
Gaming Successes in the Czech Republic
A lot of the success in the gaming field in the Czech Republic is thanks to development studios. There are over 110 companies that operate in the country, the best being Warhorse Studios, Bohemia Interactive, and Amanita Design. Today, over 1750 people are employed in the video game industry in the country with an annual turnover of 5 to 6 billion crowns.Let’s take a close look at how Czech games developed throughout history.
The Beginnings
It all started in the 1980s when the Czechs created the first games. These included Tetris 2 and Indiana Jones, popular games at the time developed by Frantisek Fuka. Fast forward to the 90s, and the number of games grew significantly, marking the creation of more advanced titles like Polda.Internationally Popular Games
The first game Czech game that was internationally recognized was called Hidden and Dangerous. Its gameplay was set in the Second World War and the task of the player was to control a special team of 4 people. This famous game was developed by 2K Czech or, as they called themselves at the time, Illusion Softworks.Not a long time after, the same developer created Vietcong, their epic title played all around the world, followed by the most famous Czech game of all time, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (2002).
The Best Games Developed in the Czech Republic
Mafia: The Most Popular Czech Game
Even today, Mafia is available and played by thousands, including online on Steam. It’s a fictional story that resembles The Godfather in some way. Set in the 1930s in a lively city, the game plays through a series of events with the taxi driver Thomas Angelo in the main role. In the game, you’ll take the role of a driver who works for a gangster clan.The developers of Mafia didn’t settle for anything less than amazing. They even asked famous Czech actors to lend their voices to the game. Today, when you play Mafia, you can hear Petr Rychly, Antonin Molcik, Marek Vasut, and Linda Rybova.
In 2020, the American studio Hangar 13 and 2K created new versions of this game’s three episodes. They attempted to build on the success of the original game and improve it with new technologies and expansions.
EuroTruck Simulator 2: The Best-Selling Czech Game
While Mafia is known internationally, it wasn’t the game that was sold the most. The best-selling game is the truck-driving simulator called Euro Truck Simulator 2. Developed by SCS Software, this game reached its peak in popularity in 2019 when it became the most-sold title on Steam.Machinarium: A Beautifully Designed Adventure
Amanita Design created another popular Czech game called Machinarium. This game gives you the opportunity to explore a world made up of robots and solve puzzles along the way. The main character is Josef, a robot. The game itself is a tribute to Josef Capek, a painter, and writer.Gaming in the Czech Republic Today and in the Future
Based on the successes over the years, the video game industry in the Czech Republic is certainly thriving. This country is already home to popular game development studios of different sizes. It also has a large number of schools and universities that train students to become game developers.We can only anticipate a bright future in terms of gaming in the country. The country has a developing, strong talent pool, many investors, and a supportive government. It is seeing an increase in games being developed all the time, including video games, mobile games, and titles using VR and AR.
