Small country, big impression: Top five games set in Monaco

Given Monaco’s reputation as a glamorous and exciting tourist destination, it is no surprise to learn that the video game industry, just like the movie business and numerous TV shows, has been inspired to include the principality in many top-selling games.

There are some obvious attractions in Monaco for those looking to create exciting and compelling video games for a global audience: from the casinos of Monte Carlo to the spectacle of the Monaco Grand Prix and so many of the world’s rich and famous choosing to make a home here.

All three of these aspects of Monaco feature in the top games that have been set here, covering multiple genres. Here are five of the very best Monaco-based video games:

GoldenEye 007

The enduring character of James Bond has always been associated with casinos, especially baccarat and poker. A brief glance at the selection of the latest slots from your favorite online casino will make it clear that the combination of espionage, glamor and high stakes has proven to be irresistible to casino game developers.

Yet for this 1997 game, the famous MI6 agent was not paying a visit to Monte Carlo’s renowned casinos but to the Monte Carlo harbor.

The plot of this Nintendo 64 game involved Bond working to stop a criminal syndicate from gaining control of a satellite weapon. In one of the early stages of the game, he is tasked with rescuing hostages and planting a tracking device on a frigate in the harbor.

The game is a first-person shooter with a multiplayer mode, and has been widely praised for its inventiveness, the depth of its gameplay and the realism of its settings, including the Monte Carlo level. By 2001, it had sold more than seven million copies worldwide and it is widely considered to be the best James Bond themed video game of all time.

Super Monaco Grand Prix

Unsurprisingly, three of the games on this list feature motor racing, and Super Monaco Grand Prix is the earliest of the trio to make our top five.

Originally an arcade driving game, it was produced by Sega and released in 1989, eventually being adapted to run on eight different game systems, from the ZX Spectrum to the Mega Drive.

The game is based on the famous Circuit de Monaco, and although Sega did not have the license to use the official name of the track, many of the features of the course were clearly inspired by the original. The game itself required players to qualify for the Grand Prix and they could then compete against 19 computer-controlled drivers.

The game proved to be a big hit, particularly in Asia. For over five years, it was rated by the publication Mega as the best game for the Mega Drive. The legendary racing driver Ayrton Senna was a fan of the game and he eventually put his name on the sequel: Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco Grand Prix 2, which came out in 1992.

Dirt 3

One of the most famous driving franchises in the video game industry, Dirt was originally known as Colin McRae Racing and is primarily a rally game. Monaco features prominently in Dirt 3, which was released in 2011 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and both PC and Mac systems.

This was the first game in the series that did not feature Colin McRae’s name, and it has been widely praised for the range of driving experiences it offers, from traditional rally driving and rallycross to a new ‘gymkhana mode’ and a head-to-head racing option.

The Monaco part of the game is set primarily in the La Condamine area and incorporates multiple sections of the famous Circuit de Monaco track, including the La Rascasse corner. The track features in Rallycross, Gymkhana and Head-2-Head contests and is one of the game’s highlights.

Monaco: What’s yours is mine

Released in 2013 for the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Switch, this game is the most distinctive of the five on this list and made a big impact when it was released.

Produced by Pocketwatch Games, it offers a top-down perspective playing experience. Players can play individually or in co-operation and are challenged to perform heists, playing as one of eight characters, each of which has a unique skill.

The single-player story features four acts, all from the perspectives of different characters, while the co-operative mode gives up to four players the chance to play together. Most of the game takes place in the surrounds of Monaco, with missions based around the yachts and mansions of the territory.

It has been a well-received title that combines multiple elements, including teamwork, problem solving and strategy and it also features a striking soundtrack, that has been widely praised by critics. A sequel has long been in the works, although there are currently no signs of a Monaco 2.

Formula One 2010

We couldn’t put together a list of Monaco-based games without including a title from the officially licensed Formula One series, and though there have been many editions over the years, the 2010 incarnation is widely regarded as one of the best of the lot.

This game was the first Formula One title to be produced by renowned racing game developers Codemasters and represented a significant leap forward in terms of driving game immersion, combining new features and impressive graphics, with a unique yet simple approach to gameplay that struck a chord with millions of gaming fans.

One of the most important aspects of this Formula One title is the new career mode. This enables players to begin at the bottom, joining a small team and gradually working their way up the ranks, while developing and improving their car in extended practice sessions.

Released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and Mac, it also featured the most realistic and complex weather system that had yet been seen in a driving video game, as the tracks themselves changed as each race weekend went on. Naturally, the Circuit de Monaco features prominently and has been faithfully recreated in this all-time great video game.