5 Best North Korea Based Games

It’s official, everybody! We’re at war with North Korea.

Or, maybe we are. Who the hell knows these days?

Either way, The Hermit Kingdom has taken center stage as the US of A’s #1 supervillain, probably more than ever. With the nation dominated by a psycho madman armed with nuclear weapons and legions of fanatical followers, there’s only one rational option in dealing with the threat.

Turn it into a gaming experience for everyone’s enjoyment.

The criteria for today is simple: modern gaming depicting a modern war against a very modern North Korea. Surprisingly, the idea of turning North Korea into a nuclear waste sludge pile has a cult following, and I couldn’t cram them all onto a single list, so we’re just going with the standard listicle here.

If you’re thinking about enlisting and getting in on the action, now might be the time to do it. If not, then you can liberate the Hermit Kingdom from the Lil’ Kim Dynasty with a game console – or an emulator – at your disposal.

And just FYI, Homefront and Rogue Warrior are not included. We’re looking to enhance your gaming experience and not dilute it. You’re welcome in advance.

 

5. Nuclear Strike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyjlXBKA_8

God, I miss these games, if not the 90’s altogether. If you remember the STRIKE series for the Genesis and SNES consoles, you’ll remember the excitement you felt when controlling an Apache helicopter gunship.

Nuclear Strike follows the STRIKE force in their hunt for a warlord armed with a stolen nuclear weapon. After tracking this guy to North Korea – and after he detonates the nuke in the center of the capital, Pyongyang – dictator, Kym Zung-Lee goes ape and sends its forces across the 38th Parallel. It’s your job to defend our South Korean ally whilst the higher-ups look for that pesky warlord (who escaped to Russia – surprise, surprise).

As with any game from the first PlayStation era, we get the most basic graphics, the most basic control elements, and also plenty of silly cut scenes loaded with stock footage and less-than-stellar actors guiding us through the story. Where the game might seem clunky by today’s standards, it still holds water for nostalgia’s sake.

Fun fact: Believe it or not, globalfirepower.com states that North Korea has the largest submarine fleet in the world with 76 subs. Good thing you get to reduce the number of these in this game.

 

4. Battlefield 4: Dragon’s Teeth

In this DLC expansion for Battlefield 4, you take to the streets of four war-torn cities to fight hordes of Chinese soldiers. One of these four cities just happens to be Pyongyang. Somebody in Beijing was clearly miffed that you messed with his little brother, so now it’s on.

Not much of a story here, other than shooting bad guys in the streets, but the map (Propaganda) and the setting is exquisite with Pyongyang’s dismal atmosphere and bizarre monuments dominating the skyline. Definitely a good time killer for FPS-fans.

 

3. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

In the third installment in the Splinter Cell franchise, you assume the role of Sam Fisher (played by Michael Ironside, always a plus), a covert operative on special assignment to avert a North Korea-Doomsday scenario. After North Korea launches an invasion of South Korea, you are then sent to besieged Seoul, capital of South Korea, to find out the true origins of the war, and who the real enemy is behind this conflict – and it isn’t North Korea.

Similar to your old SOCOM or Hitman games, Chaos Theory is more or less stealth-oriented as opposed to just mowing down waves of North Korean baddies, though opportunities do present themselves at times. Sticking to the shadows is key in this one, which makes for a challenging and equally interesting play.

 

2. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2: First Contact and Final Assault

I guess Tom Clancy didn’t dig the Hermit Kingdom that much.

What we have here is an improved version in the Ghost Recon series set specifically in North Korea.

First Contact: After a Silkworm missile takes out a US battleship in the Sea of Japan, you’re tasked with leading the GHOSTS into battle against General Chung and his war machine.

Final Assault: Basically, it picks up where the First Contact left off. Another renegade North Korean general runs amok, and it’s your job to bring unicorns and rainbows to the peninsula with an M4 carbine.

Yeah yeah yeah, I know – two games in one here. Both games are pretty much what you could expect from tactical shooters, but they present the most plausible scenarios for a modern war with North Korea, I feel. First Contact gets my official #2 if you have to ask, but either may float your boat, depending on which one you come across first.

 

1. Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction

What we have here is an open world layout similar to your Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row style shooters.

The good news: the Kims are finished, after General Choi Song launched a military coup to “restore order” in North Korea.

The bad news: General Song is a North Korean dictator with Roid Rage and has no intention of making nice with the US or his neighbors. Even better, North Korea has been torn asunder by elements of South Korean, Chinese, and Allied Nations forces while Russian Mafia seeks to open crime routes in this chaotic atmosphere.

You play as a merc with the private security company, Executive Operations (ExOps), tasked with collecting bounties on select individuals in the Deck of 52, a Most Wanted list involving North Korean sycophants leading up to the Aces of Spades himself, General Song. The five warring factions recruit you to carry out the dirty work and it’s up to you to stay alive. Unlike the previous games, which were essentially military, the merc experience gives almost the impression of an Average Joe dropping into a war zone and making a name for yourself whilst the enemy becomes aware of your reputation, and seeks to destroy you.

If you’re a veteran of the GTA/Saints Row style shooters, like I am, this one is a guilty pleasure like no other.

Oh, we have ourselves a choice between male or female protagonists, so it’ll make a great gift for either boyfriend OR girlfriend. “Gender-inclusivity” is also a plus when mopping the floor with North Korea these days.