7 games based in Louisiana
With Mardi Gras having just passed, we couldn’t help but wonder what games are out there that might make us feel like we’re there among the alligators, cypress trees and crawfish of Louisiana. Not only the vibrant capital city of New Orleans, but Louisiana is well known for its biodiversity and multi-culturalism. With its unique architecture, diverse history, musical influence and more, it’s no wonder that it is one of the most sought-after locations for those visiting America.
We’ve put together a short list of games set in Louisiana, or in fictional locations inspired by Louisiana. These games not only mimic the locations and the flora and fauna you might find should you visit Louisiana today, but some also allow players to venture through Louisiana in the past. Whether you’re someone who has been there before and is looking for some nostalgia, or you’ve never been and want to transport yourself there, we hope these games based in Louisiana will be just what you need to scratch that itch.
1. Mafia III
- Released in 2016
- Available on PS4, Xbox One and PC
While Mafia III takes place in the fictional city of New Bordeaux, it is heavily based on New Orleans. In the game you play as Lincoln Clay, a former criminal who is forced to return to his life of crime in order to help his family. After his family is murdered, Mafia III becomes a tale of revenge as Lincoln begins to build his own criminal empire to avenge his family.
Mafia III’s Louisiana vibes are immaculate as you explore its open world consisting of ten distinct districts. You’ll explore not only more industrial areas of New Bordeaux, but slums, high-rise offices and the coastline. You’ll meet people from a mixture of cultures including Irish, Italian, Haitian and more, showing off the diversity of New Orleans. We absolutely love that Mafia III allows for full open-world exploration – all in between the violent crimes and acts of revenge, of course.
2. South of Midnight
- Released in 2025
- Available on Xbox Series X/S and PC (coming to PS5 and Switch 2 later this year)
Released just last year, South of Midnight is an action-adventure game where you play as Hazel, a young woman on the search for her mother who disappears after a terrible hurricane. The setting of the game is described as the “American Deep South” but based on the lore, characters and locations you visit, it’s pretty clear that the game is based heavily on Louisiana.
South of Midnight takes on a very mystical twist as Hazel encounters Southern American mystical creatures including a giant catfish who helps her on her journey. Much of the game, you’ll be exploring distinct areas platforming along muggy swamps, homes devastated by the hurricane, dark forests and more. We love that South of Midnight feels like an adventure through the deep south complete with mythical creatures and legends.
Read our review of South of Midnight
3. Alone in the Dark
- Released in 2024
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Alone in the Dark is a survival horror game and a reimagined version of the 1992 game of the same name. Based in 1920s Louisiana, you play as private detective Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood, who work together with the goal of uncovering the mystery behind the disappearance of Emily’s uncle. The two protagonists visit the Derceto Manor, an asylum where Emily’s uncle is meant to be staying, but a strange letter Emily receives from her uncle hints that things might not be quite as they seem at the manor.
Alone in the Dark transports you back in time to a darker side of historic Louisiana. You’ll get a glimpse into the world of voodoo rituals and cosmic beings. You’ll see how World War I has affected the characters you meet, and you’ll get to appreciate the Louisiana of the past thanks to the game’s recreation of architecture, clothing and southern gothic themes.
Read our review of Alone in the Dark
4. Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull (2007)
- Released in 2007
- Available on PC
The Nancy Drew game series has been around for a very long time, starting way back in 1998 with Secrets Can Kill. Since then, Nancy has used her masterful junior detective skills to travel the world solving mysteries and putting away bad guys. Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull takes Nancy and her best friend Bess to New Orleans where they get involved with a mystery involving a missing, and incredibly valuable, crystal skull.
Like most Nancy Drew games, Crystal Skull is hard as nails, despite being a game geared towards children. It will probably make you question your intelligence as a full-grown adult, but despite the difficulties you’ll encounter when solving puzzles, it does a great job of showing off different areas of Louisiana. As Nancy, you’ll explore a massive estate in the search for the crystal skull, while Bess gets a closer look at the streets of New Orleans while reluctantly helping with the mystery.
5. Norco
- Released in 2022
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC
Norco is a point-and-click adventure game based in a surreal version of South Louisiana. In the game, your brother Blake has gone missing and you set off through different areas of Louisiana in search of him. This journey quickly twists into a science-fiction mystery with a narrative that tackles serious topics including the impact that oil companies have on the environment.
What’s intriguing about the way that Norco has chosen to represent Louisiana is by taking a very science-fiction heavy approach while still making it feel like a modern imagining of the area. You’ll explore swamplands, refineries, Lake Pontchartrain and more while piecing together parts of the mystery. If you listen carefully, despite Norco’s characters speaking in their own made-up language, you can even hear a slight Cajun accent. It’s small details like this that make Norco one of the most interesting indie games of recent years, and one of the coolest games we know of that is based in Louisiana.
6. Resident Evil 7
- Released in 2017
- Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch, Switch 2 and PC
While Resident Evil 7 is said to take place “somewhere in rural America”, going on characters’ accents and the locations you visit that it’s likely based closely on Louisiana. You play as a brand new character to the Resident Evil series, Ethan Winters, who has travelled to an isolated location in search of his wife Mia.
This was the first mainline game of the series to be played from a first-person perspective, which makes the sinister Baker family and their home that much more disturbing and threatening. You even have to fight off huge alligators in the game’s ‘End of Zoe’ DLC, which gives us serious Louisiana vibes. There are many terrifying elements that will make you feel like you’re really trapped in the Louisiana swamplands alongside all manner of awful creatures.
Read our review of Resident Evil 7
7. The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
- Released in 2020
- Available on PSVR, PC and Meta Quest
Speaking of being fully immersed, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a VR action title where players must fight off the undead in the streets of New Orleans. Unlike other titles on our list, Saint & Sinners takes place in a ruined New Orleans with broken down buildings and flooded streets full of zombies waiting on every corner to take a bite out of you.
In this version of New Orleans, there are factions of people at war in the city. With 15+ hours of gameplay, you’ll have to scale cars, buildings and more while fighting off both the undead and the warring factions that have taken over. Investigate creole mansions, and other iconic New Orleans style buildings to scavenge for supplies and do whatever it takes to survive. Being a VR title, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is the closest we’ve ever felt to exploring the streets of New Orleans, only with a few hundred zombies to deal with along the way.
