Video gaming, which was once a niche hobby, is now one of the most lucrative markets in the entertainment industry. And with a current valuation of $197.11 billion, it is only natural that different countries are gunning for a piece of the cake. But did you know that Canada is behind many popular and beloved video games? Canada is actually the third-largest video game developer in the world, behind the US and Japan. Below, we review some of the best titles to come from the Great White North.
FIFA
Did you know that Canada also has a stake in the world-famous FIFA franchise? FIFA games have sold more than 300 million copies, making them one of the best selling video game series in the world. And while the parent EA Company is based in California, EA Vancouver is the force behind all the FIFA football games alongside multiple other titles.
Several Online Slot Games
Canada is no stranger to online gaming. In fact, it features one of the most vibrant online casino scenes in the world. One of the top online Canadian slots sites, Jackpot City was established in 1998 and offers a whopping 379 different slot games, many of which are also available to US players. Some slots you can enjoy here and in other Canadian casinos include Thunderstruck 2, Legacy of the Dead, Eagle Gold, 12 Zodiacs, and Big Bass Bonanza.
Assassin’s Creed
This Ubisoft title is one of the most commercially and critically viable open-world action/adventure franchises in the gaming industry, with over 160 million copies sold. Assassin’s Creed, which got its start in 2007, has so far produced eleven main series titles and about a dozen spin-offs. Most notably, it is created, published, and developed in Montreal.
Need for Speed
The Need for Speed series has sold more than 150 million copies since its launch in 1994. Something many people do not know about the racing games, however, is that they have had different developers across the years. Montreal-based EA Canada produced the first five installments in the series, from The Need for Speed (1994) to Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (2000). For the next seven titles, Vancouver-based Black Box Studios took over development before handing the torch to UK-based Criterion Games in 2010.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
If you know Mario – the world and Nintendo’s most popular video game character – then you probably know his taller brother Luigi. The character appears in many of the over 200 titles that stars his plumber older brother and stars in over 6 titles of his own, including Luigi’s Mansion 3. In this 2019 release, Luigi explores a haunted hotel. Luigi’s Mansion 3 was developed by Vancouver-based Next Level Games Inc. and was so popular it won Best Family Game at The 2019 Game Awards.
Celeste
Unlike other games on the list, Celeste was developed by an independent company based in Vancouver called Extremely OK Games. The fact that it was an independent game, however, did not stop it from selling more than a million copies globally in 2018.
The Gaming Industry in Canada
Recent statistics show that about 3.09 billion people in the world are active video gamers and this number should rise to 3.32 billion by next year. In Canada, 53 percent of Canadians reported being regular players in 2022, which explains why the country is teeming with impressive game developers. In addition to video games for PC, consoles, and mobile devices, Canada has produced multiple video game-themed animated series, movies, and novels and comics.