Game Localization: 6 Game Genres You Need to Localize

1. Action and Adventure Games

Action and adventure games are among the most popular genres, combining physical challenges with narrative-driven gameplay.

Titles like “The Legend of Zelda” and “Uncharted” captivate players with their rich stories and complicated worlds.

Game localization for this type of games involves translating extensive dialogue, lore, and descriptions while preserving the essence of the story and the characters’ personalities.

In addition, cultural references must be modified or replaced to avoid confusion or offense in different regions. For example, in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”, certain cultural references, such as food items, were adjusted.

2. Role-Playing Games (RPGs)

RPGs, such as “Final Fantasy” and “The Witcher,” are known for their complex narratives, character development, and immersive worlds. These games involve extensive text and dialogue, detailed backstories, and rich lore.

Game localization for RPGs requires translating large volumes of text to maintain the depth and nuances of the story. In addition, character and lore adaptation ensures that background stories and lore are culturally relevant and engaging for the target audience.

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” stands as a good example here. Originally in Polish, the game was localized into multiple languages. The localization team ensured that cultural elements, such as folklore and myths, resonated with players from different regions while maintaining the game’s  original essence.

3. Sports Games

Sports games like “FIFA” and “NBA 2K” simulate real-world sports, and that’s why they have a huge popularity around the world.

These games require up-to-date rosters, realistic commentary, and a strong connection to the sport they represent. Localization services for sports games involve translating menus, tutorials, and in-game commentary accurately.

Cultural adaptation is a must, adjusting in-game advertisements, player names, and cultural references to ensure the game feels authentic and engaging.

The “FIFA” series is a benchmark in sports game localization. For “FIFA 22,” EA Sports localized the game into multiple languages, ensuring that commentary was provided by native speakers familiar with football.

4. Simulation Games

Simulation games like “The Sims” and “Cities: Skylines” allow players to create and manage worlds, from building cities to simulating everyday life. These games often involve a wide range of objects, interactions, and scenarios.

Game localization for simulation games involves translating extensive menus and options accurately. Cultural adaptation is crucial, adjusting objects, scenarios, and interactions to fit the cultural context of the target region.

For games with spoken dialogue, you must ensure that the voiceover matches the characters’ actions and settings.

“The Sims 4” required extensive localization. For example, holidays and celebrations were customized to reflect local traditions, making the game more relatable and enjoyable for players worldwide. Additionally, while the Simlish language used by characters remained universal, contextual text and instructions were translated.

5. Strategy Games

Strategy games, such as “Civilization VI” and “Starcraft II,” require players to plan and execute tactics to achieve objectives, often involving complex systems and detailed narratives.

Game localization for strategy games involves accurate translation of in-game text, instructions, and lore. Cultural sensitivity is crucial, adapting historical and cultural content to be relevant and respectful in different regions.

6. Horror Games

Horror games like “Resident Evil” and “Silent Hill” are designed to scare and thrill players, relying heavily on atmosphere, story, and audio-visual elements to create a sense of fear and suspense.

Game localization for horror games must ensure that the eerie and suspenseful dialogue and text maintain their impact in the target language. Localizing sound effects and ambient noises to preserve the horror experience is also of key importance. Cultural context is also important, adapting horror elements to align with regional fears and taboos.

“Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” terrifying atmosphere and gripping story were translated into several languages, with voiceovers maintaining the original’s intensity. The localization team adjusted cultural references in the game’s setting and story to resonate more deeply with players from different backgrounds, enhancing the overall fear factor.

Conclusion

Game localization is a thorough process that goes beyond simple translation. It involves cultural adaptation, voiceovers, visual changes, and much more to ensure that a game is engaging and relevant to players worldwide.

By understanding the unique needs of each game genre, Gripon Global can transform your game into a local one with ease in 120 different languages.