Top five video games that bring wetlands to life

Header image: Custom-built wetland habitat from Planet Zoo 2 by Frontier Developments

When you think of video games, wetlands probably don’t come to mind. You might reminisce the storyline, the beloved (or feared) characters, and whether you play solo or as a team.

But from Minecraft to Planet Zoo 2, spend any time immersed in these virtual worlds and you’ll soon come to realise one thing. Wetlands are everywhere.

1. Minecraft

From the infamous default character, Steve, to the groaning appearance of a zombie ready to send you right back to your last sleeping point, maybe the last thing you’d expect from Minecraft is wetlands. Unless you’re in creative mode and, who am I to judge, you really can get lost in this game mining for the perfect materials for your dream 3D, box-like, house.

But aside from the obvious tasks of putting down roots while simultaneously trying to keep yourself and your inventory safe from creatures, their wetlands really are something.

As you venture through the map, you stumble across a little bit of everything, mangroves, swamps, and even huts that spawn only in swampy areas, home to witches and black cats.

And the best part? Every inch of water is explorable (if you can hold your breath that long). From underground waterfalls to rivers and seas, there’s treasures to find around every corner. I often find myself trying to find and explore Lush Caves, in the hopes of spotting tiny pixelated axolotls there.

With how open the map is, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best-selling games of all time, with over 425 million copies sold. Next time you’re playing, remember to watch out for those creepers when you’re exploring a cuboid swamp.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Ever wanted to go birding in a Western-themed game? Well, in Red Dead Redemption 2, you can.

Widely considered as one of the best-looking titles of all time, it’s hard not to be captivated by the breathtaking scenery. With a vast open world map to explore on horseback or on foot, it takes time to travel across the various regions. But there is plenty to see and do along the way, and with an abundance of wildlife roaming around freely, discovering nature seems like an obvious choice.

Throughout the many regions, my favourite locations to explore, are undoubtedly the wetland habitats. There are many found in Red Dead Redemption 2, including Heartland Overflow, a groundwater marsh which attracts a variety of duck species. There’s also a magnificent beaver dam tucked away on the bank of the Kamassa river. But one location stands out above the rest: the swamps of Bayou Nwa.

Categorised by its thick mud and moss-covered mangrove trees, Bayou Nwa is heavily reminiscent of the bayous of Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi in the United States.

Wading through the mud will reveal the swamp’s secret. It’s a wildlife haven and packed with birds. Players can spot species such as the little egret, great blue heron and roseate spoonbill, to name only a few. As with real life, these birds can easily flush, so it’s best to move slowly and keep your distance.

If you do pull out your binoculars from your satchel, just be careful to check your surroundings. There are dangerous ‘gators lurking in these swampy waters.

3. Rayman 2: The Great Escape

Those of us who’ve been playing games longer than we can remember will know that wetlands aren’t exactly new to the gaming world. In fact, wetland and swamp levels have been appearing in games for decades, long before realistic graphics and open worlds became the norm.

Need an example? Look no further than Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Released in 1999, the game takes players on a journey through a colourful fantasy world featuring memorable locations that feel like a magical story-book adventure.

With wetland-inspired levels, such as the waterfall-filled Fairy Glade and moody Marshes of Awakening, players navigate leaping between giant lily pads and spooky swamps filled with oversized plants and vines, avoiding dangers such as snapping piranhas along the way.

Some might say the graphics don’t stand up to today’s standards, but for me, that’s part of the nostalgic charm.

4. The Sims 4

Why is the Sims 4 on the list, you may be wondering.

As a life simulation game centred around building homes, it may not seem the obvious choice for a wetland habitat. But hear me out: ponds.

Once you’ve finished building your dream home, carefully chosen the perfect furniture and added all the finishing touches, it’s time to step outside. Landscaping is a huge part of creating the ideal lot, and of course, no garden is truly complete without a humble pond.

Whether you’re creating a cottage-core inspired house surrounded by willow trees and reeds or a contemporary modern home with space for wildlife, a pond can bring a touch of wetland magic to any build and completely transform a Sim’s outdoor space.

And it’s not purely decorative. Just as people in the real world are drawn to water, your Sims are too. Whether splashing about in the shallows or becoming friends with the ducks and dragonflies that also call it home, life is a little better with a pond nearby.

So go on, build the pond. It’s a simple way to bring nature and wildlife into your world.

5. Planet Zoo / Planet Zoo 2

There’s nothing quite like creating your own wetland. That’s exactly what Planet Zoo lets you do.

As a zoo construction and management simulation game, you’re responsible for creating exhibits, caring for animals and helping zoo conservation efforts thrive.

It’s easy to get lost in the wonder of habitat design in Planet Zoo, meticulously placing every single plant and rock. But that’s exactly what your animals deserve – a perfect place to call home.

Once you’ve spent hours creating one thriving ecosystem, the question then becomes, which species do you choose next? There are plenty of incredible wetland species in the game, all needing a home and a habitat, including red-crowned cranes, Asian small-clawed otters and capybaras.

And the fun doesn’t stop there. With the release of Planet Zoo 2, now you can manage expansive wildlife reserves too, not just the zoo. Players can take an even greater role in restoring and preparing the natural ecosystem for wildlife releases. How exciting it will be, to watch your newly released white-tailed eagles, take to the skies and soar across the landscape.

Water, gamified

So, there’s my top wetland gaming combos. It’s no surprise that game designers return to these habitats time and time again to create rich and interactive worlds. From changing the way we engage with the environment, to shaping in-game mechanics and slowing players down, water and wetlands create experiences that others just can’t.

Can games connect us with nature irl?

It’s possible that for many people, their first wetland experience might not be in real life.

This doesn’t mean that video games can’t help us form a strong connection to nature. Quite the opposite in fact. Globally, 2.6 billion people play video games, and a growing number are taking an interest in the environment and conservation, according to a 2019 UNEP report.

But it’s not just nature-based games where players can engage with immersive environments. Players can, by osmosis, develop detailed environmental knowledge from a huge range of video games. By using in-game fact-files or field guides, many games offer the chance to study animals, plants or the world around them, even if it isn’t the main storyline.

So when you’re next knee-deep in your favourite sandbox, shooter or ARPG, keep an eye-out for those immersive wetland habitats.