Game Groups > Setting: City - Rome

Games in which at least part of the setting is the city of Rome (Roma), Italy. The setting can be historical, present, or futuristic (including imaginary versions of the city).

While 753 BC is traditionally considered to be the year when the city was founded, Rome has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe. The city has been successively the capital of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire, the Papal States and modern Italy. It numbers over 2.8 million inhabitants as of 2017 (4.3 million in the metropolitan area) and includes Vatican City inside its boundaries.

Some of the most popular attractions featured in games are:

• Vatican City -- the enclaved city-state which is where the Catholic pope resides and rules. It is comprised of several religious buildings, museums, gardens and most notably St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square. (e.g. Broken Sword: The Angel of Death)
• The Colosseum -- built in 72-80 AD under emperors Vespasian and Titus, it is currently the largest amphiteater in the world. It originally housed fights between gladiators, executions, dramas and other events. During the Middle Ages it was used for various purposes such as a cemetery and as a castle, although gradually it was stripped of its stone to build other edifices in Rome. (e.g. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood)
• The Pantheon -- built in its current form in 113-125 AD under emperors Trajan and Hadrian, the Pantheon was originally a Roman temple, although it is uncertain to whom or what it is dedicated. The main part of the temple, a circular room called Rotunda can fit a sphere with a 43 m diameter, while the dome ends with a circular opening at the top, through which a beam of light can get through from outside. Starting from the year 609 until the present day, the Pantheon has been used as a Christian church. (e.g. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood)
• Altare della Patria -- an eclectic monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. It is a symbol of the modern Italian state where national celebrations take place every year. (e.g. along with the Colosseum it dominates the Rome circuit in Gran Turismo 5 and Gran Turismo 6)

Generally, Rome is fairly popular among game developers thanks to its rich history and architecture comprising several styles, including Classical, Renaissance and Baroque. When its outdoors are depicted, Rome is shown as a culture-rich city with narrow streets and low-rise buildings. Churches, ancient ruins and classical statues are used often as well.

Limitations:

• The game must be set in the city itself, not a surrounding area.
• Games that simply claim to take place in Rome are permitted, even without a recognizable landmark.
• Games that take place solely on a global or regional map featuring the city (e.g. strategy games), should not be added here.