For decades, Doctor Who has captivated audiences, instilling both wonder and heartache. Many fans dream of the iconic TARDIS materializing in their backyard, beckoning them to embark on extraordinary adventures.
A glance at Ao3’s extensive fan-fiction collection reveals how deeply fans yearn for that experience.
While the likelihood of personally meeting the Doctor is slim, certain video games can recreate that sense of adventure. Although we may never traverse the cosmos or time with the Doctor, these video games beautifully emulate that essence.
To curate an engaging list of video games tailored for Doctor Who enthusiasts, I examined various factors including the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres, elements of exploration and whimsy, along with the presence of puzzles or mysteries. After all, no episode of Doctor Who would be complete without intriguing mysteries for the Doctor and their Companion to unravel!
10 Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality
Live Out Your Doctor Who Dreams
Let’s face it: anything featuring David Tennant is destined to shine. In the case of Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality, it approaches brilliance.
Despite some rough edges and a somewhat flimsy narrative, the game offers Doctor Who fans the thrilling opportunity to step into the shoes of the Doctor’s Companion, even if just for a fleeting moment. Players assume the role of an original Companion who encounters the 13th Doctor, ultimately joining her in a quest to save the universe.
With Jodie Whittaker reprising her role as the 13th Doctor, the game feels authentically immersive. And yes, for many fans, the cameos from David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, despite being brief, truly elevate the experience. The game is rich in quintessential Doctor Who moments—traveling through the TARDIS, confronting iconic villains like the Weeping Angels and Daleks, and, naturally, saving planets.
9 The Stanley Parable
The Stanley Parable could easily be mistaken for an episode of Doctor Who, brimming with quirky whimsy and mind-bending choices.
This game compels players to contemplate fate and the impact of their decisions, mirroring many Doctor Who narrative arcs. Throughout the gameplay, players face various choices, with the Narrator guiding their character, Stanley. Remarkably, players can choose to disregard the Narrator’s instructions, leading to divergent outcomes that alter the storyline.
The playful nature of the game makes it a perfect fit for Doctor Who fans. Imagine the Doctor eagerly directing the Companion through a labyrinth of consequences, all while a countdown to the universe’s end looms in the background. With over ten distinct endings to uncover, players can expect a delightful challenge as they explore the many paths available.
8 No Man’s Sky
Tons Of Travel And Evil Robots
Doctor Who regularly features thrilling journeys across space to bizarre, alien worlds. While many stellar space games exist, none match the scope and scale of No Man’s Sky.
When I first ventured into this game, I was astounded by the sheer number of star systems awaiting exploration. Even today, No Man’s Sky boasts an expansive universe that remains largely unexplored.
This open-ended style aligns perfectly with what fans love about the Doctor’s escapades—choosing destinations at random, excited by the unknown.
Players can embark on similar curious quests in No Man’s Sky by boarding their starship and choosing a solar system, discovering both dangers and wonders along the way. Just as in Doctor Who, players face off against malevolent robots known as Sentinels, ensuring that players have to be prepared for action.
7 Return of the Obra Dinn
Magic Pocket Watch Instead Of Sonic Screwdriver
As a huge admirer of Papers, Please, I eagerly anticipated the release of Return of the Obra Dinn. This game too caters wonderfully to Doctor Who fans.
Players step into the shoes of an investigator for the East India Trading Company, uncovering the fate of a ghost ship that has returned with all its passengers either deceased or vanished.
Equipped with a magical pocket watch, your objective is to uncover the circumstances of each passenger’s demise or current location. What sets this apart for Doctor Who fans is the time-warping functionality of the pocket watch, allowing you to view the final moments of the deceased, which helps piece together the mystery surrounding each character.
The game adeptly plays with time, freezing each individual at the moment of their death. With its rich narrative, mysteries to solve, and a touch of time manipulation, it’s an essential experience for any Doctor Who aficionado.
6 BioShock Infinite
Time Loops And Lots Of Timey-Wimey Stuff
Imagine taking the time loops from Return of the Obra Dinn and magnifying them into an exhilarating adventure—welcome to BioShock Infinite. As a devoted fan of the BioShock series, this title feels like a must-play for Doctor Who enthusiasts.
With its stunning visual storytelling and intricate world-building, BioShock Infinite resonates with the often aesthetic-driven episodes of Doctor Who. Players navigate through the city of Columbia, peeling back layers of its dark secrets hidden beneath a facade of prosperity.
This mirrors the storytelling in many Doctor Who episodes where a veneer of happiness obscures darker truths. Furthermore, the game features time manipulation through Elizabeth, a character whose unique abilities allow players to open rifts in the space-time continuum, crafting engaging gameplay possibilities that any Doctor Who fan would appreciate.
5 Control
All The Confusing Things The Doctor Says
Consider the moments in Doctor Who when the Doctor unleashes a torrent of jargon, leaving viewers nodding in confusion. This chaotic essence permeates Control.
The gameplay centers around Jessie, who is unexpectedly thrust into the role of Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, and chaos immediately ensues upon entering the Oldest House, revealing a reality that is anything but ordinary.
Players encounter psychic phenomena, a mysterious organization, and the search for Jessie’s missing brother, all while untangling the web of reality-bending concepts. Much like the Doctor’s often perplexing ramblings, Control offers rich narrative depth alongside whimsical chaos, making it a thoroughly engaging experience for fans.
4 Mass Effect Legendary Edition
End Of Galaxy Stakes
Mass Effect appeals to a wide array of Doctor Who fans, particularly those enamored with inter-species romances and high-stakes adventures. Bioware has crafted an iconic trilogy that has remained influential in gaming culture since the release of its first installment in 2007.
Players encounter Commander Shepard, who embarks on an epic quest to defend the galaxy from an impending Reaper invasion, merging action with intricate storytelling. For fans eager for excitement, the game offers both combat and unique abilities through biotics, delivering a whimsical, magical experience akin to the essence of Doctor Who.
3 The Talos Principle
Puzzles And Riddles And Mysteries
At the core of Doctor Who lies the thrill of solving puzzles, riddles, and mysteries. The Doctor, after all, is a problem-solver.
Occasionally, the show delves into profound philosophical questions, prompting viewers to contemplate significant themes, as seen in the episode “Into the Dalek, ”where the 12th Doctor grapples with moral identity.
The Talos Principle creatively combines puzzling elements and philosophical exploration, presenting players with over 120 challenges as a sentient robot seeking to ascend a central tower in a world full of enigmas.
As players decipher each puzzle, they unearth narratives from previous challengers, allowing for reflective contemplation and engagement with the thought-provoking concepts presented.
2 Life Is Strange
Time Loops Packed With Emotion
Doctor Who has delivered heartfelt moments that left a lasting impact, making viewers shed tears more than once. This emotional resonance is mirrored in Life Is Strange, a game that has garnered immense praise for its storytelling.
As players navigate the life of Max, they discover her rare ability to rewind time upon returning to Arcadia Bay, with each use leading to not just different outcomes but also difficult moral implications.
The surrounding high school drama adds layers of complexity, as players unearth a darker narrative lying beneath the surface. Every decision carries weight, resonating with the emotional core of the game, akin to the tears shed during the Doctor’s regeneration.
1 Outer Wilds
Space Exploration And A Time Loop
Outer Wilds encapsulates the entire spectrum of a Doctor Who experience within a singular, fascinating game. It offers rich opportunities for space exploration across diverse planets, interactions with aliens, and the challenge of deciphering the ancient Nomai civilization’s mysteries within the context of a time loop that resets upon the sun’s destruction.
As the character known as the Hatchling, players have a mere 22 minutes until the star explodes, with the twist that no materials or resources are carried beyond this limit. Every reset introduces fresh discoveries, keeping exploration dynamic and exciting.
This game earns the top position by delivering the essence of a Doctor Who adventure from beginning to end, particularly with an ending that would serve as an ideal conclusion for any closing era of the show. With just a ship and an insatiable curiosity, you’ll be ready to embark on an adventure worthy of the Doctor.
Leave a Reply