Video games for learning Traditional Chinese (台灣)

This list is for advanced learners who read Traditional Chinese and want to improve through interactive media. It spans different genres and difficulty levels. Some titles are suitable for early reading practice. Others may demand advanced vocabulary.

My curation focuses on games that are text-heavy, narratively engaging, and, most importantly, localized with attention to Taiwanese usage rather than simply conversions from mainland editions. Over half of the games in this list are from Taiwanese developers.

Check out each game’s store page, trailers and reviews to learn more about them.

1) Richman trilogy / 大富翁

Richman is a long-running Taiwanese board game franchise inspired by Monopoly-style mechanics. It was developed by a Taiwanese studio and has multiple classic editions (shown below), but also a more recent installment released in 2022.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2027920/Richman_Clasic/

The gameplay revolves around property, money, random events, and character interactions. Text is short and repetitive. Players encounter everyday vocabulary related to finance, transactions, and chance events. This makes it suitable for learners who want structured exposure to practical language without long narrative passages.

2) TunTown / 阿貓阿狗

Taiwanese RPG from 1998, in which the protagonist returns home after five years to find the his town shrouded in unease.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512710/TunTown/

With the ability to speak to animals, he teams up with human friends and a large cast of cats and dogs to uncover conspiracies threatening the town.

The game uses a semi-real-time (ATB-style) battle system and features a crafting system that lets you invent quirky tools and weapons. The strength of the game lies in exploration and dialogue: NPCs follow daily routines, update their lines as the story progresses, and comment on social issues ranging from consumerism to urban development.

What begins as a colorful children’s tale gradually reveals sharp satire and surprisingly mature themes.

3) Xuan-Yuan Sword series / 軒轅劍

This is a classic Taiwanese role-playing game series developed by the same studio behind Richman. The games are turn-based RPGs with dense storytelling, historical themes, and cultural references.

Developer page: http://swd.softstargames.com.tw/zh-tw/portfolio/index

The series exposes players to historical terms, mythological concepts, and formal phrasing. It suits learners who already read short fiction comfortably and want to expand into complex narrative prose.

4) Detention / 返校

Detention is a Taiwanese atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan during martial law. It integrates political context, religious symbolism, and local cultural references.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/555220/Detention/

The game is relatively short. Reading is central to the experience. Players encounter diaries, notes, and dialogue grounded in Taiwanese history and belief systems. It is well suited for learners interested in cultural immersion rather than purely mechanical gameplay.

5) Devotion / 還願

Devotion is another narrative-driven horror game developed by the same developer as Detention. It depicts the life of a family in 1980s Taiwan and explores themes of faith, guilt, and memory.

Developer page: https://shop.redcandlegames.com/app/devotion

The game uses environmental storytelling and written materials to convey character development. Language reflects domestic life, religious concepts, and emotional nuance. It demands stronger reading skills than Detention but offers deep exposure to contemporary Taiwanese expression.

6) Nine Sols / 九日

This 2D metroidvania action game is from the same developer as Detention and Devotion, but became much more of an international hit.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1809540/

With some gameplay elements borrowed from the Souls-like game “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice”, Nine Sols combines exploration, combat and boss fights with a strong sci-fi story rooted in Taoist philosophy. It includes Traditional Chinese voice acting and is unusually dialogue-heavy for an action platformer, making it an excellent choice for players who want mechanically demanding gameplay alongside substantial narrative text.

7) Philosophic Love / 東周列萌志

Taiwan-developed otome visual novel set in the Eastern Zhou period, blending romance, humor, and Chinese philosophy.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/528060/_Philosophic_Love/

You interact with personified thinkers and historical figures, navigating branching routes shaped by moral choices and debate. According to reviews, the prose is more nuanced and less archaic or dense than the usual high fantasy epics.

The game has fully voiced dialogue, expressive character art, emotional good/bad endings, and an emotional soundtrack. The writing mixes playful banter with surprisingly thoughtful discussions of Confucian, Mohist, and Daoist ideas.

8) OPUS: Echo of Starsong / 龍脈常歌

OPUS: Echo of Starsong is a narrative-focused adventure developed by a Taiwanese studio. It functions largely as a visual novel with additional gameplay elements.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1504500/OPUS_Echo_of_Starsong__Full_Bloom_Edition/

The writing is polished and emotionally driven. This game includes Taiwan-Chinese voice acting, making it particularly useful for learners who want to connect spoken and written forms. Earlier entries in the OPUS series were text-only.

9) Word Game / 文字遊戲

Word Game is a Taiwanese indie title built entirely around Chinese characters. The world, puzzles, and mechanics revolve around manipulating words and reshaping meaning. Reading is constant and central to progression, not just decorative dialogue.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1109570/Word_Game

Despite its minimalist presentation, make no mistake: this game requires a high level of character literacy. Progress depends on recognizing radicals, spotting subtle differences between similar characters, and understanding how meaning shifts when components are rearranged.

10) Disco Elysium / 極樂迪斯科

Disco Elysium is a critically acclaimed narrative RPG known for extensive dialogue and philosophical writing. It offers one of the densest text experiences available in a modern game.

Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/

Due to its vocabulary range, abstract themes, and volume of text, this title represents an advanced reading challenge. The official Traditional Chinese translation has generated mixed opinions among Taiwanese players. Some view it as influenced by mainland phrasing, others consider it acceptable overall.

There is a community mod to refine the Traditional Chinese version. So, if you want to venture into this game in Chinese, I would strongly recommend installing this mod.

Mod page: https://www.nexusmods.com/discoelysium/mods/30

Honorable mentions:

• Starcraft – a real-time strategy game series from Blizzard that has very good Taiwan-targeted Traditional Chinese translations from the developers, including separate voice acting for Taiwan. The game has good story and cutscenes, but of course they are still mainly about combat and stragegy, so only here as honorable mention. More info in this article. There is also Warcraft III and its predecessors – not to be confused with “World of Warcraft”, which is an entirely different genre and less heavy on story.
• Super Mario RPG (Remake for Nintendo Switch) – while Nintendo games during the 90’s and 2000’s may not have had any Chinese or Traditional Chinese translations, Nintendo recently has targeted their newer systems to the Taiwanese market as well. Out of all the Nintendo games, Super Mario RPG is one that is quite heavy on story, but it is going to be text-only, no Mandarin voice acting. See more in this comment.
• Other Nintendo games mentioned in this thread are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pokémon and Kirby Air Riders, the latter was mentioned for its cute voice-over dialog in Mandarin. People also mentioned Stardew Valley and the Persona series having good translations.
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Originally developed in Japan, this courtroom adventure series has an official Traditional Chinese version. It contains large amounts of dialogue presented in short conversational lines. However, according to this comment, the Traditional Chinese translation can’t quite keep up with the English one, so only as honorable mention here. Origin of a classic meme.
• Genshin Impact – A free-to-play open-world RPG with a large amount of story dialogue, quest text, and lore entries. Traditional Chinese is officially supported, though the phrasing is cross-regional rather than Taiwan-specific. The sheer volume of readable content makes it useful for building vocabulary and reading stamina. Be aware of its gacha monetization system – treat it as a single-player reading resource do not spend any money.
• Taiwan Love Story⁵ – a romantic visual novel with branching dialogue and choice-based interactions set around Taiwan. The 5 in the title refers thematically to the game’s five heroines you will encounter…

Any outstanding games missing on this list? E-mail or message me!