For those who may not know, parkour is essentially the act of moving from one point to another while attempting to navigate through a series of obstacles. Parkour is popular among stuntpeople, as well as by military members to train their bodies for combat. While it might look fun to try, however, it could also leave you with an injury or two if you’re not careful. So, how can you get your parkour fix without actually having to go through an actual set of obstacles?
Luckily, you can go crazy with the parkour virtually through video games, ranging from indie games to even the likes of Minecraft. But let’s say you don’t want to go through the hassle of creating and building your very own parkour course. Which parkour-themes video games are the best? Let’s go over our picks, starting with a name that should be familiar to video game enthusiasts: Assassin’s Creed.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Let’s start off with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which can be fought for a fair price since the title is two years old. In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, players can explore the forests, volcanoes, and islands of ancient Greece and embark on a quest that can change the fortune of the country. Parkour fans can also get their fair share of action in this game, as players can bash through ancient boats, and jump off some of the oldest structures of the world.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Much like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag also has its fair share of parkour. Black Flag, which was released in 2013, takes place in 1715 during the Age of Colonization. In this open-world game, players must take on lawless pirates, loot hidden underwater wrecked ships, and jump across the landscapes and ships.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
Published by Square Enix in 2014, Sleeping Dogs: Definite Edition is an open-world game set in Hong Kong. In Sleeping Dogs, the player takes on the role of a lead protagonist, Wei Shen, and face the Triads, one of the most well-known and powerful criminal groups in the world. This title, which includes all available DLC from Sleeping Dogs, has a lot to offer for players who want to take on gangs but have a little fun at the same time. Players can engage in high speed, illegal street races, participate in mixed martial arts fights, and more.
Titanfall 2
Released in 2016 by Electronic Arts, Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter title that features a single-player campaign and multiplayer action. The game takes not only patience and good execution, but also quick triggers, as players can jump and climb on ramps and edges across this futuristic landscape. And since this title is from EA, players can hop into Titanfall 2 for free upon purchasing a subscription for EA Play.
Assassin’s Creed Unity
The third Assassin’s Creed game to make this list, Assassin’s Creed Unity, is set during the height of the French Revolution. While this game doesn’t necessarily revolve around figures like Robespierre (although he is in the game) or Napoleon Bonaparte, players can play as Arno in this single-player (or co-op) experience. In Unity, players must dive off of structures and glide through the air of France as you look to find the true secrets of the forces that are in control during the French Revolution. Assassin’s Creed games are well-known for their parkour, and Unity is no exception.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Another title from 2016 makes this list, and that game is Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, which was published by Electronic Arts, follows the story of Faith, a runner who’s goal is to free the city of Glass. This title, which like Titanfall 2, is available on EA Play, as players can jump off buildings, walk on structure with the help of machinery, ride ziplines, and avoid danger in this futuristic, science fiction-themed adventure.
Human: Fall Flat
One of the highest-rated parkour games on Steam, Human: Fall Flat might not have the big-name publisher (Human: Fall Flat’s publisher is Curve Digital), nor the crazy 3D graphics, but this title should be quite fun, especially for those who love games like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Human: Fall Flat, which launched in 2016, is a ” hilarious, light-hearted platformer” that takes place on floating landscapes (yes, you read that correctly). Up to eight players can join in on the craziness, and users can play golf, jump, and bungee across platforms in wild obstacle courses, and much more.
Ultimate Chicken Horse
We move from one cartoonish-style game to another in Ultimate Chicken Horse. Ultimate Chicken Horse, developed and published by Clever Endeavor Games, is very similar to Human: Fall Flat thanks to the fact that it’s a party platformer game. Players can build levels as they go, as traps can be set, and if you complete the level while the opponent does not, you get points as a reward. Ultimate Chicken Horse can be played either locally or online, but just make sure that you watch your step while jumping on walls.
Cybershock: Future Parkour
One of the newer games on this list, Cybershock: Future Parkour, did not launch until July of this past year. This runner title involves players having to run through virtual courses, and the goal is to kill all the computer viruses on the level before the viruses destroy you. Cybershock: Future Parkour might be an indie title, but its fast-paced action, and its reasonable price, put this title on our list.
Thief
We’ll finish this list off with Thief, one of the highest-rated parkour games on Steam. Released by Square Enix in 2014, Thief revolves around Garrett, the Master Thief, who has left the shadows to prevent the City from being torn into chaos by the Baron. In this open-world game, players can take advantage of Garrett’s skills and using them to sneak and jump into mansions, manipulate the environment around you, and attempt to take down the powers that are in control.