Listicle

Scotland is home to some of the most innovative and influential game makers.

From the invention of the ZX Spectrum computer in the 1980s, to world-building influenced by the Scottish landscape, Scotland can be found in many corners of the video gaming industry.

1. Pong

During the mid-1970s, General Instrument's facility in Glenrothes, Scotland developed a pong-on-a-chip - introducing the first pong bat and ball systems on a chip.

Two arcade games side by side in the Game On exhibition. One is Space Invaders, the other is Pong. — Pong, one of the playable games in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, 2024
Credit: © Neil McLean

2. Tetris

The 2023 Tetris movie was shot in various locations around Edinburgh, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Aberdeen. The film's director, Jon S. Baird, hails from Aberdeen.

A view of the Game On gallery. In focus are two computer games, under a title banner that says 'Genres'. — Games representing different genres in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, 2024.
Credit: © Andy Catlin 2024

3. Tempest 2000

The Scottish comedy computer game show Videogaiden parodied the legendary programmer Jeff Minter as part of their video game awards in the second series.

A blue table in the Game On exhibition. Each place is set with a different handheld console. — Handheld consoles on display in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, 2024.
Credit: © Andy Catlin 2024

4. Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider III: The Lost Artefact begins with Lara receiving a mysterious invitation to a Scottish estate. The first levels involve her exploring a Scottish castle.

2 video game consoles at the Game On exhibition. A panel in the middle is titled 'simulation'. — Simulation games in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, 2024.
Credit: © Andy Catlin 2024

5. Halo 3: ODST

Frank O’Connor, born and raised in Edinburgh, worked for Bungie Studios and Microsoft as the creative director for the Halo franchise, later becoming the executive producer for the Halo TV series.

A group of visitors are dispersed across the Game On exhibition gallery, each playing a different video game. — Halo, being played by visitors in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.
Credit: © Andy Catlin

6. Saturn Bomberman

The third boss in the game, Rodeon, resembles the Nuckelavee from Scottish mythology, a terrifying sea creature known to take the form of a horse-like demon when it emerges onto land.

2 visitors to the Game On exhibition are holding consoles and playing bomberman. — Visitors playing Bomberman in the Game On exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, 2024.
Credit: © Andy Catlin

7. Elite

Scottish developers Torus took on the challenging task of converting Elite to the ZX Spectrum from the C64, and it became the most popular version of the game.