Whether playing kart racing or an RPG, most video games demand you purchase an item. New equipment, paint jobs, and other improvements will all significantly drain your bank account. But since most video games are situated in made-up worlds, it’s doubtful that you’ll ever come across a pound coin or a Danish krone.
You might be surprised to learn how vital currency is to immersion in video games. For instance, it would seem strange if people who lived in imaginary realms and made a career by slaying dragons bartered in American dollars or Euros. Even if you forget all the other facts, the name and appearance of a game’s cash might surprise you and stick in your mind for many years. The least money can do, if capitalism must exist even in a fantasy setting is to stand out. Some gaming currencies have practically become recognisable.
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Cyberpunk 2077
The world of Night City is expertly crafted in Cyberpunk 2077 to be habitable. The fact that this universe has a well-established narrative undoubtedly helps, but CD Projekt Red deserves praise for creating a fantastic setting for exploration in Cyberpunk 2077. Eurodollars, the currency utilised in this game, were first employed when corporations began homogenising the planet. The name of this currency is eddies, and Cyberpunk 2077 makes it very obvious that money is the final aim for many individuals who didn’t lead the luxurious life of a corporation.
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System Shock
The System Shock series is one of the most recognisable immersive simulation series ever. Nanites, essentially tiny packets containing sub-atomic machines capable of doing a broad range of functions, are used as cash in the games. Because of this, Nanites are a rather unique currency that can be used for much more than just buying and selling. Nanites may be used to hack computers, open locked doors, and repair and improve weaponry. There is a caveat to all these uses: you must be extremely careful with your spending since you never know when you might need them again.
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The Elder Scrolls
Given that The Elder Scrolls is one of the most recognisable video game franchises ever, it seems to reason that its money would likewise be impressive in and of itself. The Septim is the recognised unit of exchange for all of Tamriel. However, it is typically referred to simply as “gold” in most contexts. It is simple to see why the currency is named after the dynasty that ruled all of Tamriel, given the significance of the Septim Empire in the Elder Scrolls universe. The vast majority of game transactions are governed by money, which the populace also calls “Drakes.”
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Animal Crossing
Since you don’t spend bells only on bettering yourself, they are perhaps one of the most infamous forms of currency. In most Animal Crossing games, you can buy video game currency here, with your only option being to collect as many bells as you can to pay it off. They are now inextricably linked to Tom Nook and his quest for wealth. You can’t move one inch on your island, town, or city without giving a sizable amount of your income to one of his enterprises or side ventures. It’s always worthwhile to give Bells since they are one of the few fictitious currencies that grow on trees.
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Genshin Impact
If you’ve ever played Genshin Impact, you know how crucial Mora is to almost everything. It would help if you used a lot of money to enhance your characters and weapons and use it to buy stuff from stores. Because of this, even if you can accumulate millions in Mora, you may easily spend most of them all at once. The entire in-game history of Mora is what makes it so unique. The Liyue Archon Quests include a wealth of information about it and were named after Morax, the Geo Archon. Given the constant joke about his always being broke, Zhongli’s involvement with Mora is ironic.
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Fallout
In the Fallout world, money is known as Bottle Caps or simply Caps. The bottle caps can be seen scattered over those games’ vast and different settings. They may be used to purchase everything from a new bottle of fizzy joy to baseball bats covered with nails. Due to how well they fit into the game environment they are a part of, Bottle Caps are unquestionably one of the most significant currencies. It only seems natural that a new kind of currency would emerge, given that it is impossible to produce additional money in this radioactive wasteland. The fact that you get to retain the bottle after drinking a chilled, probably very radioactive bottle of Nuka Cola is also a lovely touch.
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Final Fantasy
One of the most recognisable JRPG series in the world is probably Final Fantasy. Its gameplay, environments, and characters have all developed throughout its several versions, sequels, and spin-offs, enabling it to continue to be successful and a significant element of pop culture long into the 2020s. You’ll have to spend money on everything from armour to brand-new, obscenely big weapons in Final Fantasy. You’ll need Gil to make your purchases possible. By today’s standards, Gil sounds nothing like money, but even those unfamiliar with the series can probably recognise it.
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Kingdom Hearts
Although one of the most recognisable JRPG heroes ever appears in Kingdom Hearts, it also boasts one of the most instantly recognisable currencies. The little, bouncing blue and yellow balls that erupt from your vanquished enemies as you explore the wondrous regions of Kingdom Hearts are called Munny, a very apparent allegory for money. Munny is undoubtedly another element that distinguishes the Kingdom Hearts titles from other video games despite having an unoriginal name. It is a very addicting cash worth collecting due to its vibrant appearance and the visual extravaganza that occurs whenever it arrives.
Conclusion
Video games have employed fictitious currencies for decades, from changing the word “money” to creating a new economic structure. Players have gone above and beyond to gather them, whether employing the motherlode trick in The Sims to get rich quickly or striking blocks of bricks to get some swimming trunks.