Overlord (2007 video game)

Overlord is an action role-playing video game developed by Triumph Studios and published by Codemasters. It was released in 2007 for the Xbox 360 and PC, and later ported to the PlayStation 3 under the title Overlord: Raising Hell, which includes an expansion pack of the same name. A Nintendo Wii version, titled Overlord: Dark Legend, was also released alongside the PS3 version, featuring a different storyline and gameplay mechanics tailored to the Wii's motion controls.

The game casts the player as the Overlord, a resurrected warrior tasked with reclaiming territories and defeating corrupted heroes. The Overlord is not a character with a predefined personality, but rather a blank slate onto which the player can project their choices, influencing their alignment between good and evil. The core gameplay revolves around commanding minions, goblin-like creatures with different specializations: brown (melee), red (fire), green (assassin), and blue (support/healing). The player strategically deploys these minions to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and plunder resources.

The game features a satirical tone, lampooning fantasy tropes and traditional heroic narratives. Choices made by the player, such as whether to enslave populations or destroy them, directly impact the game world and the Overlord's appearance. The narrative explores themes of corruption, power, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

Overlord spawned several sequels and spin-offs, including Overlord II (2009), Overlord: Dark Legend (2009), Overlord: Minions (2009), and Overlord: Fellowship of Evil (2015). These games continued the series' focus on minion management and morally ambiguous choices, although with varying degrees of success and critical reception. The original Overlord remains a critically acclaimed title and is often cited for its innovative gameplay and humorous approach to the fantasy genre.