You Won't Believe What Inspired These Video Games

You know, every time I dive into video games, I can’t help but wonder:

“Where do these wild ideas even come from?”

We’re talking about strange worlds filled with creepy monsters, brave heroes, and gameplay mechanics that feel so unique it’s almost impossible to imagine the original spark behind them. And here’s the surprise — sometimes that spark is way more ordinary (or even bizarre!) than you’d ever expect.

The truth is, many of the most iconic games weren’t born from complicated theories or high-tech experiments, but from everyday experiences, cultural traditions, or even random moments of inspiration. A simple childhood hobby or a piece of folklore can suddenly transform into something that millions of players around the world connect with. Can you believe it?

So, in this article, I’m going to walk you through some of the most unbelievable inspirations behind legendary titles. Get ready! Because the backstories might surprise you even more than the games themselves.

Pokémon — inspired by bug collecting

When I first learned that Pokémon was inspired by something as simple as bug collecting, I was honestly shocked. Seriously!

Pokémon is a game series made by Game Freak and published by Nintendo. It was released in 1996 for the first time. You play as a Pokémon Trainer, traveling around different regions, catching sweet but powerful creatures, battling other trainers, and building your dream team along the way.

You have to know that the creator, Satoshi Tajiri, grew up in Japan with a passion for catching insects. He spent hours exploring fields and forests to see what he could find. That childhood hobby eventually transformed into the idea of capturing creatures, trading them with friends, and building collections. Sound familiar, right? It’s basically the foundation of the entire Pokémon universe.

As Tajiri himself once explained,

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a bug collector. I loved catching insects and keeping them. Pokémon is just like that.”

Here’s another cool info! The Game Boy link cable wasn’t just a gadget, it actually shaped how Pokémon worked. The creator, Satoshi Tajiri, thought of it like kids trading bugs in real life — you catch one, your friend catches another, and then you swap. That simple cable became the key to Pokémon’s social side, letting players trade and battle together.

You can see what started with kids chasing beetles and cicadas turned into Pikachu and Charizard, showing that even the smallest spark of inspiration can grow into something huge and be honest… something legendary.

The Witcher — inspired by Polish folklore and literature

The Witcher isn’t just another fantasy story, you know? It’s built on Polish culture and old-school legends. Andrzej Sapkowski took monsters straight out of Slavic folklore and mixed them with tough choices and sharp dialogues. I found what he said and I like it a lot,

“Not everything monstrous looking is evil, and not everything fair is good… and in every fairytale, there is a grain of truth.”

Doesn’t that make you think twice about judging things by appearances?

So I sometimes ask myself: what’s scarier, the monster in the woods or the greed of the people in town?

The Witcher, as a role‑playing game series, was released in 2007 for the first time. It’s created by CD Projekt Red. In this game, you take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who explores a dark world full of magic, politics, and tough moral choices.

Isn’t it wild how bedtime stories about creepy creatures turned into Geralt’s world of battles, politics, and messy emotions? That’s why The Witcher feels so real! It’s so unbelievable! It’s not just about fighting monsters, but it’s about facing the human ones too.

And honestly, who would’ve guessed that such local Polish myths could grow into a global hit with many books, games known around the world, and Netflix shows?

Pac‑Man — inspired by eating pizza

Believe it or not, Pac‑Man’s design came from something as simple as grabbing a slice of pizza.

The creator, Toru Iwatani, looked at a pizza with one slice missing and thought,

“Hey, that looks like a character with a big mouth.”

And boom! Pac‑Man was born! Pretty wild, right? A snack turned into one of the most iconic video game characters ever. Unbelievable!

The game itself is simple but addictive. You guide Pac‑Man through a maze, eating dots and fruit while avoiding four colourful ghosts. If you grab a power pellet, the ghosts turn blue and you can chase them instead.

It was released in 1980, (I know, long time ago!) and it quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, with millions of plays each week and tons of merchandise, cartoons, and spin‑offs. Instead of just eating dinner, Pac‑Man ended up eating his way into pop culture history.

Take away one slice of pizza, and boom! You’ve got the world’s hungriest arcade hero.

Five Nights at Freddy’s — inspired by previous criticism

You know what’s interesting about Five Nights at Freddy’s? The game was actually born from criticism.

Before FNaF, the creator Scott Cawthon made small games where the characters looked stiff and robotic. People said they looked creepy instead of cute. And you know what? Instead of trying to fix that, Scott decided to use it! He thought,

“If people already think my characters are scary, why not make a horror game?”

That’s how Freddy Fazbear and the other haunted animatronics were created.

The first game came out in 2014. You play as a night guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, trying to survive five nights while the animatronics move around and try to catch you. The gameplay is quite simple. You watch cameras, close doors, and save power. But the tension of waiting and not knowing when they will attack is what makes it scary. And these jump scares! Aaa! They’re terrifying!

Because the game was so unique, it quickly became popular, especially on YouTube where players shared their reactions. Soon, sequels followed: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, 3, and 4, then spin-offs like Sister Location and Ultimate Custom Night. The series also grew into books, mobile games, and even a movie.

So, what started as a joke about “creepy characters” turned into one of the biggest horror franchises in gaming. Pretty amazing, right?

Final Thoughts

When I look at these stories side by side, I’m even more amazed! And I think it proves that the magic of creativity truly exists. It turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.

So, next time when you pick up a controller, remember that behind every pixel and every monster lies a spark of inspiration that might have started as a hobby, a myth, or even a moment of doubt.

And maybe that’s the real lesson — inspiration is everywhere, waiting for someone brave enough to turn it into something legendary.