Welsh Mythology Goes Global as Chinese Video Game Introduces Rhiannon
IT is not every day that a character rooted in Welsh mythology makes an appearance in a Chinese video game, but that is precisely what has happened with Rhiannon, a mystical bird trainer in the internationally popular role-playing game Reverse: 1999.
And her appearance could be part of something much bigger – an emerging opportunity for Welsh history, language and legend to reach an entirely new generation of enthusiasts across the world.
Developed by Chinese studio Bluepoch, Reverse: 1999 is a fantasy role-playing game combining time travel, magic, mystery and strategic battles, with an imaginative storyline that takes players through different periods of 20th-Century history.
Among its cast of unusual characters is Rhiannon, introduced as a playable character during the game’s third-anniversary celebrations in August 2026.
She lives a secluded existence in the countryside, caring for a flock of magical birds known as Adar Llwch Gwin, drawn from Welsh folklore. These extraordinary creatures possess intelligence and abilities far beyond those of ordinary birds.
The developers have clearly been looking beyond the more familiar traditions of Greek, Roman and Norse mythology for inspiration.
In an interview with BBC Wales, Bluepoch co-founder KK explained that Welsh folklore and local traditions fitted naturally into the game’s magical world.
Rhiannon’s appearance incorporates influences associated with traditional rural life, bird handling and Celtic-inspired designs, while her character introduces players to elements of a culture they might otherwise never have encountered.
There is even a linguistic dimension to the adventure.
The character is voiced in English by Rebecca Wang, an Asian-American actor who found herself tackling Welsh words and pronunciation during the recording process.
Although unfamiliar with the language initially, she researched Welsh speech and worked on its pronunciation, discovering that some familiar-looking letters behave rather differently in Welsh than in English.
It was an experience that also encouraged her to take a greater interest in Wales itself.
For Welsh players, hearing their language and references to familiar places in an internationally distributed game has proved a welcome surprise.
The BBC spoke to Barry Pritchard, a player from Caernarfon, who welcomed the inclusion despite expressing some reservations about pronunciation.
References to places such as Caernarfon in a fantasy adventure developed thousands of miles away in China provide a striking reminder of how video games can introduce people to cultures and locations beyond their own.
But why stop with Rhiannon?
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A Treasure Trove of Welsh Legends
Welsh mythology possesses an extraordinary collection of characters, creatures and stories capable of providing inspiration for modern entertainment.
The Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales, includes adventures involving kings, warriors, magical transformations, enchanted landscapes and journeys between the human world and the supernatural.
Among its best-known figures is Rhiannon, whose story appears in the First and Third Branches of the Mabinogi.
The legendary Rhiannon is associated with the otherworldly, with horses, mysterious birds and remarkable personal resilience. Her story involves love, betrayal, unjust punishment and eventual restoration.
Although the game’s character is a modern fictional interpretation rather than a direct retelling of the medieval story, the connection introduces a potentially enormous international audience to a name deeply rooted in Welsh tradition.
And Rhiannon is only the beginning.
Imagine a fantasy adventure inspired by Bran the Blessed, the giant king whose severed head becomes part of one of Wales’ most remarkable legends.
Or a game built around the adventures of Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, whose dealings with the mysterious realm of Annwn offer a wealth of possibilities for magical encounters and supernatural challenges.
The legends of Cantre’r Gwaelod, the supposedly submerged kingdom beneath Cardigan Bay, could provide the foundations for an atmospheric adventure involving a lost civilisation.
Then there is Owain Glyndŵr, the historical Welsh leader whose rebellion against English rule in the early 15th Century offers the potential for an entirely different kind of game, blending history, strategy, warfare and political intrigue.
For developers seeking fresh stories, Welsh history and mythology offer an extraordinary amount of material.
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Putting Wales on the Gaming Map
The BBC report also highlighted the views of Arron Elias, an advocate for Welsh representation in video games, who believes developers have barely begun to explore what Welsh stories can offer.
There is certainly a strong argument that video games could play an increasingly important role in introducing Wales to the world.
International audiences already encounter Welsh landscapes, history and culture through television productions, films, books, music and major sporting occasions.
Gaming adds another dimension.
A player who discovers an intriguing Welsh name or mythical creature might become curious about the original legend. That curiosity could lead to an interest in the Welsh language, Welsh history or even a visit to the places associated with the story.
For Ewegottalove, which celebrates Wales and its international connections, this is a particularly appealing development.
It also creates another unexpected link between Wales and China, two nations already connected through universities, historic relationships, cultural exchanges and the symbolism of their respective dragons.
The incorporation of Welsh mythology into a game developed in China demonstrates that those connections need not be confined to traditional education, tourism or commerce.
They can emerge through modern creative industries and reach audiences who might previously have known very little about Wales.
Bluepoch has even indicated that it would be open to exploring further Welsh characters if suitable stories and cultural themes arise.
For a country with such a rich collection of legends, that sounds like an invitation worth exploring.
Discover more about the connections between these two countries in Ewegottalove’s Wales & China section, and explore the fascinating stories behind our Welsh History & Heritage features.