Video games have become known for drawing inspiration from various themes, from historical events to futuristic sci-fi settings. One of the topics that has seen an increase in popularity is mythology as it comes with a rich source for game developers to create stories, characters, and worlds for players to explore.
These games aren’t just retelling popular myths, but are using famous settings for further story development. Many games take inspiration from mythology raging from classic Greek mythology to Norse, Slavic, and Eastern Asian. In this list, we will share with you some of the best games based on mythology.
8. Hellblade
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was developed and published by Ninja Theory, a 2017 action-adventure game set in a dark fantasy world inspired by Norse mythology and Celtic culture. The game follows Senua, a Pict warrior on a journey to Helheim to rescue the soul of her dead lover from the goddess Hela. On her path, Senua will face numerous otherworldly enemies in a gameplay steeped in psychological horror, melee combat, and a combination of puzzle-solving.
The sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, was released in 2024 and developed by Ninja Theory with a larger budget and team under Xbox Game Studios. Set in 9th-century Iceland, the game continues to draw heavily from Norse mythology and focuses on Senua’s ongoing struggle with psychosis. The sequel features faster-paced combat and enhanced visuals using Unreal Engine 5 while retaining the psychological depth and horror elements of its predecessor.
These games, while not a huge adventure RPG, offer an entry into various mythologies for players, and with rave reviews for both games they deserve a spot on the list of best games with mythology themes.
7. Immortals: Fenyx Rising
Immortals Fenyx Rising is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft. The game is set in the Golden Isle, a vast open world inspired by Greek mythology, where players take on the role of Fenyx, a mortal tasked with stopping the evil Typhon after he escapes from the underworld.
The game received rave reviews for the way it used Greek mythology as a topic, with Fenyx fighting cyclops, minotaurs, and other creatures, in a story told by Poseidon and Zeus as she gains godlike abilities. Available for all major platforms, from Nintendo Switch to Xbox Series X/S, the game is our No. 7 on the list of best video games inspired by mythology.
6. Smite
Smite is a 2014 free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) developed by Hi-Rez Studios. Players control gods, goddesses, or mythological figures from various pantheons, such as Greek, Norse, and Egyptian.
The game pits players against other players and AI-controlled minions and like in other MOBAs has multiple modes with the primary mode being Conquest in which players work together to defeat opponents. Characters are classified into roles like Assassin, Guardian, Hunter, Mage, or Warrior, each with unique abilities based on their mythological origins. Since its release, the game has built a strong esports presence with tournaments across the world, and a sequel Smite 2 is out.
5. Age of Mythology
Age of Mythology is a real-time strategy game released all the way back in 2002 by Ensemble Studios. It is a mix of mythology and legend from Greek, Norse, and Egyptian cultures, and players advance through different ages by collecting resources, and building units, but also worshiping various deities to obtain unique powers. The game features a single, extensive campaign centered around an Atlantean admiral named Arkantos. Age of Mythology was commercially successful and spawned multiple expansions and remasters, including the upcoming Age of Mythology: Retold.
4. Hades
Hades is a 2020 roguelike action RPG from Supergiant Games with Greek mythology deep in its core. Players control Zagreus, Hades’ son, navigating procedurally generated dungeons in a bid to escape the Underworld with the aid of Olympian gifts.
The game became a commercial and critical success in no time, thanks to its fantastic combination of hack-and-slash combat with different weapons, abilities, and dodge as a main defense mechanic. It was praised for the story, gameplay, and artistic design, selling over a million copies and winning several Game of the Year awards.
3. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a 2015 action RPG developed and published by CD Projekt, set in a fictional world influenced by Slavic and European folklore. The game is a continuation of Geralt of Rivia’s story as he searches for his adopted daughter amidst a vast open world and battles mythological creatures.
The Witcher games won over the players with many story choices that led to different endings, a combination of melee and magical combat, and fantastic graphics. It has sold over 50 million copies, thus becoming one of the best-selling games ever.
2. Black Myth: Wukong
If you haven’t tried this Chinese marvel of the game, we highly suggest you do that. Players take on the role of the Destined One, a monkey-man embodying the spirit of Sun Wukong. The game is a unique take on the Chinese mythology novel Journey to the West, as players seek to recover lost relics to free Sun Wukong, who the Celestial Court sealed. Set across culturally inspired locations in China, it presents a largely linear progression with expansive areas. Black Myth: Wukong sold 10 million units by August 23, 2024, making it one of the fastest-selling games ever. The game received generally favorable reviews for its gameplay and inclusion of mythological lore.
1. God of War Series
God of War is an action-adventure game franchise created by David Jaffe and developed by Sony’s Santa Monica Studio, debuting in 2005 on the PlayStation 2. The series follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who becomes the God of War.
The early entries focus on Greek mythology, depicting Kratos’s quest for vengeance against the Olympian gods, while the later games shift to Norse mythology, exploring themes of redemption and introducing Kratos’s son, Atreus. The series includes nine main installments, with the Norse era beginning with the 2018 game God of War and concluding with Ragnarök in November 2022
The game has sold over 65 million copies and has inspired a number of other media, including comics, novels, and a possible television series adaptation. God of War is the ultimate experience of a mythology theme in the game and as such it is the undisputed winner of the list of best games with mythology themes.
More titles come to mind, like Jade Empire or Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and more, but these deserve a place on this particular list.
