From classics like the management game Zeus: Master of Olympus to strategy titles like Total War and recent hits like Hades, ancient Greek mythology has proven a consistent source of inspiration for video games. Below we’ve collected 10 games based on Greek mythology.
1. Apotheon
Apotheon is a 2D side-scrolling action game, wrapped in a striking art style inspired by the black-figure pottery of ancient Greece. Its story sees Nikandreos, last hero of humanity, challenging the Greek divinities as he ascends Mount Olympus. Apotheon also has a free multiplayer component called Apotheon Arena.
2. Hades
Zagreus is the Prince of the Underworld (following the tradition of lost Greek works such as the plays of Aeschylus), and the main character of Hades. This hugely acclaimed game is a fast-paced romp through a richly reimagined and atmospheric setting from ancient Greek mythology.
3. Immortals Fenyx Rising
Immortals pits the novel demigod Fenyx against Typhon, the Titan reported by Hesiod to be “terrible, outrageous and lawless”. Puzzles and confrontations with mythological creatures such as Medusa and Cyclops carry the player through a vibrant, fantastical world.
4. A Total War Saga: Troy
A Total War Saga: Troy – Mythos
Image Credit: SEGA
Creative Assembly’s Total War series took a detour through Greek mythology with its Mythos expansion to Troy in 2021. Mythos expanded the historical strategy game to include mythical creatures and Elysian warriors.
In his review, Nic Reuben called Mythos “as successful an overhaul as one could hope for, freeing the studio to add tactical dimensions to battle that simply weren’t possible before, and turning a previously visually beautiful but occasionally stilted title into a rousing, romantic epic.”
5. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey screenshot
Image Credit: Ubisoft
A world of sandy Aegean islands, bucolic mountainsides and gigantic representations of Greek mythic figures makes up Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s stomping ground. Its story pulls liberally from mythology, while its roster of characters is stuffed with your favourite faces from 5th century BC Greece.
6. Age of Mythology
Age of Mythology: Extended Edition screenshot
Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios
The real-time strategy game Age of Mythology provides a mythological twist on the Age of Empires games. It unites characters and cultures inspired by Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythology in a story which makes stops in Troy, Tartarus and Niflheim.
When historian Dr Ross Clare spoke with History Hit, he observed how Age of Mythology “constantly plays around with what a strategy game is supposed to be, and plays around with what classical content can do.”
7. Homer’s Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer is adapted as an interactive narrative game in Another Circus’s visually impressive puzzle and card-based Homer’s Odyssey. Embodying Odysseus, players will learn the story of his journey while interacting with objects and illustrations that illuminate the original text.
8. Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
Titan Quest is an action RPG with settings inspired by ancient Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia and China. Like most of the games on this list, its main character is a Greek hero empowered by the divine. It’s worth experimenting with this classic role-playing game if you’re familiar with Age of Mythology. Titan Quest was co-created by Age of Empires veteran Brian Sullivan.
9. Smite
Smite is a competitive multiplayer game, or more specifically a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, which uses mythology as fodder for its wide selection of playable characters. The distinctive qualities of each god, goddess or mythological figure feeds into the type of abilities and tactics that are available to players when participating in the team-based combat that is the subject of a successful esports scene.
10. Zeus: Master of Olympus
Zeus is similar to Sierra Entertainment’s other city-building games like Caesar as well as more recent titles like Nebuchadnezzar. First released in 2000, Zeus: Master of Olympus is set in a mythical version of ancient Greece, which it presents in a 2D, isometric view.
