6 Ways Mythology is Used in Video Games

In my last blog, I looked at how history influences games – from the location and time period to art and significant events – and it’s a similar case for mythology in games. Mythology is the collection of myths and stories about a specific culture, religion, or any group with shared beliefs e.g., stories about the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus.

Unlike history, which is commonly accepted to have happened, mythology is a set of beliefs passed down to us through folklore and stories. As we’re going to see below, this allows a lot of room for interpretation and goes well with the creative medium of video games.

1. Gods of all shapes and sizes

Gods and goddesses of all pantheons regularly feature in games – from being the main protagonist (Kratos in GoW) and antagonist (more of this in point 3) to comedic narrators (Immortals Fenyx Rising) and all of a game’s playable characters (Smite). At the time of writing, the online MMO Smite has an impressive 118 playable gods from 16 different pantheons, with Hindu deity Shiva being the latest announcement.

In Immortals Fenyx Rising, the story is told through the comedic bickerings of Zeus and Prometheus (Image credit: Hi-Rez Studios & Ubisoft)

In 2020, Supergiant gave us Hades, a roguelike dungeon crawler where you play as Zagreus, the son of Hades as you attempt to escape the underworld. Along the way you’re aided by (and up against), gods and characters from Greek mythology. What makes this game stand out is its rich storytelling and cast of colourful and diverse characters. Athena and Ares are dark-skinned, Dionysus is south Asian, Hermes is east Asian, and Eurydice is a Black woman crowned with an afro made from the branches and canopy of a tree. Hades is inspired by classical mythology rather than modern adaptations and the game’s Creative Director, Greg Kasvin, explains this diversity choice: “they’re called the Greek gods because they were worshiped in ancient Greece, not because they themselves are ethnically Greek.”

Repeatedly speaking with these characters will unlock tons of superbly written and performed narrative content (Image credit: Supergiant)

This year’s GoW Ragnarök also looks to follow Hades in its diverse representation of gods – this time in Norse mythology.

GoW’s Thor looks similar to the beer-bellied hero from Avengers Endgame (Image credit: Sony)

2. Storytime

Games full of mythology have no shortage of folklore and interesting stories to tell the players and one way of doing this is through cinematics and onscreen descriptions. God of War and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla change this up by fitting in storytelling as the player traverses the map and open world (or worlds in GoW’s case). In GoW, the talking head of Mimir tells stories from Norse mythology, and in AC Valhalla, your Viking crew will share songs, Nordic folktales, and funny anecdotes as you travel the English rivers looking for Saxon settlements to raid.

“Did you hear the one about… ?” (Image credits: Ubisoft & Sony)

It’s a good example of introducing the player to common stories from the time while also not interrupting gameplay. A similar method is used in Mafia 3 where the radio stations provide a backdrop to the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s (as well as filling in for the lack of fast travel).

3. Enemies

Video game baddies have long been inspired by mythology and folklore – from the monsters in The Witcher (mainly Slavic folklore) to the ancient Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu in House of Ashes, which also happens to be the same demon from The Exorcist.

My favourite use of this is 2019’s Game of the Year, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which blends history and mythology together – a winning combination in my book. Set during the Senguko-Era in late 16th century Japan, the game draws closely from surrounding legends and myths, mainly in the design of enemies and bosses inspired by Yokai (Japanese spirits). From the Demon of Hatred to the Divine Dragon, Sekiro’s creatures are both beautiful and terrifying – which might make facing them for the hundredth time a little more comforting.

Inspired by Japanese woodblock printing from the Edo period (Image credit: FromSoftware & Arita-ya Seiemon)

4. The truth behind the myth

The strategy Total War series has long kept history and mythology separate – Rome & Three Kingdoms focus on events in history while the Warhammer titles have a fantasy setting. The latest entry, A Total War Saga: TROY, blends aspects of mythology with events of the Trojan war and gives players a choice at the start for how deep into mythology they want to go.

Unfortunately, there’s still no “Movie mode” featuring Brad Pitt (Image credit: Sega)

Historical mode keeps the game grounded while Mythological mode brings to life the beliefs and legends of the ancient peoples. Gods of Olympus will interfere in battles and legendary monsters such as the Hydra and Cerberus can be hunted down and recruited into your army.

I like the Truth Behind the Myth mode as it supports the idea that mythological accounts originate from historical events and people (known as Euhemerism). Take the Minotaur for example, in Greek Mythology he’s a monstrous man-eating beast that is half man and half bull; whereas in Total War TROY, the Minotaur is a heavily built bandit king who makes a claim for power by connecting the bull mask and double axe to Minoan heritage.

On the left, a man in a costume; and on the right, a very real mythical beast (Image credit: Sega)

5. Cultural Insights

Many of the myths, legends, and tales we know today have been passed on through traditional forms of storytelling and songs that in turn preserve cultures. Games allow players to take part in the story and Never Alone paired game makers and Alaska Native storytellers to create a game based on the traditional Iñupiaq tale of Kunuuksaayuka.

Never Alone is an atmospheric puzzle platformer that combines traditional lore and visuals inspired by art from Alaska Native cultures. The game also provides additional insights into Alaska Native culture through mini documentaries and interviews with elders that are unlocked as you progress (found all together here).

Never Alone won a BAFTA for Best Debut Game in 2015 (Image credit: E-line Media)

6. Location, Location, Location

Mythology allows games to break free from earthly restrictions and gives developers a free hand in the interpretation of godly domains and their inhabitants.

The realm of the dead, for example, is a popular game destination; in GoW and Hellblade you have Helheim from Norse mythology and in AC Origins you are introduced to the Duat (ancient Egypt’s realm of the dead) as you assassinate high profile targets.

The realm of the dead always makes for great visuals (Image credit: Ninja Theory, Sony & Ubisoft)

The DLC for AC Origins allows the player to actually visit the Egyptian afterlife which is split into four realms. These contain elements from Egyptian mythology that include Aaru, the field of reeds; giant scorpions; Ba, human-headed birds expressing mobility of the soul; and Aten, the sun disk.

Uncanny valley at its finest (Image credit: Ubisoft)

I have to give a final shoutout here to Hades which features my favourite mythological location in a game. It’s not the deadly dungeons of Tartarus or the beautiful Elysium fields but the home of the title man himself. Hades, the lord of the underworld, sits behind a stone desk and is up to his neck in paperwork with the loyal (and oh so cute) Cerberus sitting by his side.

Don’t mind me Father (Image credit: Supergiant Games)

Upcoming games with Mythology

Looking at this year’s releases it’ll be interesting to see how GoW Ragnarök wraps up the rebooted franchise with its take on Greek/Norse mythology. Coming out sooner is the next DLC for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (also with Ragnarök in the title) that goes full Norse mythology – perhaps signalling a change in setting for future games?

Further down the line, the stunning Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game based on the 16th-century novel Journey to the West that focuses on Chinese folklore and mythology. As for Hellblade 2, will the sequel continue the dive into Celtic and Norse mythology or keep us grounded in the Viking age?

What parts of myths and folklore would you like to see in future games? Let me know in the comments below!

6 Ways Games Immerse the Player in History

Creating a believable world in video games will keep players engaged, dedicated and ultimately coming back for more. One way to do this is by adding lore – the game’s backstory that adds details and depth to the universe outside of the main story. Most games will feature this to some extent and even PUBG, the popular online Battle Royale, has introduced lore that attempts to explain why strangers fight to the death for a “chicken-dinner”. While lore is usually made-up and written specifically for the game’s universe, developers can also draw upon historical sources, locations, and events for inspiration.

I love it when a game taps into your historical interests and knowledge, so I’ve put together a list of 6 interesting ways that games immerse the player in history.

1. Historical locations

Games go beyond books and films by allowing us to experience time periods and settings of the past. Since the first release in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has covered key historical settings including Renaissance Italy, the Golden Age of Piracy, Ancient Egypt, and the Viking age, to name but a few. Although AC always exercises a degree of creative license with their titles (Minotaur boss fight anyone?), buildings and landmarks are heavily based on what evidence we still have today -text descriptions and material remains- resulting in authentic and detailed locations for the player to explore.

Yes, you can slide down the Pyramids of Giza (Image credit: Ubisoft)

The latest AC entries feature a Discovery Tour Mode where the player can explore Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Viking-era England without being interrupted by combat or quests. This mode is great for educational use and the player can take part in guided audio tours of historical sites. The Discovery Tour Mode for Valhalla is out later this year and adds a new feature where you take on the role of residents as they go about their daily lives in ninth-century England and Norway – kind of life a virtual museum.

The Discovery Tours from AC Origins and AC Odyssey are now standalone releases (Image credit: Ubisoft)

2. Staying completely true to historical accuracy

As well as famous locations, games with historical settings are full of material details -buildings, weapons, clothes etc.- that illustrate when the game is set. Red Dead Redemption 2 does a fantastic job with its realistic portray of the Wild West era, and the open-world RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance pulls out all the stops in its quest for historical accuracy. In KCD, medieval life in the Kingdom of Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic) was recreated with the assistance of architects and historians to be realistic as possible. At times this can make KCD feel more like a medieval simulator than a video game -I was imprisoned for 7 days for illegally carrying an open flame through the marketplace one evening- but you have to admire the dedication to accuracy from Warhorse Studios.

No light? Straight to jail. (Image credit: Warhorse Studios)

3. Archive photos

Ubisoft Montpellier teamed up with creators of the documentary series Apocalypse, World War I to create Valiant Hearts: The Great War – a 2D puzzle side-scroller set during the First World War.

This collaboration allowed the developers to include restored and colourized images from the Apocalypse database into the game’s menu. Each mission (set in different locations across the Western Front) is accompanied by pictures and descriptions which all adds context to what you are experiencing in the game.

Poison gas was used for the first at The Battle of Ypres in 1915 (Image credit: Ubisoft)

4. Significant moments in history

Games can really make the most of their setting by focusing on defining moments in history. Mafia 3 is set in 1968 America during the height of the Civil Rights movement, and you play as Lincoln Clay, an African-American Vietnam veteran.

The team at Hangar 13 have done a great job of weaving the sentiment from the time into the game’s narrative to reinforce where the game is set and who the characters are. “You’ll hear things in the game that Lincoln would hear as a black man in 1968″ said Game Director Haden Blackman and in the fictionalized version of New Orleans, Lincoln will encounter racial slurs, white supremacist groups, “whites only” establishments and an overly-suspicious police force. Another way of grounding the game is through radio broadcasts that, along with music of the era, play news breaks which cover real-world events such as the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the arrests of the Freedom Riders.

Police response times are much quicker in affluential neighbourhoods compared to poorer districts – another nuanced detail (Image credit: 2K Games)

5. Artifact collector

Collecting items is a common mechanic in video games whether the item is to be sold, used for upgrading or just for the sake of completing a set. Historical games can add an extra layer to this by introducing artifacts and their descriptions that are typically only found in a museum.

Ghost of Tsushima is set during the occupation of Tsushima Island by the Mongols in the 13th Century and does exactly this. You play as Jin Sakai, a Japanese Samurai defending his homeland, and the Mongol artifacts you find provide an interesting insight into the Mongol way of life and their approach to war.

Artifacts are found in Mongol camps and forts across the island (Image credit: Sony Interactive)

6. Art from the past

Historical art can influence different aspects of a game. Total War: Rome II uses Ancient Greek and Roman art as inspiration for its menu and unit cards, and Red Dead Redemption 2 draws influence for its environments from the Hudson River School oil paintings.

(Image credits: Creative Assembly, 2K Games & Albert Bierstadt)

But how about using a particular art style as inspiration for the entire art direction of a game? Okami, an action-adventure based on Japanese mythology & folklore, has a visual style that is inspired by the ukiyo-e genre (Japanese water colour and wood carving art) and the sumi-e technique (traditional ink wash painting).

Painting onscreen is also a game mechanic used in combat and puzzles (Image credit: Capcom)

In a similar way Apotheon, a 2D side-scrolling action game set in Ancient Greek mythology, has the distinctive art style of Greek pottery.

The result is two visually unique games where the art reflects the historical & mythological settings.

A mixture of Ancient Greek pottery and Disney’s Hercules (Image credit: Alientrap)

While researching (mainly playing) games for this blog, I found just as many examples of immersion through the use of mythology & folklore, so keep an eye out for a future blog entry on this!

Do you know any other games that use history for player immersion? Let me know in the comments below!

Useful links for history in video games

Archaeogaming – A blog dedicated to the discussion of archaeology both of and in video games

Paizomen – A database of games set in Greek and Roman antiquity

Gaming The Past – Resources for historical video games in the classroom and beyond

Video games with historical settings – A handy wiki list