Unveiling Untold Legends: 10 Extraordinary RPGs Inspired by Rare Ancient Mythologies

Highlights

Assassin's Creed: Origins delves into the mythological figures of Ancient Egypt, allowing players to battle gods like Anubis and Sobek during their adventure.

The Forgotten City transports players to an Ancient Roman city, immersing them in its history and culture. However, as players progress through the game, they will uncover the rich mythology and beliefs of Ancient Sumeria.

The innovative video game Unrest, takes place in Ancient India and revolves around the journeys of five unique characters within a mythological rendition of the country. With its emphasis on dialogue-driven gameplay, players are fully engaged in the captivating narrative.

Video games have long drawn inspiration from ancient mythologies. The captivating allure of ancient civilizations and the epic grandeur of their myths and heroes make for an immersive video game world. Game developers have frequently borrowed ideas from Earth's oldest cultures, resulting in some of the most exceptional games of today. However, certain ancient mythologies receive significantly more attention than others.

While the mythologies of the Ancient Greeks and the Norse have become staples in countless video games, offering compelling narratives and a rich backdrop for exciting gameplay, other ancient tales have been overlooked. These lesser-known mythologies may not have the same widespread appeal, but their gods and monsters possess the potential to create thrilling and occasionally demanding video game experiences.

10 Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed: Origins marked a significant departure for the franchise, as it transported players back nearly 2000 years to Ancient Egypt. This game delved deeper into Egypt's pantheon and mythology than any previous titles, making it a standout in the gaming world. Unlike other entries in the series, Assassin's Creed: Origins embraced famous mythical figures such as Anubis and Sobek, offering players the unique opportunity to encounter and battle these gods during Bayek's epic journey.

9 Tchia

Taking heavy inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, games like Tchia are a rare find. Set on the island of New Caledonia, where developer Awaceb is located, this game delves into the island's culture, shining a light on one of the lesser-known countries in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean.

While exploring the island as Tchia, encounters with mythological creatures are not frequent, but they do exist within this game world. By completing Tchia's story, players can eventually summon Xetiwa, a mythical flying creature, by playing their ukulele. Tchia can then Soul-jump into this creature and effortlessly soar across the entire island.

8 The Forgotten City

The Forgotten City transports players to an Ancient Roman city that seems to have been plucked out of time. Exploring this city comprises a significant portion of the game's first half. However, as players uncover more about the game's mystery and venture into the city's underground caverns, they will encounter various mythologies from different ancient cultures.

Of all the ancient cultures featured in The Forgotten City, Ancient Sumeria stands out as the most unique. The depths of the city's caverns provide valuable insights into the beliefs, religion, and deities of this ancient civilization. Although the deities themselves may not physically manifest (though one could argue otherwise), their presence is strongly felt in the darkest corners of the game's world.

7 Jade Empire

In a world inspired by Ancient Chinese mythology, Jade Empire follows the journey of the player as a Spirit Monk, one of the last remaining individuals of their kind. Their mission is to rescue their mentor and take a stand against the evil reign of a corrupt emperor. Although the game does not portray an exact replica of China, its influence can be seen in every aspect of its design.

Jade Empire draws upon various dynasties in China's history for its setting, environment, storyline, color scheme, and character concepts. Additionally, the game introduces original monster designs created by BioWare. Among the many games from that era that would benefit from a contemporary remake, few are as deserving as BioWare's underappreciated classic.

6 Blasphemous

Spain's "ancient" mythology may not be as old as others, but The Game Kitchen developers have managed to create a truly unique game world by drawing from the history of their home country. Despite being only several centuries old, this mythology deserves recognition.

Blasphemous takes inspiration from the Christian mythology of 14th Century Spain. Its world and creature design, influenced by biblical themes, stand out from the typical Greek and Norse-inspired designs found in other games. The connection to modern Christianity and its teachings adds to the game's effectiveness.

5 Worlds Of Ultima: The Savage Empire

The Ultima franchise holds a prominent position in the gaming industry, being one of the oldest and most renowned. Originating in the 1980s, these games primarily focused on fantasy role-playing but also incorporated elements of science fiction. However, Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire broke new ground by delving into the ancient Mayan culture, which had not been explored in any other game since ancient Mesoamerica.

It is quite surprising that no other game has attempted to depict the captivating and harsh culture of the Mayans since the release of The Savage Empire in 1990. Despite rumors of an Assassin's Creed game set in that era persisting for years, no such game has materialized. For the time being, gamers rely solely on this old RPG to experience the wonders of the ancient cultures of Central and Southern America.

4 Nioh

Games that take place in Ancient Japan are quite common, as are games that draw from Japanese mythology. However, very few games attempt to incorporate both of these concepts simultaneously, and even fewer succeed. Nioh, Team Ninja's first venture into the Souls-like genre, manages to achieve this feat. The game is set in Japan during the year 1600 and provides players with the opportunity to engage in thrilling battles that encompass significant moments in Japanese history, infused with majestic mythology and featuring a variety of formidable monsters inspired by Japanese culture.

Nioh offers combat that is unparalleled in terms of enjoyment and satisfaction. The diverse selection of weapons, combined with the availability of three distinct fighting stances, allows players to create an endless range of attack combinations and character builds. While the adversaries players will face may instill fear in their hearts, it is the ancient Japanese legends that will truly challenge their skills.

3 Unrest

With its unique hand-drawn art style and challenging gameplay, Unrest, released in 2014, goes unnoticed as the first-ever video game to be set in Ancient India. Developed by Pyrodactyl Games, based in India, the game received funding through a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Unrest takes players on a journey through the lives of five distinct characters, their stories weaving together in a mythical rendition of India. Dialogue serves as the primary means of interaction with the world, with combat being an extremely perilous option. If any of the game's main characters die, they do not respawn. Instead, the game's narrative progresses, accounting for the deceased character's absence.

2 Never Alone

Never Alone, released in 2014, is a unique blend of a 2D platformer and an RPG. Developed by Upper One Games, the game draws inspiration from an ancient tale of the Inupiaq, an Indigenous Alaskan culture. Players take on the roles of both Nuna, a brave young girl, and her faithful fox companion, as they navigate the unforgiving Arctic terrain.

Setting itself apart from other 2D games, Never Alone offers players the opportunity to unlock special vignettes featuring Inupiaq storytellers sharing their rich cultural heritage. This innovative feature aligns with the developer's mission to promote, celebrate, and preserve Indigenous traditions. Nuna's quest to save her village from a devastating blizzard, and restore harmony to nature, is directly influenced by the legendary Inupiaq tale, "Kunuuksaayuka."

1 Norco

How ancient does a culture have to be for its myths to be deemed as "ancient"? Despite Louisiana itself being only a few centuries old, the myths that have emerged from the mysterious waters of the bayou are compelling and begging to be shared, something Norco is more than willing to fulfill.

Certain aspects of Norco have a distinct science fiction feel, and while its foundations remain rooted in the present day, this sci-fi aspect allows the town's history to shine through prominently. All these elements work together harmoniously, but it is when the player eventually takes a boat on the bayou that the tales of long-hidden creatures in the swamp start to surface and captivate.