Summary
Open-world gamesand ancient myths often go hand in hand, more so in the fantasy RPG sub-genre, where everything is possible and tons of legends collide into a myriad of epic quests. Though not all games that use ancient mythology as a base belong to the fantasy RPG genre, and are associated with survival, action, and even adventure as well.
So, in this list, players will findthe best Open-world gamesthat make use of the ancient myths as the main structure for their worldbuilding and core narrative, with a strong emphasis on those titles that have a very defined aesthetic and mechanics that empower their legendary stories.
Inspired by ancient Norse myths about death and rebirth in the Proving Lands that all Vikings must traverse to reach Valhalla,Valheimis a singular game that was produced by an INDIE studio and managed to gain millions of followers worldwide. The world is always procedurally generated and has a ‘seed’ system, so every new playthrough will be different, adding even more flavor to the players' experiences in this vast realm inspired by some of the oldest folk tales.
From fighting mighty Trolls, Goblins, and vicious Wolves, to challenging the indomitable mountains in search of the powerful Drakes that inhabit them. Players can build their own bases, and craft their own boats, but watch out: Navigating the waters between the islands inValheimis tremendously dangerous. All in all, it’s the perfect game for those who dream ofliving adventures and fighting mythological beasts.
Assassin’s Creed: Originswas thought of as a prequel to every otherAssassin’s Creed, with a simple premise: Having the players witness the birth of the ‘Hassassin’ Order with a setting in Ancient Egypt, with all that implies.AC Originsintertwines ancient myths about gods like Anubis, Sobek, and Sekhmet with the world-building surrounding the mysterious Precursors, also known as the Isu.
It is one hell of a game, with an enormous map to explore. Players will feel the tension while exploring the trap-ridden pyramids, and sweat buckets as they delve into dangerous hidden dungeons. It was meant to be the beginning of a new age for the saga, and fans would agree that it totally hit the mark.
With powerful lyrics and an incredible cinematic, the people from Awaken Realms introduce players to the world of the mythological lands of Avalon,where King Arthur reigned supremeuntil something really sinister happened. The Once and Future king, alongside his knights are long gone, and players take on the role of an escaped prisoner who has survived the ravenous Red Plague.
With three enormous Open-World maps to explore, the game has nothing to envy from titles likeSkyrimorThe Witcher 3, and the best part is that it has over 200 quests to complete, each of them adding even more details to the already enormous worldbuilding the game has, and revealing the darkest secrets from the King of Knights' court.
The Witcher 3and, by rule of thumb,most of theWiedźminserieswritten by Andrzej Sapkowski, are a reservoir of ancient myths both from Poland and most of central Europe. The strange flora and fauna that appear in the series might come from the imaginary of CD Projekt Red’s team, but the stories about Crones, Werewolves, Vrikolai, Rusalkas, and other dangerous creatures are all part of human history.
The game itself does include a nice assortment of fables and folk tales, like theRed-riding hood,Beauty and the Beast, and even theDevil and the Cobbler. On the other hand, the construction of the world also includes quite a bunch of Arthurian Myths, with the Lady of the Lake being a prominent figure of the game’s worldbuilding and a side ally throughout the series.
TheGod of Warseries is based on a simple premise: No God is safe from the Wrath of Kratos. And throughout the series (and even the remakes) players have witnessed the legendary Spartan demi-god become the stuff of myths. But what about the ancient mythology that supports the series?
Be it rampaging through Olympus, or having a beef with the Æsir, the series has always had a strong inspiration from places and traditional folklore. Although the game is considered a semi-open world game (not a huge sandbox, but it has some expansive areas to explore that follow the open-world rule).
Praey for The Gods(originally called Prey for the Gods) has two main inspirations that give it quite a unique identity. The first is its gameplay loop, inspired by the classicShadow of the Colossusgames. The second is its strong inspiration from certain parts of the ancient Scandinavian Mythology.
The bosses in this game are enormous giants, which have been part of the Norse myths from time immemorial, and the heroine of the story is dwarfed in comparison to these titanic beasts that can destroy her at the slightest chance.
The relationship between Spartans and their gods was quite complex, to say the least, and sometimes even diametrically opposed to that of the majority of the Greeks.Dawn of Defianceis one of the best Open-World games that explores the turbulent bond between humans and the divine, in a survival context.
Players are Spartans who have passed down to the afterlife and are stepping into the Crossroads between the mortal realm and the Underworld. But the Crossroads are a cruel and unforgiving proving ground, and players will need to start from zero and climb up if they want to defy the gods for a chance to change their fate. It’s quite an epic tale, worthy of the legends it took inspiration from.
