Strategy Games With The Best Integration of Mythology

Strategy games based on myths and legends offer rich storytelling and engaging gameplay spanning different ages and cultures.
From Greek mythology in Zeus: Master of Olympus to Norse mythology in Northgard, players can immerse themselves in ancient tales.
Land of the Vikings and Total War Saga: Troy continue the tradition of using myths as the backdrop for strategic gameplay, creating unique experiences.

Certain tropes fit strategy games well. Science fiction and galactic conquest is one such trope. But for more down to earth strategy games, the legends and myths that have become the background of human history are an incredibly rich resource. Since the very first strategy games, developers have leveraged myths and legends to paint the backdrop for their games.

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There are so many great strategy games and entire franchises that have been based on mythology. This list is far from exhaustive, and doesn’t attempt to rank the games it covers in any way. They are all great examples of strategy games that have entertained players for decades in some cases.

Zeus: Master of Olympus

Greek Mythology Meets Strategy

Platform(s)Microsoft WindowsReleasedOctober 17, 2000DeveloperImpressions GamesGenre(s)Real-Time Strategy

Zeus: Master of Olympus ,more commonly known just as Zeus, was released in 2000. This is an old school strategy game, with slower gameplay than modern titles. The game is set in ancient Greece, and players will come across a profusion of Greek Gods, mythical creatures, and legend rich content.

The premise of the game is that the player gains control of the emerging state of Greece. They are responsible for setting up infrastructure that includes education, religion, commerce, and industry. Part of the process of proceeding in this game is the worship of mythological Greek Gods, and the recruitment of Greek heroes from legend.

Stronghold Legends

Based On The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur

Platform(s)PCReleasedOctober 13, 2006DeveloperFirefly StudiosGenre(s)Strategy

Released in 2006, Stronghold Legends builds on the solid real-time strategy mechanics established in Stronghold 1 and 2, and adds a mythical/legendary twist to the gameplay. Rather than being a pure FPS game, Stronghold Legends begins with a scenario driven experience, that is loosely based on the myths and legends that surround King Arthur.

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This is especially true if the player chooses to take control of the good faction. This is based on the Knights of the Round Table, and many of the quests and tasks are focused around NPCs that are recognizably drawn from the legends of King Arthur and Merlin.

Age Of Mythology

A Mythical Take On Grand Strategy Games

Platform(s)PCReleasedOctober 30, 2002Developer(s)Ensemble Studios

Age of Mythology was launched in 2002, and instantly became a favorite with strategy game players. Rather than setting specific win conditions, the game challenges the player to survive and thrive through four ages; Archaic, Classical, Heroic and Mythic.

As the player progresses through these ages, new research and construction options are unlocked. Each age brings in myths from different cultures. Including Norse, Egyptian. And Greek mythology. All of this is mixed together in a melting pot to provide some of the most unique strategy gameplay ever.

Age Of Empires

The First Of The Age Games

Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PCReleasedOctober 13, 1997Genre(s)Real-Time StrategyDeveloper(s)Ensemble Studios

The first game in the Age of Empires franchise was released in 1997. Eventually, the franchise produced the aforementioned Age of Mythology game as a spinoff. However, the original Age of Empires also embraced aspects of mythology at a root level.

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The game takes place on the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa between the Stone Age and Iron Age periods. Myths and legends from these cultures are interwoven into the game. Each faction is given bonuses and specializations that are historically or legendarily aligned with them.

Northgard

Well-Crafted Norse Mythology

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PC, Android, Xbox OneReleasedMarch 7, 2018Developer(s)Shiro GamesGenre(s)City Builder, Strategy

Northgard is very firmly based on Norse Mythology, a richly mineable resource of tales and legend that lend themselves well to game design and features. Originally released in 2018, Northgard is still popular today.

When played in story mode, the player takes on the role of Rig, a prince who is seeking revenge for the murder of his father. Rig is a Viking, and as part of the story arc he will battle with the Clan of the Raven. However, much of the gameplay revolves around expanding the Viking clan influence, with the story acting as something like a tutorial.

Invictus: In The Shadow Of Olympus

A Different Take On Grand Strategy

Platform(s)PCReleasedMarch 2, 2000Developer(s)Quicksilver SoftwareGenre(s)Real-Time Strategy

In the 2000 game, Invictus: In The Shadow Of Olympus, the player must recruit a hero straight out of Greek Mythology. They can choose from Hercules, Achilles, and Electra, as their main unit in the fight to secure their right to ascend Mount Olympus.

The game combines strategic gameplay on the world map, with tactical gameplay in the real-time battles that take place regularly. The player can select from more than 30 different types of units as they build their armies. Battle maps are varied, and encompass different biomes with their own specific challenges and bonuses.

Land Of The Vikings

Deep Strategic Gameplay Encompassing Norse Mythology

Platform(s)PCReleasedNovember 8, 2022Developer(s)Laps GamesGenre(s)Real-Time Strategy, Tactical

Launched in 2022 to mixed reviews, Land Of The Vikings, as the name suggests, is based on Norse Mythology. Much of the core gameplay revolves around unlocking and upgrading bonuses via Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life or World Tree as it is commonly named in Norse mythology.

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Each individual unit in this game has its own stats. Even villagers can be specialized at an individual level to perform their job more efficiently. Colony/town building is a large part of Land Of The Vikings, with a large range of buildings and decorations available to the player.

Total War Saga: Troy

One Of The Better Total War Games

Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, iOS, macOS, LinuxReleasedAugust 13, 2020DeveloperCreative Assembly, Creative Assembly Sofia, Feral InteractiveGenre(s)Simulation, Action, Strategy

As the name suggests, Total War Saga: Troy is based on the myths and legends that abound in relation to the long-gone City and Confederation of Troy. This is a fascinating source of content for a game. Troy existed and there are historical artifacts to prove this, but it has slipped out of the memory of humanity, to take on a mythical appeal that fits strategy games well. The result is one of the best of the Total War games.

The player takes the part of a mythological hero, and can choose to play Achilles, Hector, Paris or Menelaus. Gameplay, unit types of progression will be driven by which of the heroes the player chooses. The integrated storyline gives players a reason to try out each of the available mythological heroes, as each has a different story.

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