Summary
Ancient Egypthas always been a period of fascination among historians and artists alike due to its legendary origins and enduring monuments which continue to stand long after their creators have perished. Teeming with artifacts and history, along withplenty of mysteriesand unanswered questions, it seems to be an ideal setting for video games of just about any genre. However, there have been a surprisingly low number of games set within the context of Ancient Egypt until recent times.
From niche city-builders and puzzle platformers built by small independent developers to AAA open-world RPGs constructed at huge expense, it seems that there is an increasing appetite among audiences for games within this setting, and many of those produced so far have lived up to expectations, if not surpassed them.
THQ Nordic’s 2003 action-adventure titleSphinx and The Cursed Mummymight not be the studio’s best-known title, but it certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to a retro experience hoping to capture all the classic tropes of a mystical Ancient Egyptian setting.
Players will follow the story of Sphinx as he battles through tombs and on sandy wastes against an array of mummies and monsters. Recently, this early classichas become available to Nintendo Switch users, and is a perfect platform to experience this adventure.
Kheops Studios’Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tombis a narrative-driven puzzle game originally released back in 2007. The game was praised for its historical accuracy upon release and drew comparisons to similarly panoramic and aesthetically pleasing games of the time such asMyst.
Players take on the role of Thomas, a young astrologer whose mentor is captured, as he works alongside Cleopatra to solve puzzles and challenges throughout the ancient port city of Alexandria. The game also features the iconic Pharaoh’s lighthouse and the once-independent state of Chaldea which sat on the southern bank of the Euphrates river.
Pharaonicis a side-scrolling action game featuring relentless and challenging combat in an Egyptian setting. While the game may not be quiteso uniquely stylized as titles likeApotheon,it does feature a cartoonish, exaggerated art style. Despite this, the game still feels respectful to the authentic material and culture from which it drew inspiration.
Players will need quick reflexes and a mastery of the game’s attacking and defensive controls as they face waves of enemies increasing in difficulty throughout the game. In addition to solid mechanics and a good challenge, the stylized rendition of the Egyptian setting can appear lighthearted and refreshing when compared to other games of the same genre.
Egypt: Old Kingdomis a strategic simulator focused on societal management and developed in tandem with Egyptologists. The game features a high level of historical authenticity and detailed designs of Old Kingdom buildings, agriculture, and symbolism from the time.
Players will start as a relatively small tribe with the goal of uniting both Upper and Lower Egypt into one single Kingdom. Predominantly centered around the city of Memphis,Egypt: Old Kingdomoffers players a great level of immersion and historical accuracy, and can be used equallyfor the purposes of educationand entertainment.
Builders of Egyptis an upcominghistorical city-builderin development by Strategy Labs, the same company behind titles such asHouse Flipper,Thief Simulator,andContraband Police. The game will feature complex societal management mechanics including diplomacy, religion, and war.
Perhaps the most appealing feature revealed to date is the stunning visual rendition of the time period, in which countless workers each play their own role in the construction of colossal monuments and sprawling developments. Given the studio’s track record of authentic simulators,Builders of Egyptwill certainly be one to watch as it nears a full release.
Age of Mythologywas an early precursor to the later entries in theAge of Empiresseries, which experimented with fantasy and mythological elements alongside the conventional city-building and resource management the series is known for.
While not set exclusively in Ancient Egypt, the Egyptian faction features heavily along with Greek and Norse cultures. An extended edition was released in 2014 with multiple gameplay improvements, and it still holds up as a fantastic classical strategy game even today.
Total War: Pharaohis the latest release in theTotal Warseries, and was considerably reduced in size and scale to previous entries such asRome 2andEmpire. While the game drew criticism upon release for a number of reasons, it remains faithful to the formula of previous titles and addsa number of notable gameplay improvements.
While not as rich in detail and historical authenticity as some other titles of the same setting,Total War: Pharaohdoes allow players to take on the role of a domineering military commander seeking to rise up through the ranks and take the seat of the Pharaoh for themselves, featuringa number of accurate historical culturesfrom the time.
Perhaps the most famous example of a game set in Ancient Egypt is Ubisoft’s 2017 entry into theAssassin’s Creedfranchise,Assassin’s Creed Origins. Despite representing something of a departure in tone and style from previous entries, with a heavy focus on RPG and leveling mechanics rather than immersion and fluidity, the game is still widely regarded as one of the best in the series.
Players can explore a number of cities and significant historical landmarks, and can even scale the Great Pyramidsusing the game’s parkour system. In addition to the main game, players can also dive into the Discovery Tour, which provides a ton of historical context and extensively gathered research for history buffs and students of the period to enjoy.
