Games Based on Egyptian Mythology

If the names Osiris, Anubis, Isis, Horus, Thoth, or Ma’at are familiar to you, there’s a good chance that you know something about Egyptian mythology. Aside from Greek and Norse, Egyptian mythology is among the most popular and well-known worldwide.

As such, it has found its way into numerous forms of media, such as movies (Gods of Egypt, Cleopatra, and The Mummy), music (Dark Horses and Aida), and books (The Eye of Ra, The Red Pyramid, and Sons of the Sphinx). Another area it has spread into is games.

Thanks to these games, players can put themselves into the shoes of a hero living in ancient Egypt and experience the themes, mystery, and influence of ancient Egypt. 

If you’re intrigued, keep reading as we explore the best games based on Egyptian mythology that will allow you to jump right in and experience it yourself.

As the tenth release in the popular Assassin’s Creed franchise, Origins had plenty to live up to before the game was even released. However, fans couldn’t get enough once it hit the shelves in 2017—for good reason.

Following the life of Bayek, the game takes you to Egypt in 49 BC. Bayek, alongside his wife, Aya, finds themselves on an epic quest to bring down the Order of the Ancients and take revenge for the murder of their son. In doing so, they create the Hidden Ones—which will later become the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

While unraveling the life of Bayek, players are immersed in an open world of incredible detail and stunning visuals. In this world are numerous pieces of art and cultural symbols that were added after Ubisoft (the franchise developer) spent countless hours with historians and Egyptologists learning the history of the period and region. 

The game provides such an accurate depiction of the era that Egyptologists have used it to teach about the history of the country. 

Based on an ancient board game that hieroglyphs date back to almost 3,100 BC, Egyptian Senet takes players into ‘the game of passing.’ The game is believed to have represented the movement of souls from life into the afterlife—hinting strongly at the Egyptian belief that the goal after death was to reach Horus.

Similar to chess, in that the game uses pawns, players must navigate across the digitally created board, dropping down levels until they have reached the ultimate goal of dropping off the board entirely. While trying to achieve this, special blocks with unique powers add twists and turns to bring even more enjoyment.

While the graphics in the game can’t compare against other AAA titles, they are sufficiently modern and vividly detailed. The background echoing sounds also enhance the feeling of being deep within an ancient Egyptian tomb. Occasional glimpses of famous names from the region, including Queen Nefertari, add to the atmosphere. 

Sid Meier’s games have always been renowned for their immersive simulation and ability to transport players into worlds where they can have complete control. Civilization V is no different, allowing players to start, run, and end entire civilizations based on their actions. 

In this turn-based game, your objective is to lead humanity from the beginning of time to the final frontier (space). In doing this, you’ll need to conduct strategic moves as you compete against some of the most prolific rulers the world has ever seen.

Giving players the chance to play as Ramesses II (Egypt’s most famous pharaoh), the game has unique graphics that draw you in as you battle for Egypt’s survival against other civilizations. The historically accurate parts of the game help make it feel like you’re reaching through time to experience the era for yourself. 

The Tomb Raider series of games has long been a favorite for adventurers who seek suspense, traversing sealed tombs, and uncovering unique treasures. The movie adaptions also helped bolster the franchise’s success. 

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, launched in 1999, is the fourth game in the franchise. While it certainly doesn’t have the crisp graphics and realistic imagery of today’s video games, nor the intuitive gameplay, it does have something Egyptian mythology fans will love.

Taking a break from the usual task of looking for lost treasure, the game follows famed archaeologist Lara Croft as she mistakenly frees the Egyptian god Set from imprisonment. Worried about the terror he will reign down on the region, you need to help Lara navigate various puzzles and minefields as she tries to re-imprison him. 

Finding yourself head-to-head against Titans wishing nothing but the ultimate destruction of humankind is possibly one of the best recipes for a video game. In Titan Quest Anniversary Edition, this is precisely where you’ll find yourself. 

Traversing the mythological realms of Asia and Ancient Greece, the game also transports you to ancient Egypt. Here, you’ll explore the pyramids and other tombs to find a way to subdue the Titans from their vengeful plot against humanity and secure a future for the world at large.

While doing this, you’ll be treated to incredible graphics that bring the landscape of ancient Egypt to life and make battles look like cinematic masterpieces. The fluid gameplay and beloved role-playing style also make this game one to remember. 

Although the games listed above may be the cream of the crop, plenty more games offer just as much fun and immerse you in Egyptian mythology. Some of these are expansions on other games, while others could give you something back for playing—especially if you try your luck on Eye of Horus.

• The Sims 3: World Adventures – Taking you into the heart of Egypt, this expansion pack to the famous Sims 3 game lets you uncover ancient tombs, find hidden treasures, engage with locals, and even try local cuisine. 

• Eye of Horus – This slot game is filled with Egyptian imagery, including the legendary falcon. Offering expanding wilds, a free spin feature, and a gamble feature, this game can reward you with real cash as you explore Egypt. 

• Starsand – Abandoned in the dunes of an unforgiving desert, you’ll need to craft items to survive as you go on an epic quest. Along the way, you’ll need to solve puzzles and uncover an incredible story as you traverse the beautiful open world. 

• Cleopatra – Nothing says ancient Egypt like the queen herself: Cleopatra. This slot shows you many Egyptian-based symbols in high detail alongside the beat of an Egyptian soundtrack. There is also a generous free spins bonus to help you @@@@ the queen into sharing her wealth.