5 games that have portrayed different mythologies before Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth Wukong is one of this year's highly anticipated upcoming games, where players will get to explore Chinese folk stories, as they encounter ancient landscapes and monsters from the country's mythology. This allows the worldwide gaming community to take an interest in a regional mythology they might be relatively less familiar with.

However, there have been many games before Black Myth Wukong that have taken inspiration from mythologies. In this article, we will take a look at five such games.

Note: This article reflects the writer's opinions and is not ranked in any particular order.

---

These games have portrayed different mythologies before Black Myth Wukong came around

1) God of War (Norse)

The God of War games have always revolved around mythologies (Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment)

The original God of War games were inspired by Greek mythology until Santa Monica rebooted the series. This new direction allowed Kratos to explore the Norse pantheon, leaving his blood-riddled past behind to start a new life. This focus on new folk stories spanned over two games including God of War 2018 and Ragnarok.

The storylines here bring characters such as Allfather Odin, God of Mischief Loki, Queen of the Valkyries Freya, and Aesier's Watchmen Heimdall. These characters form relationships with Kratos and play a huge role in his storyline. Moreover, players also get to explore various realms from the Norse mythos such as Helheim, Vanaheim, and Asgard.

---

2) Assassin's Creed Origins (Egyptian)

Origins was the first title in the franchise to get inspired by mythology (Image via Ubisoft)

When Ubisoft came back with Assassin's Creed Origins in 2017 after a one-year hiatus, fans took notice of the big changes that came with the new entry. This game gave the series a new direction as it dove deep into Egyptian mythology. The game is set during the Ptolemaic times where players can explore ancient Egypt as Bayek.

Assassin's Creed Origins features an amazing open-world Egypt, where exploration rewards players with references to the mythos. The game smoothly incorporates Gods into the main story missions and The Curse of the Pharaohs expansion. The open world also teaches players about deities such as Osiris and Horus, through references spread throughout the map.

---

3) Raji: An Ancient Epic (Hindu)

Raji: An Ancient Epic is based on Hindu mythology (Image via Nodding Heads Games)

There haven't been games in the past that have explored Hindu mythology thoroughly until Raji: An Ancient Epic came along. Players step in the shoes of Raji, a girl chosen by the gods to stop Mahabalasura's invasion. However, she is not alone on her journey, as Gods from the Hindu mythos such as Vishnu and Shiva aid her in stopping Mahabalasura in his tracks.

While progressing through the story, the game gives players a taste of the Hindu mythos by referencing the epic battles of Ramayana and Mahabharata. This action-adventure title is set in India, where players have to fight enemies in famous locations such as the ancient temples of Bali. Bravery and sacrifice are among the themes explored in this title.

---

4) Okami (Japanese)

Okamiu is inspired from the Japanese mythology (Image via Capcom)

Okami is inspired by Japanese mythology which is reflected well through its use of Japanese ink painting, which sets the game's tone. The storyline revolves around Amaterasu, a sun goddess on a mission to light up the dark world by shape-shifting into a wolf. As players embark on a journey in ancient Japan, they will come across various references that teach them about Japanese mythology.

During their journey, players will encounter characters such as Orochi and Tsukuyomi, who have a well-established history in Japanese mythology. They also have to defend themselves in combat against spirits and demons derived straight from folk stories. The game is captivating and an educational journey from start to finish.

---

5) Hades (Greek)

Hades is a hack and slash just like the original God of War games (Image via Supergiant Games)

After the original God of War games, Hades represents Greek mythology the best through its hand-drawn art style and storyline. The title puts players in the shoes of Zagreus, who is desperately trying to reach Mount Olympus before his father, Hades, gets his hands on him. The game features a hack-and-slash combat system that blends with the folk story it is going for.

Players will also encounter various well-known gods from mythology such as Zeus, Athena, and Hades himself. Every encounter with a God will provide players with unique powers, that can eventually be used in combat against Hades. Apart from these Gods, players will also meet characters like Persephone and Achilles which deepen the game's lore and capture the source material perfectly.