Mythology was always one of the most interesting topics I got to learn about in high school and college.  It was on these occasions that school didn’t feel like a chore, and these were the few lessons that stuck in my head even into adulthood.  Important dates and events in American history?  Nope, I forgot all of that the moment class ended.  But the Greek and Roman names for the god of wine, yep, I’ll remember that until my dying breath.  Little did I know during my childhood that some of my video games contained creatures from mythology, as well, teaching me even more about this fascinating topic without my knowledge!  So if you, too, are a fan of mythology yourself or are looking for gift ideas for that mythology-loving gamer in your life, look no further than the Duck’s list of best games for mythology fans!

• Lost Kingdoms: The Lost Kingdoms games are a bit like Pokemon, in that you can accumulate a large assortment of monsters to fight for you.  But rather than keeping them safely tucked away in Pokeballs, the monsters are locked away in cards until it’s time for action.  These two games aren’t the best out there, but I still had a lot of fun with them in my youth, and there are so many interesting monsters to play with from different cultures, whether it’s just a simple Lycanthrope (the cooler word for werewolf), a Garuda from Hindu mythology, a Valkyrie from Norse mythology, or a Mandragora from European folklore.  I had no idea until years later that many of the creatures from this game had mythological origins and were not simply creatures original to the game!  Now, I must admit that these aren’t the easiest games to find anymore, as they were GameCube exclusives.  But wait, I have plenty more options that are much easier to get on modern consoles!
• Immortals Fenix Rising: Okay, this is one game on the list that I have yet to complete, but this one’s a great option for those who enjoy Greek mythology and open-world games similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.  The game is narrated by Zeus and Prometheus and follows the story of a woman named Fenyx who must stop the Titan Typhon, who has escaped from the Underworld and stolen the gods’ powers.

• The Mooseman: Now, if you’re getting tired of the overabundance of Greek mythology in media, then perhaps you’d like something a little different in the form of The Mooseman, which follows Finno-Ugric mythology (which, to my understanding, spans many countries in North, Central, and Eastern Europe and North Asia) and incorporates graphics inspired by “Perm animal style” and Komi folk music.  The game follows the story of one of the seven Moosemen, who must travel from the Lower World of the dead, through the Middle World of mortals, to the Upper World of the gods.  Admittedly, the gameplay aspect is rather lacking, but this is still a rather cool and unique game showcasing a lesser-known culture.

• Raji: An Ancient Epic: I’ve only played the demo for this one, but this is a very cool game exploring Hindu mythology and follows the story of a young girl named Raji who is attempting to rescue her missing brother Golu who was kidnapped by demons.  Poor kid!  Along the way, Raji is being watched by the goddess Durga and the god Vishnu, with the former giving Raji a trishula, a trident that she uses to fight her foes.

• Bramble: The Mountain King: Okay, I’ve never played this game, either, but I’ve seen a full playthrough online, and boy, was it an experience!  The story is similar to that of Raji, where a boy named Olle must rescue his kidnapped sister Lillemor.  This game follows Scandinavian mythology, and Olle must face such creatures as a water spirit called the Nacken, the forest nymph Skogsra, and Pesta, the personification of the Black Plague.  Keep in mind that this game earns its M-rating and has some disturbing moments that aren’t suited for everyone.
• Okami: My absolute favorite game on this list is Okami, which explores Japanese mythology and follows the story of the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, who has taken the form of a white wolf.  Equipped with a Celestial Brush and joined by the tiny Issun, our wolfy protagonist (known as Ammy in the game) must save the land from such threats as the 8-headed dragon Orochi and Ninetails.  Along the way, we meet other characters from Japanese mythology, like the warrior Susano and the bamboo girl Kaguya.  This game is an absolutely amazing and beautiful experience that I would recommend to any fan of mythology, not to mention anyone seeking a solid game reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda!