The Varied Applications of Mythology across Gaming: From Consoles to Casinos
Mythologies across many ancient cultures have long been a great source of inspiration for game developers. Not only are many mythologies already rich in their story-telling, but as time has gone on, iconic figures have made their way into popular culture, making the use of them in gaming an immediate allure to potential fans.
However, just because a developer is drawing from mythology, doesn’t mean that they’re doing it in the same way each time. From old classic titles to modern greats and smash-hit iGaming series at online casinos, developers have utilised mythology and its characters in many different ways, making for a very diverse and entertaining landscape across all forms of gaming.
Immersing the player in the myths and legend
One of the standout games of many superb titles in 2018 was God of War, the soft reboot of the formerly Greek mythology-rooted series then flipped into Norse Mythology. Featuring a huge amount of exploration, side quests, loot, puzzles, and a tremendous story, one of the most endearing factors of God of War was its ability to immerse you in Norse mythology.
While there’s the great world serpent Jörmungandr and creatures like Draugr, one of the great ways in which the theme is used is in the tales told by Mimir. Taken on as a kind of guide, whenever you have to row from point-to-point, Mimir retells the tales of Norse mythology. So, not only does the game use the theme very well, but it also uses its tales to fill time, which adds to the experience a great deal.
Harnessing the power of the gods
In games that aren’t narrative-driven, such as online casino games, key characters from mythos can be used to add a sense of awe to a game and command attention even from the smaller icons from website home pages. Many games have tried to draw from Greek mythology in casino gaming, but none have done it as well as the Age of the Gods progressive jackpot suite.
Many of the most powerful beings of Greek Mythology comprise the character roster of the suite, each boasting their own games. To make the games feel as mighty as the progressive jackpot suggests, some of the most powerful gods from the mythos have been selected, with their own games showcasing each of their powers differently. The Age of the Gods games at the Casino online feature Zeus, Poseidon, Medusa, Hercules, Athena, and many more. The characters and their powers perfectly complement the grandeur that the ever-increasing progressive jackpots deserve, with their power-specific features working well in the slot game setting.
Continuing the tales of myth
Some games will immerse you in the entire mythology, others will utilise characters of myth, and then there are games like Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation which uses the base story and then builds it into the present. The Tomb Raider has always enjoyed playing with history and mythology, with the fourth instalment of the iconic game series building on the tales of Horus and Set.
In Egyptian mythology, Set and Horus are bothers who battled to be named the successor to the throne of Osiris. Eventually, Horus triumphs to be named the new king but, in The Last Revelation, the tale continues with Set (in the game known as ‘Seth’) being released and Lara Croft trying to summon Horus to confine him once again. It leans into their sibling rivalry a great deal, continuing Set’s character as a cunning and ultimately evil being.
It’s evident that our love for the mythical and lost lore of ancient history lives on even into the 21st century. From open-world console titles, to beautifully illustrated slot games that utilise mythical motifs to great effect, we don’t see this trend in gaming being placed in the history books just yet. Be it Norse, Greek, or Egyptian mythology, console, casino, or classic gaming, developers have found many ways to draw from the myths of old.