The ancient Egyptian civilization is one that tells us a lot about our world in the thousands of years ‘Before Christ’ as well as the early years of the Roman Empire. Whether it’s the unfathomable architectural wonders of the pyramids or the beliefs in the divine and afterlife, ancient Egyptians truly thrived in ancient North Africa, along the banks of the Nile.
Many video game developers have sought to celebrate the mythology and history of ancient Egypt in the form of 21st-century video games. If you’d like to know more about Egypt’s rich tapestry of heritage, check out this motley crew of role-playing and casual games to sample at your leisure.
Age of Empires
The birth of the iconic real-time strategy game series, Age of Empires was much heralded in 1997. The franchise is now over two decades old, with the most recent Age of Empires IV announced in 2017 and released last November. The ancient Egyptians are one of six civilizations that are fully playable in Age of Empires’ most recent online-only version. All six civilizations were designed to have their own unique characteristics, based on their realistic attributes of the era. For instance, choosing to play as the ancient Egyptians gives you 20% greater productivity when mining for gold.
In the Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome expansion pack, the game focuses heavily on the Romans’ invasion of ancient Egypt and the land of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. The latter has long been an integral figure in ancient Egyptian entertainment. Cleopatra is one of the oldest established video slot games built by IGT and is available to play as one of a wide selection of free slots online. She also features heavily in the next game featured in this article.
Assassin’s Creed: Origins
The 2017 release of Assassin’s Creed: Origins was greatly received by fans of the franchise. The tenth installment of Ubisoft’s gripping franchise, Origins celebrates the Egyptian way of life in more ways than one. Ubisoft went to great lengths to ensure it was the most realistic sim possible by hiring Egyptologists and other historians to provide sufficient insight and background to the age of Cleopatra.
As you would expect from a franchise that prides itself on its open-world gameplay, Origins sees you take the role of protagonist, Medjay Bayek of Siwa, as you retaliate against the Order of the Ancients at the back end of the Ptolemaic period.
Strange Brigade
Developed by Rebellion Developments, Strange Brigade arrived on Windows in the summer of 2018. Although this game is not strictly ancient Egyptian-themed, there are influences that run right through the game. Set in the 1930s, players can team up in co-op gameplay to battle against a string of mythological enemies such as mummies, oversized scorpions, and minotaurs.
The gameplay itself is very strategic, with players required to solve puzzles to win new relics that unleash new “amulet powers”. These powers can only be utilized once you have freed the souls of your opposing enemies.
Titan Quest
Last but by no means least, the action role-playing game of Titan Quest. Developed in collaboration between Demiurge Studios, Black Forest Games, and Iron Lore Entertainment, Titan Quest features multiple lands to roam, notably ancient Egypt, Greece, and even Asia’s Silk Road.
This title is considered a ‘hack-and-slash’ video game, which sees players enter combat to conquer towns and cities to accrue items to trade. So successful was the original 2006 release that the publishers launched an Anniversary Edition in 2016, including enhanced multiplayer gameplay.
There is no doubt that the rich, immersive culture of ancient Egypt has fascinated video game developers throughout the decades. It’s an era of civilization that offers mystery and intrigue, which makes it very easy for developers to build new and engaging insights into the dynasties of the time.
