Ancient history is an endless source of inspiration for the gaming industry. From fierce samurais and fearless Viking raiders to legendary Spartan warriors, video games are full of epic figures from the past. And just as many titles delve into the fascinating world of ancient Egypt.
So, would you rather put yourself in the shoes of a pharaoh building the most brilliant city of their time? Or do you feel like facing the many perils lying in wait as you unearth the mysteries buried deep within ancient Egyptian tombs? Embark on a captivating Egyptian journey with these four top-notch games.
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
The Last Revelation is the fourth installment in the original Tomb Raider franchise released on the PlayStation. Sure, we’re convinced at that nothing compares to the first Tomb Raider for straight-up retro nostalgia. But The Last Revelation still does a great job of telling a compelling tomb-raiding story against the backdrop of an Egyptian setting. As she explores the legendary Tomb of Set, archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft accidentally sets free the titular god of chaos locked up within that mausoleum.
To imprison Set back where he belongs, players follow Lara across a wide variety of Egyptian locations, from the ancient ruins of Karnak to the remains of Cleopatra’s palace in Alexandria. The game even ends with a bang in the most infamous Egyptian landmark, the Great Pyramid of Giza. The second installation in the Lara Croft spin-off series returned to Egypt in 2014 with Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, leaving players in charge of preventing the evil deity Set from enslaving humanity once and for all.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Assassin’s Creed Origins is perhaps the strongest entry of all Egyptian-infused video games. In 2017, the infamous Assassins set sail for Egypt. The story follows desert scout Bayek and his wife Aya in their vengeful quest to seek payback for the murder of their son. Set during the end of the Ptolemaic period, AC Origins depicts familiar faces like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
The game’s large-scale open world also allows players to visit several regions and cities, each boasting its unique culture and architectural wonders. Introducing the first-ever discovery tour mode in the series, where history buffs can learn more about Ptolemaic Egypt without landing a single killing blow, developers worked hand in hand with historians to ensure historical accuracy. And it shows, as reports, that even real-life Egyptologists praised Origins for its unparalleled attention to detail.
Pharaoh: A New Era
Alongside Caesar III and Zeus: Master of Olympus, Pharaoh was one of the great city builders of the late 90s. And Pharaoh: A New Era recently rejuvenated that cult classic on PC. This remake expands on the legacy of its predecessor by taking you to the Nile Valley, where you try to grow your nomad settlement into a flourishing city by cultivating fertile lands, navigating political crises, and overseeing monumental architectural projects. Introducing 15 extra campaign missions, the late expansion pack of Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile also made its way into that remake.
And this DLC may have given ideas to several developers across the board, as the iconic Egyptian queen played center stage in many video games like Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI. Top iGaming platforms like even feature fun machine slots, such as IGT’s Cleopatra and Novomatic’s Beauty of Cleopatra. RTG’s Cleopatra’s Gold also ranks among the biggest jackpot slots around. Better yet, thousands more free pokies are just a click away. And all games can be played on the go on mobile devices, with juicy mobile-exclusive bonuses to boot.
Forewarned
While action-adventure epics make up for most of the Egyptian-themed games, Forewarned takes a different approach to the mysteries of ancient Egypt. This survival horror title embarks players on a spooky journey through the tombs of Mejai. Alongside a team of fellow treasure hunters and archaeologists, you shall investigate strange phenomena to get to the bottom of ancient Egyptian legends.
But terrifying mummies haunt these tombs, threatening to turn you into an undead servant of Mejai. So, will you escape with your life? Will you delve deeper into the tomb’s darkness to break up the curse? With amazing graphics spread out across ten vivid maps, Forewarned is as atmospheric as it gets. You may even take the scare up a notch by playing in co-op mode with up to three players in VR.