Best Games to Play If You Loved The Odyssey

Gaming titles ranging from open-world RPGs to tactical simulators offer interactive ways to explore themes of Greek mythology and the narrative structure of The Odyssey. According to GameSpot, players can engage with these themes through titles such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Hades, and God of War, which mirror the epic’s focus on endurance, hubris, and the human condition.

Open-World Interpretations of Ancient Greece

Ubisoft provides two distinct approaches to the mythological setting. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey features a recreation of Ancient Greece where players sail the Aegean sea and interact with historical figures like Plato and Socrates. GameSpot notes that this title includes the largest map and deepest RPG systems in the Assassin’s Creed series, allowing players to encounter a character named Odessa in Ithaca who claims descent from Odysseus.

Immortals Fenyx Rising, also developed by Ubisoft and released in 2020, focuses on comedy and melodrama. GameSpot describes its gameplay as similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild while maintaining the humanistic themes associated with Greek mythology.

Action and Combat-Driven Epics

For players seeking the scale of a world-spanning adventure, Titan Quest is set during Greece’s Bronze Age. The action RPG tasks players with preventing the destruction of Greece, Egypt, and Asia after Titans escape their divine prison. GameSpot identifies this as a primary choice for those interested in the mythological horrors Odysseus faced.

The God of War series centers on Kratos, a son of Zeus. While The Odyssey depicts gods as all-mighty beings that humans must endure, GameSpot reports that God of War allows players to fight these deities and defy fate. The series transitions from rage-fueled hack-and-slash combat to a pensive father-son narrative in later entries.

Ryse: Son of Rome focuses on the brutality of ancient warfare through the story of Marius Titus, a Roman soldier seeking revenge in Britannia. GameSpot states that despite being 12 years old, the title maintains strong visuals and cinematic immersion.

Psychological Journeys and Mystery

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice explores the concept of katabasis, a literary term for a journey to the underworld. GameSpot notes that while the game uses Norse mythology rather than Greek, it mirrors the internal psychological endurance and the descent into the underworld found in The Odyssey.

The Forgotten City is a standalone mystery game that evolved from a Skyrim mod. Players travel through time to investigate the destruction of an ancient Roman city. GameSpot highlights the game’s moral choice system, where players use bribery, charm, or intimidation to uncover the truth.

Strategy and Narrative Variations

A Total War Saga: Troy blends turn-based empire management with real-time tactical battles. According to GameSpot, players can control heroes including Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus to shape the outcome of the Trojan War using diplomacy and divine favor.

Age of Mythology: Retold updates the original real-time strategy experience. It incorporates resource management and strategic building alongside god-given powers and titans. GameSpot notes that the Retold version updates the experience for modern players while keeping the original’s core mechanics.

The Hades duology is cited by GameSpot as a highly stylized take on the Greek pantheon, featuring modern sensibilities in its writing and art. For those seeking a narrative-driven musical approach, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical follows a character named Grace who inherits the power of a Muse. GameSpot reports that player choices in this title directly alter the lyrics and genre of the songs.

Dante’s Inferno is also listed as an example of the katabasis journey, though GameSpot characterizes it as a less polished experience compared to other hack-and-slash titles like Devil May Cry.