The Best Ancient Civilisation Games For This Autumn

Video games transport us to worlds we’d never usually encounter, places born out of a developer’s imagination, and have been doing so for more than thirty years.

Often, they can be terrifying, as with games such as Death Stranding described as legitimately compelling by Game Developer. Sometimes, they take on our world, tongue-in-cheek observational pieces like Grand Theft Auto with layers of sarcasm and comedy built upon a gaming experience. They can also take you back to times in history, to visit ancient civilisations that presented a different way of life to our own.

These days that isn’t just the case with console games. Periods such as Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the Vikings and Victorian London have all been explored and digitised on mobile devices. Those looking to imbue themselves in an ancient civilisation can play Fate of the Pharaoh or Rise of the Roman Empire on iOS and Android. Many titles are themed around such periods among the Galabingo online slots, including Wild Link Zeus and Gods of Troy. Those god themes are hugely popular, with Project: Ragnarok, another mobile title gamers enjoy.

However, despite the advancing technology in the palm of our hands, the truly immersive games that take us back in time are the ones on consoles. That might be the current generation of machines, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, or even ones a little older. If you find yourself at a loose end this autumn and fancy virtually visiting an ancient civilisation, these are the games to watch.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

This list could just be entries in the Assassin’s Creed series, from Origins in Ancient Egypt to Valhalla and the Vikings, but instead, we’ve picked just one. Odyssey is set in ancient Greece and faithfully recreates the islands and myths with a perfect blend of gamification and information. There are modes where you can simply walk the land and learn about the customs and everyday life. Odyssey is a true work of art and creates an enriching, fun, and informative experience. There’s no better way to explore Ancient Greece or Ancient Egypt.

Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece

Sadly, war and conflict are one overriding feature of almost all ancient civilisation games. All great civilisations fell, eventually, and that is why games often feature them; they’re great for huge epic war stories. Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece is no different; it presents gamers with a chance to fight in the Peloponnesian War and the Ionian War or participate in Philip of Macedon’s campaigns in Greece. It’s a real-time strategy game but also includes elements of city management once you’ve conquered an area, helping build the experience into something more than a war simulation.

Sid Meier’s Civilisation 5

Of all the ancient civilisations that capture the imagination, Egypt has to be the most popular. The Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and other iconic locations are known worldwide, making them brilliant for a video game setting. Of all the games to feature Ancient Egypt, Sid Meier’s Civilisation 5 is perhaps the best. It is a turn-based strategy game that sees you build the civilisation from the ground up, starting at the dawn of time. You get to go head-to-head with some of the greatest leaders ever, and Rameses is seen as one of the best leaders to play the game with, thanks to the advantage of building wonders such as burial tombs.