Ancient Egypt has always been a period of fascination among historians and artists alike due to its legendary origins and enduring monuments which continue to stand long after their creators have perished. Teeming with artifacts and history, along with plenty of mysteries and unanswered questions, it seems to be an ideal setting for video games of just about any genre. However, there have been a surprisingly low number of games set within the context of Ancient Egypt until recent times.

From niche city-builders and puzzle platformers built by small independent developers to AAA open-world RPGs constructed at huge expense, it seems that there is an increasing appetite among audiences for games within this setting, and many of those produced so far have lived up to expectations, if not surpassed them.

8 Sphinx And The Cursed Mummy

An Old-School Classic From THQ Nordic

THQ Nordic's 2003 action-adventure title Sphinx and The Cursed Mummy might not be the studio's best-known title, but it certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to a retro experience hoping to capture all the classic tropes of a mystical Ancient Egyptian setting.

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Players will follow the story of Sphinx as he battles through tombs and on sandy wastes against an array of mummies and monsters. Recently, this early classic has become available to Nintendo Switch users, and is a perfect platform to experience this adventure.

7 Cleopatra: Riddle Of The Tomb

A Myst-Style Puzzle Game

Kheops Studios' Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb is a narrative-driven puzzle game originally released back in 2007. The game was praised for its historical accuracy upon release and drew comparisons to similarly panoramic and aesthetically pleasing games of the time such as Myst.

Players take on the role of Thomas, a young astrologer whose mentor is captured, as he works alongside Cleopatra to solve puzzles and challenges throughout the ancient port city of Alexandria. The game also features the iconic Pharaoh's lighthouse and the once-independent state of Chaldea which sat on the southern bank of the Euphrates river.

6 Pharaonic

A Lighthearted Side-Scrolling Adventure

Pharaonic is a side-scrolling action game featuring relentless and challenging combat in an Egyptian setting. While the game may not be quite so uniquely stylized as titles like Apotheon, it does feature a cartoonish, exaggerated art style. Despite this, the game still feels respectful to the authentic material and culture from which it drew inspiration.

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Players will need quick reflexes and a mastery of the game's attacking and defensive controls as they face waves of enemies increasing in difficulty throughout the game. In addition to solid mechanics and a good challenge, the stylized rendition of the Egyptian setting can appear lighthearted and refreshing when compared to other games of the same genre.

5 Egypt: Old Kingdom

An Educational Strategy Game Loaded With Historical Accuracy

Egypt: Old Kingdom is a strategic simulator focused on societal management and developed in tandem with Egyptologists. The game features a high level of historical authenticity and detailed designs of Old Kingdom buildings, agriculture, and symbolism from the time.

Players will start as a relatively small tribe with the goal of uniting both Upper and Lower Egypt into one single Kingdom. Predominantly centered around the city of Memphis, Egypt: Old Kingdom offers players a great level of immersion and historical accuracy, and can be used equally for the purposes of education and entertainment.

4 Builders Of Egypt

An Early-Access City Builder Set In Ancient Egypt

Builders of Egypt is an upcoming historical city-builder in development by Strategy Labs, the same company behind titles such as House Flipper,Thief Simulator, and Contraband Police. The game will feature complex societal management mechanics including diplomacy, religion, and war.

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Perhaps the most appealing feature revealed to date is the stunning visual rendition of the time period, in which countless workers each play their own role in the construction of colossal monuments and sprawling developments. Given the studio's track record of authentic simulators, Builders of Egypt will certainly be one to watch as it nears a full release.

3 Age Of Mythology

An Age Of Empires-Style Strategy Game Full Of Myths And Magic

Age of Mythology was an early precursor to the later entries in the Age of Empires series, which experimented with fantasy and mythological elements alongside the conventional city-building and resource management the series is known for.

While not set exclusively in Ancient Egypt, the Egyptian faction features heavily along with Greek and Norse cultures. An extended edition was released in 2014 with multiple gameplay improvements, and it still holds up as a fantastic classical strategy game even today.

2 Total War: Pharaoh

The Latest In The Total War Strategy Series

Total War: Pharaoh is the latest release in the Total War series, and was considerably reduced in size and scale to previous entries such as Rome 2 and Empire. While the game drew criticism upon release for a number of reasons, it remains faithful to the formula of previous titles and adds a number of notable gameplay improvements.

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While not as rich in detail and historical authenticity as some other titles of the same setting, Total War: Pharaoh does allow players to take on the role of a domineering military commander seeking to rise up through the ranks and take the seat of the Pharaoh for themselves, featuring a number of accurate historical cultures from the time.

1 Assassin's Creed Origins

The First Entry in Assassin's Creed's RPG Trilogy Took The Series To Egypt

Perhaps the most famous example of a game set in Ancient Egypt is Ubisoft's 2017 entry into the Assassin's Creed franchise, Assassin's Creed Origins. Despite representing something of a departure in tone and style from previous entries, with a heavy focus on RPG and leveling mechanics rather than immersion and fluidity, the game is still widely regarded as one of the best in the series.

Players can explore a number of cities and significant historical landmarks, and can even scale the Great Pyramids using the game's parkour system. In addition to the main game, players can also dive into the Discovery Tour, which provides a ton of historical context and extensively gathered research for history buffs and students of the period to enjoy.

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