If you find yourself thinking that you can't get enough Achilles in your Action Shooters, or are crying out for more Dionysus in your Dungeon Crawlers, fear not. A whole bunch of new games set in the Classical world, or drawing on our favourite mythological stories, are currently sitting in the “almost ready” pile on Steam. Add these to your Wishlist and you’ll have a Steam library to rival that of Alexandria.
We can’t promise anything, least of all that these games will be any good when they launch, but we can keep you updated and start some hype around this fine selection of upcoming Classics-themed video games. We really are too good to you sometimes.
THE FROGS
Genre: Point & Click, Puzzle, 2D, Adventure
Release Date: September 2022 (Demo out now)
The Frogs is a point-and-click adventure game based on the play by Aristophanes. Play as Dionysus as you survive awful puns and break all the fourth walls. It's an ancient Greek comedy with Renaissance art and 18th century classical music... and that identity crisis is just the tip of the iceberg.
ACHILLES: LEGENDS UNTOLD
Genre: RPG, Soulslike, Action
Release Date: April - June 2022
End the conflict between Hades and Ares in this souls-like action RPG. Battle gods, defeat mythological creatures, and gather resources alone or in co-op in Achilles: Legends Untold. Whether or not the game is any good, it certainly looks beautiful.
ROMANS: AGE OF CAESAR
Genre: MMO, Strategy, RTS, Free-to-Play
Release Date: 2022 (Demo out now)
Build Rome together - though perhaps not in a day. A co-operative grand strategy MMO from a team of veteran city builders, Romans: Age of Caesar is the latest historical strategy game from Firefly Studios. It looks like a SimCity for the ancient world.
SOKOBOS
Genre: Puzzle, Minimalist, Logic, Casual
Release Date: 1st April 2022
This minimalist take on the game of Sokoban incorporates Greek iconography and art styles to create what looks like an addictive little game for all ages.
THE AMULET OF AMUNRUN
Genre: Escape Room, Co-op, Adventure, Puzzle
Release Date: TBA (Demo out now)
Dive into AmunRun's pyramid in this cooperative escape room game to recover the Pharaoh's amulet. Collaborate & communicate with pals to work out the ancient enigmas that will lead you to the funeral chamber and avoid falling into deadly traps on your way out.
IMPERIUM BCE
Genre: Grand Strategy, City Builder, RTS
Release Date: Spring 2022
Can you ever have enough grand strategy games? We think not. Although the interface looks a little basic, this may well be a game worth checking out if you like to control every aspect of each turn. You can build cities, control armies, use both spies and diplomats to achieve different political goals, make technological discoveries, trade, and sign laws.
OZYMANDIAS
Genre: Strategy, 4X, Turn-Based, Empire Sim
Release Date: TBA (Demo out now)
Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer. A Bronze Age history game that looks too good to miss.
HORROR OF MINOS
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Surreal, Adventure
Release Date: 2022
Explore the mythical ancient ruins beneath the island of Minos. Piece together what happened to you and your team. Beware the spirits and beasts that lurk below. A single-player, first-person, horror game inspired by Penumbra and Amnesia.
WACKY CHARIOTS
Genre: Arcade, Racing, Multiplayer, Driving
Release Date: 31st May 2022
We love a low-budget, high memeability game. Wacky Chariots includes 8 game modes, more than 30 available tracks, and a bunch of customisable gear to pimp your ride.
PHARAOH: A NEW ERA
Genre: City Builder, Diplomacy, RTS
Release Date: TBA
Another city builder, this time set in Egypt. This is a full graphical 4k remaster of the original, with a modernised UI, full map, and mission editor.
KREDOLIS
Genre: Puzzle, Adventure, First-Person, Exploration
Release Date: 2022
This Myst-like exploration game takes place on a mysterious island full of Greek architecture and esoteric puzzles. Find your way home or enter the sunken lighthouse into the depths of Atlantis.
BUILDERS OF GREECE
Genre: City Builder, Simulation, RTS
Release Date: TBA
Okay, I know, another city builder. But after you’ve built Rome and Egypt, maybe you want to have a go at Greece as well? Builders of Greece looks pretty outstanding, and is another in the upcoming series of games like Builders of Egypt and Builders of China.
Let us know if you end up playing any of these upcoming games, and keep us updated if you find any others. BRB, planning my strategy.
Miri Teixeira is a video-games journalist and co-founder of Working Classicists.