Summary
Exploring lost civilizationshas long been a source of fascination in video games, blending mystery, history, and adventure. From ancient ruins toforgotten empires, these games often immerse players in exotic worlds brimming with secrets and challenges.
Some games have a lost civilization as the backdrop to the storyline to provide a mysterious andatmospheric setting. Others focus solely on discovering the secrets of a lost civilization, uncovering artifacts, or defeating ancient enemies. These are sometimes mythological civilizations based on actual legends, cleverly mixing known history with fantasy aspects. Others are fantastical constructs that have come from the minds of the game’s designers.
There are certain real-world civilizations that have passed out of recorded history, and as such, are shrouded in myths and legends.Ancient Greeceis one such civilization, and this is the setting forAssassin’s Creed Odyssey.
Players can explore the open-world map, find ancient ruins, and discover lost artifacts. The game is also notable for the exceptionally effective way that naval combat is handled. Overall,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyblends just enough history with mythological mystery to create a fascinating backdrop to what is considered one of the best games in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise to date.
Drake’s Fortuneis the first game in theUnchartedfranchise. Taking on the role of Nathan Drake, players set out on an adventure to locate the lost city of El Dorado, and the treasure that legend says is hidden within it.
The game combines features from several genres,including platformersand puzzle games. With its focus on the mythical civilization and the treasure it left behind, the game is driven forward by some polished cinematics and a compelling storyline and does a good job of setting the scene for some classic exploration.
The 2013 release of theTomb Raidergame is part of the franchise reboot, and returns to the tried and tested recipe used by the original movie and the early games in the series. Namely, Lara Croft heads off to find treasure by discovering the remnants of a lost civilization; the Yamatai civilization in this case.
Having become stranded on an island, Lara must uncover the secrets of the island’s Queen Himiko as she explores, overcomes puzzles, and gets ever closer to the truth and the treasure that comes with it. The game has a great narrative, and the ancient ruins are very atmospheric.
Even though the storyline ofShadow Of The Colossusdoes not expressly revolve around the tale of a lost civilization, the game’s setting and world-building certainly do. The world is filled with mysterious ruins and ancient architecture, all situated in a haunting, desolate landscape.
The goal of the game is for the player to defeat each of the 16 giant colossi that roam the land. Each of these is a huge boss that is part organic and part construction.The game’s esthetics are beautiful yet haunting,with an underlying theme of loss and desolation.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimtakes place in the fantasy land of Tamriel, in the northern realm of Skyrim, which is loosely based on Nordic mythology themes. However, it features the enigmatic lost race of the Dwemer, which has left behind remnants of its technologically advanced civilization in the form of ruins that dot the landscape.
These ruins are generally underground cave systems and complexes that are populated by mechanically derived constructs. The player can explore these ruins, and uncover lore, and learn the secrets of the lost civilization of the Dwemer piece by piece.
InHorizon Zero Dawn,the player walks in the shoes of a young woman named Aloy, who has a mysterious past that is somehow connected with the remnants of a lost civilization. The civilization in question was technologically advanced and had built an AI to help fix the Earth’s ecosystem. For some reason, the civilization disappeared, and theAI began to run amok.
The player must uncover the secrets of Aloy’s past and work towards stopping the AI from completely taking over the world. This involves exploration and puzzle-solving, as well as fighting plenty of robotic enemies.
The lost civilization of Atlantis is arguably one of the most intriguing real-world mysteries, and it is no surprise that it is a trope used frequently in games.Atlantis: The Lost Talesputs the player in the role of the young hero, Seth. His task is to seek out the secrets of this mythical civilization.
With a great mixture of excellent storytelling and rewarding exploration, this is a game that all players with an interest in the myths and legends of Atlantis can enjoy. The fantastical environments and challenging puzzles fit well with the theme.
Taking place in the Kingdom of Hyrule,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildlets players explore an exquisitely craftedopen-world mapthat is dotted with ancient ruins. These ruins have slowly been swallowed by nature over time.
The player will find lost temples, forgotten shrines, and other remnants of a lost civilization. Indeed, the entire game has exploration and discovery at its heart. With its impressive level of player agency, fantastic narrative, and masterful world design,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildtruly deserves the top spot on this list.
