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00:00Welcome to Mojo Plays, and today we are showcasing video games that focus on mythologies outside
00:21of Greek and Norse.
00:23While those pantheons and cultures have been explored a lot, we wanted to shine a light
00:28on others that are just as interesting.
00:38But before we dive in, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and
00:43ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:47Inscription
00:55This indie game got a lot of attention when it was released in 2021.
01:00Being a roguelike deck builder designed around a found footage horror narrative, it's got
01:06a lot going for it.
01:07Another thing that makes it unique is Leshy, the shadowy figure who forces you into playing
01:13its game.
01:14Leshy is a forest deity from Slavic mythology, a shapeshifter who often misleads or takes
01:20advantage of travelers in Tales From Folklore.
01:33Daniel Mullins, the developer, had come up with the villain's concept before learning
01:38about Leshy, and then included him because he fit so well.
01:43There are many other elements that make Inscription worth checking out, but the Slavic deity at
01:48its core is one of the strongest.
01:59Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
02:11It may seem a tad silly, and is, but Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is one of the more underrated
02:17games to focus on Egyptian mythology.
02:20It follows the demigod, Sphinx, who must fight against the forces of Set, the god of deserts,
02:26storms, and, more importantly to the plot here, violence.
02:38Along for the ride is Tutankhamun, known in our world by many as King Tut, who is cursed
02:44to be a mummy.
02:45It's pretty fun as far as older action-adventure games go, and includes a ton of other notable
02:51figures and deities like Osiris and Horus.
02:54Sure, there are a lot of creative liberties taken, but it makes great use of its setting
03:00with strong puzzles and combat.
03:09Tales of Kinzera Zao
03:21Surgeon Studios' Metroidvania follows Zhao, an African shaman, who makes a deal with Kulunga,
03:26the god of death and Bantu culture, in order to bring his father back from the dead.
03:31The studio was founded by actor Abubakar Salim, who also directed the game.
03:37It was inspired by the loss of his own father, as well as his time spent among Bantu tribes
03:42in South Africa.
03:53While it doesn't bring much new to the genre in terms of mechanics, it's still plenty
03:58fun to play.
03:59However, the heartfelt narrative and focus on mythology that's rarely explored in pop
04:04culture is what makes it worthy of your time.
04:16Folklore
04:25Although it's all but been forgotten by now, the PS3's Folklore deserves a lot more love.
04:31Inspired heavily by Celtic mythology, it follows Ellen, a student with a mysterious
04:36past, and Keats, an occult journalist, who navigate the netherworld, the land of the
04:42dead.
04:52While there aren't really any traditional Celtic deities in the game, there are plenty
04:57of mythical creatures, many of which players utilize in combat.
05:02Upon release, its focus on Irish myth, especially with how that played in with worldbuilding
05:07and art direction, was the highest point of praise.
05:11It's a shame the game didn't perform well, causing future plans to be scrapped.
05:24Never Alone
05:33While some of its mechanics can be a bit cumbersome, as long as you're patient, there's a lot
05:39of beauty to be found in Never Alone.
05:42It's inspired by Native American mythology and folklore, specifically that of the Inupiat
05:48in Alaska.
05:57It follows a young girl named Nuna and her arctic fox companion who brave a mystical
06:02blizzard ravaging their home in order to find and stop its source.
06:07Not only was Never Alone inspired by Inupiat folklore, but many indigenous people also
06:13worked on it to ensure its accuracy.
06:16It adapts several traditional stories within its own narrative, and received a handful
06:21of noteworthy awards for doing so.
06:34Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
06:44Some software's catalog of games is often praised for similar elements, from the brutal
06:49boss fights to the usually stellar level design.
06:53In the case of Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, it also received acclaim for how it used elements
06:59of Japanese Buddhist mythology.
07:02While some of this can be seen in enemy designs, from the headless yokai to the divine dragon,
07:08Much more of it plays into the story and philosophy, primarily concepts of rebirth and immortality.
07:26It's an incredibly fun and obviously challenging game to play, but seeing how it adapts these
07:32elements gives it another layer of greatness.
07:35A special shout out goes to the Nioh series, a Souls-like that also adapts Japanese myth
07:41with a heavier focus on yokai.
07:54Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
08:05Most Prince of Persia games play it pretty light with actual Persian mythology, instead
08:11being more inspired by tales from the Arabian Nights.
08:15However, 2024's The Lost Crown went more heavily on the mythos.
08:20It follows Sargon, a member of the Immortals, named after an unparalleled group of warriors
08:27of the First Persian Empire.
08:29While searching for a kidnapped prince, he and his companions are trapped inside a strange
08:34pocket of time.
08:46Sargon gains abilities, as he goes, by collecting feathers of the Simurgh, a legendary bird
08:53across multiple tales.
08:55There are plenty of bosses and enemies that are also derived from Persian mythology, including
09:01the Manticore.
09:02But The Lost Crown is also just a really good metroidvania in its own right.
09:22Tomb Raider series Yeah, we're going to just throw a whole
09:37blanket on the Tomb Raider series.
09:40Lara Croft's adventures have shown her exploring a wide variety of cultures and mythologies,
09:46many of which are pretty solid and have a focus outside of Greek and Norse tales.
09:52The Last Revelation saw her explore Egypt and fight against Set after accidentally setting
09:58him free.
09:59She once again battled the deity in Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, alongside Isis and
10:06Horus.
10:15That spinoff was a sequel to Guardian of Light, which saw her team up with an ancient warrior
10:21to stop the Mayan deity, Xolotl.
10:24She even dabbled in Japanese myth in the 2013 reboot, which adapted an ancient shamaness
10:30named Himiko, albeit with some definite creative liberties.
10:35Simply put, if you want mythological tales outside of Greek and Norse, Tomb Raider is
10:41a good place to start.
10:52Black Myth Wukong There are two things that caught everyone's
11:07eyes when Black Myth Wukong was revealed.
11:10Its incredible visual flair, surprising from a studio unproven in big international releases,
11:17and its focus on Chinese mythology, specifically the figure of Sun Wukong from Journey to the
11:23West.
11:24It follows a monkey warrior known as the Destined One, who sets out to free Sun Wukong after
11:30he was sealed in stone centuries ago.
11:44His journey takes him through several real provinces in China, having him contend with
11:49a plethora of mythical creatures and deities in the form of bosses, such as Arlong Shen,
11:55traditionally the Chinese god of water and hunting.
11:59The combat was praised, of course, as was putting one of the most famous figures in
12:04Chinese folklore front and center, Okami.
12:28Of all the games to focus on Japanese mythology, Capcom's Okami likely receives the most
12:34praise.
12:35With gameplay inspired by The Legend of Zelda, it tells the tale of Amaterasu, the Shinto
12:41goddess of the sun, who here takes on the form of a white wolf.
12:57As Amaterasu, players must save Japan from a curse placed on it by Orochi, an ancient
13:03eight-headed demon.
13:05There were certainly a lot of elements that were changed in its mythical figures to fit
13:09the gameplay style, but everything about Okami is a success, from its stunning cell-shaded
13:16visuals to its unique celestial brush mechanic.
13:20It's an easy game to recommend on its own merit, regardless of one's interest in mythology.
13:33What's a mythological game you love that doesn't focus on Greek or Norse stories?
13:38Share it with us in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to Mojo Plays for more great
13:42gaming videos every day.