Folklore has been an integral part of human life and culture since the dawn of time, regardless of where these stories are told.
Every culture has its own creatures and myths, to where games are frequently inspired to tell their own stories based on these legends. European folklore in particular gets a lot of attention from game developers.
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Europe as a whole has folklore spanning dozens of civilizations across hundreds of years, growing and evolving into the fairy tales that many children grow up with today.
When adapting European folklore into a game, some developers will take liberties with their stories or are wholly faithful to the source material as best as they could be.
Either way, these games would be a wonderful experience for those with a special interest in European folklore.
10 Bloodborne
Czech and Balkan Folklore
- Released
- March 24, 2015
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Havok
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- ps4,ps5
- Cross Save
- yes
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- no
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
- How Long To Beat
- 33 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- no
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Bloodborne is completely packed with folklore from all across the European continent, all while incorporating horror elements by HP Lovecraft.
While Lovecraft based the Cthulu Mythos on his own nightmares and personal tragedies, some of the other folklore stems from all across Europe.
This folklore manifests in different ways throughout the game. The Witch Hunters’ relationship with blood is very reminiscent of dhampir (half-vampire, half-human beings), which are Balkan.
Not to mention, the entire game is coated with gothic aesthetics, a love letter to Victorian-era fears and mythology. It was quite literally based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with architecture based on Romania and the Czech Republic.
While Yharnam itself may seem like it’s based on London, it’s actually based on Prague, all the way down to the Astral Clocktower (which is the equivalent of Prague’s Astronomical Clock).
There’s not one subset of European folklore in the game, but rather a hodge-podge of inspiration from all across the continent.
9 God of War
Greek and Norse Mythology
- Released
- April 20, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- God of War
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- Metascore
- 94
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
What makes God of War special, in particular, is the fact that multiple mythologies are represented throughout the series.
Classic God of War games topple the Greek pantheon, complete with mythological beings and characters fitting to Ancient Greece.
Modern God of War games are currently tackling Norse mythology, and it’s made some players wonder what other pantheons they’ll wipe off the map in future installments.
The Greek games are intense, action-packed fun with central messages on revenge. Ironically, Kratos’s story plays exactly like an Ancient Greek tragedy, the fates essentially dooming him through the narrative.
The Norse games, on the other hand, are dramatic, the narrative shifting to breaking the cycle of violence and revenge – all while being full of the staple brutality the series has come to be known for.
Players don’t have to have played the Greek games in order to understand what’s happening in the Norse entries, making it easily accessible for fans of European mythologies.
8 Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Suspense in Dark Norse Horror
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Released
- August 16, 2017
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Publisher(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Hellblade
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 19 GB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is currently facing a lot of replay and discussion, specifically because the game’s sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was released this year as one of the best horror games of 2024. The first game, however, is just as powerful of an entry in this saga.
This game is a dark fantasy that teeters on horror, inspired by Norse/Icelandic mythology and older Celtic cultures. Playing as a Pict Warrior named Senua, you travel through Helheim and tackle all odds in order to rescue her late lover from the malevolent goddess Hela.
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The Hellblade games are moody and unsettling, to put it lightly, immersing players in folklore horror that would have sent a Norseman into a heart attack.
Players feel like they’re trapped, being watched, and several other types of fears that directly fuel paranoia. Combined with striking imagery, these games are something to remember.
Besides, when looking at European folklore, Iceland’s folklore tends to have some of the most intense and even disturbing stories, making it a perfect backdrop for this game.
7 Elden Ring
Celtic and Norse Mythologies
- Released
- February 25, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Cross Save
- no
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- Metascore
- 96
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PS4 &Â PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Soulsborne games are incredibly rich in lore and creative inspiration, with Elden Ring continuing that theme. Elden ring is packed with Irish/Celtic folklore with sprinkled elements from Norse Mythology.
Irish culture is incredibly prominent in the game’s design and mythic beings, while Norse mythology makes appearances through not-so-subtle references, such as Wyrms and The World Tree, being a direct pull from Yggdrasil.
One example is the story of the Tarnished in Elden Ring’s world, as it’s a very close parallel to the Milesians in Irish history.
They were also referred to as the Gaels (which is where the term Gaelic comes from), but they were ethnolinguistic people who were native to Ireland before they were anglicized.
It doesn’t stop there, with the fire giants being references to Irish Fomorians, Elemer of the Briar resembling the Red Branch Knights from Irish history, and many more influences. Elden Ring is rich with folklore, and it can be found around every corner.
6 The Witcher
Polish With Nordic Elements
The Witcher
- Released
- October 30, 2007
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Publisher(s)
- Atari, CD Projekt
- Engine
- Aurora Engine
- Franchise
- The Witcher
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 36 Hours
When people think of high fantasy settings, they typically think of the more common Germanic/Norse mythologies, something akin to games like Skyrim or Dungeons & Dragons. In the case of The Witcher, however, the main inspiration comes from somewhere else: Poland.
Polish/Slavic folklore is the foundation of The Witcher franchise, with Medieval Poland being represented the most prominently. After all, the author of the novels on which the games are based, Andrzej Sapkowski, is Polish himself.
Witchers as a concept are based on the folk tales of Vedmak, and Sapkowski’s Witchers are sometimes referred to this old title in the story. Other examples include the Leshen, which are untamed forest spirits (also called Leshy) with antlers and aggression.
The Polish folklore that’s highlighted predominantly in The Witcher is detailed and enhanced, to where players of the series getting into folklore will start drawing parallels right away.
The Witcher, in and of itself, is written like a Polish legend, and it’s all the clearer as the games are appreciated.
5 Black Book
A Deck-Based RPG Inspired by Russian Folklore
Black Book
- Released
- May 5, 2020
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Morteshka
- Publisher(s)
- HypeTrain Digital, Limited Run Games
- Engine
- unity
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS
- How Long To Beat
- 23 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Players that prefer card deck-building games would have a fun time with Black Book, which is an adventure RPG that takes place in 19th Century Russia.
Because of this, obviously, the game is based on Russian (and Komi) folklore, specifically on the Bailichkas. Developers for Black Book actually worked closely with Russian ethnographers in order to be as accurate to the source material as possible.
In true folklore fashion, your goal is to outwit your odds, playing as a sorceress named Vasilisa, who is running from her fate to become a witch so she could marry her love.
However, after he dies under mysterious circumstances, she seeks out a demonic artifact called the Black Book, which is allegedly powerful enough to grant any wish.
The game revolves around Vasilia’s adventures across rural Russia, performing exorcisms and helping others in need.
Its authenticity to Russian folklore is also to be admired, making it very clear that the developers’ work with ethnographers was beneficial on all fronts.
4 Maid of Sker
Welsh Folklore With Victorian-Era Horror
Maid of Sker
- Released
- July 28, 2020
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due to Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Wales Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Wales Interactive
- Engine
- Unity, Unity 5
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 5 Hours
- Metascore
- 69
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Historical fiction continues to be a striking example of how to incorporate folklore into a story, but Maid of Sker kicks it up a notch by telling a real tale: the Welsh love story of Elisabeth Williams and Thomas Evans.
Since the developers are also Welsh themselves, it’s a story that was well understood and executed, even when making stylish choices for the game, such as setting it in the Victorian era.
Welsh hymns such as Calon Lan, Suo-Gan, and Ar Hyd Y Nos all make reimagined appearances in the game, adding to the looming ambiance of dark horror. Maid of Sker is a horror game with much to offer, so fans of folklore and gothic subcultures will be thrilled with this entry.
The history and folklore of Wales doesn’t shy away from dark themes and macabre stories, and Maid of Sker doesn’t hold back on this either. If horror gamers like old-school survival horror, they’ll be pleased to find that this plays similarly – just in first person instead.
It’s very tense and atmospheric without having much for combat, focusing on hiding for your life rather than facing enemies head-on. Even then, it’s well done, and a nice representation of well-known Welsh stories.
3 Thea: The Awakening
Slavic Turn-Based Survival
Thea: The Awakening
- Released
- November 20, 2015
- ESRB
- t
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
- Developer
- FLY Games, Tactile Fusion
- Publisher
- FLY Games, Monster Couch, Tactile Fusion
- How Long To Beat
- 31 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Thea: The Awakening is a loving marriage of turn-based strategy and survival games, all with a carefully detailed backdrop of Slavic myths and fantasies. Taking place after The Darkness had engulfed the world, the world of Thea is rife with monsters pulled from these myths, such as Strigas and Baba Yagas.
Players take on the role of a Slavic Deity (whichever you choose), waking up in a post-apocalyptic world, with no choice but to rebuild from the ground up. To do so, players have to establish a village and send out allies to gather resources for crafting and building the world around them.
The gameplay is simply addictive, where players start to feel like the very deity that wants to make the world a better place to live. Especially when considering how all these actions influence the characters and their outcomes, it’s easy to become incredibly invested.
The Slavic mythology in this game is well detailed and executed, a genuine love letter to the source material while providing a fun experience.
2 Enotria: The Last Song
5th Century Italian Folklore
- Released
- September 16, 2024
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Jyamma Games
- Publisher(s)
- Jyamma Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Soulslike
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Fans of folklore and Souls-Like games will be thrilled with Enotria: The Last Song, set in Italy during the 5th Century. The game recreates the Amalfi Coast and the iconic vistas within, with the world trapped in a Canovaccio stasis.
It’s been compared to Lies of P, which is another Soulslike game that also pulls from Italian folklore (specifically Pinocchio), but Enotria: The Last Song really emphasizes its Italian roots.
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It plays just like – well, a play, as it’s meant to represent one in most forms, from the masks and costumes that impact players’ stats to the enemies that pull direct inspiration from prominent Italian figures in folklore and history.
It’s a game that focuses on the art of performance, and considering how Italy is home of the opera performances, it’s a fitting match.
The masks in Enotria: The Last Song are what’s most prominently remembered, and for good reason. Each one is reminiscent of something you’d see at the Carnival of Venice, and with stats being influenced by them only adding to the mechanic.
1 Blacktail
A Retelling of Baba Yaga
When talking about European folklore, people tend to conjure specific images in their heads. They think of the fae (fairies), vampires, and werewolves, of Celtic imagery – and, of course, Baba Yaga.
Blacktail is a game that has players turning Baba Yaga into the iconic witch that she’s known to be. Specifically, they play as a young archer named Yaga, who is just beginning her journey as a potion-brewing witch in the middle of a forest.
Since she’s young, she hasn’t yet earned the title of Baba, which allows players a lot more freedom with how they want to play her and her morality.
They can make Yaga be helpful and kind to others, tending to the wildlife in the forest and helping people shrouded with desperation. Or, players could make Yaga live up to her legend, turning her into a cruel witch that will terrify children from sleeping at night.
Blacktail is a creative take on the well-trodden story of Baba Yaga, all while breathing a refreshing new life that players can enjoy.
It’s a great start for those wanting to get into folklore (specifically Slavic folklore), and a new characterization of one of mythology’s favorite witches.
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