Playing games is one of the best ways to enjoy a little break from reality. When the boring or stressful day-to-day grind becomes too much, we can break off and delve into another world. Sometimes, however, we dive into a world that’s just removed from us by time.
The ability to engage with other cultures, their histories, and their mythology is incredible. Doing so from the comfort of your own home and slashing your way through ancient enemies? Well, that’s pretty great, too. Today we’re going to talk about a common theme in gaming – Vikings and Norse Mythology.
A Bit about Vikings
When most people think of Vikings, they probably conjure up the idea of a two-horned helmet. It’s not a bad start, but there’s obviously a lot more to it. From a historical perspective, Vikings were Norse seafaring people.
Viking is essentially a more modern term for pirate. These epic pirates hailed from what is now Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, and took to raiding and battling wherever their boats could reach. As impressive as the fighting was, there’s also a lot of mythology that influences game design.
Odin, Thor, and Loki – whether you know these gods from Marvel or a theology class, these old gods are arguably the most well-known Norse characters. Valkyries ferry dead souls to Valhalla, the gods reside in Asgard, humans live in Midgard, and the center of all life is the cosmological tree called Yggdrasil. So, how does all that translate when it comes to gaming?
Slot Games
Though it might surprise some, a large part of the gaming industry includes online slot machines. These games can be played for money or for free. Even though they are on the simpler side, they’re still packed with design details from dedicated studios and developers.
There’s one software provider that really stands out when talking about Norse myths: Yggdrasil. That’s right! A European company decided to name itself after that Cosmic Tree.
And they live up their name, too. They’re constantly releasing new and improved slots featuring the Viking and Norse themes from which they hail. Their latest release is the Vikings Go To Hell slot, which was preceded by Vikings Go Wild and Vikings Go Berzerk.
Did you start scratching your head at the inclusion of Hell in a Norse slot? Technically in Norse mythology it’s actually Hel, but it’s still one of the three afterlife realms, so we’ll give it a pass.
Video Games
With all the mythological, historical, and action-packed potential, there’s a fair amount of Nordic-inspired video games. These kinds of games allow you to take a front-row seat (and maybe a spear or two) to make your way through the nine worlds of the Cosmos.
One video game that has seen enormous success in the last few years is the eighth installment of God of War. Players start out as Kratos in Midgard and battle against the old gods. It turns the idea of the charitable Norse gods on their head as Kratos must survive against some pretty angry idols.
And last but certainly not least, many players are holding their breath until November 10th. The wildly popular Assassin’s Creed series is releasing its twelfth installment: Valhalla. We’ll have to wait and see if this gets added to the books.
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