Myths have been used by humans to make sense of the world for thousands of years. Stories about gods, heroes, and adventures—from Homer's Odyssey to Gilgamesh—provided a framework for comprehending morality, bravery, tragedy, and the human condition. Even though we might not spend as much time around fires telling stories about Zeus or Thor these days, video games have stepped up to create myths.
Video games have evolved into a potent storytelling medium that can create worlds, legends, and moral dilemmas that rival ancient myths. They are no longer merely forms of amusement or digital hobbies. These are interactive myths, in which players take on the roles of heroes rather than merely watching them.
This begs the intriguing question: is video gaming the new myth-making medium? Let's investigate how.
Myths and Their Purpose in Ancient Societies
To understand the parallels, it’s important to revisit what myths did for ancient cultures:
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Explained the unknown – Myths provided explanations for human suffering, fate, and natural phenomena.
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Guided morality – Lessons about virtue, justice, pride, love, and treachery were all taught through stories.
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United communities – People who shared myths felt a sense of cultural continuity and shared identity.
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Inspired imagination – Listeners were able to transcend their daily lives through epic adventures.
Imagine Odysseus fighting monsters on his way home, Hercules accomplishing impossible tasks, or Prometheus stealing fire. These stories served as cultural guides that helped people deal with life, not just amusement.
Now, swap out the epic hero for a player's avatar, the monsters for AI-powered adversaries, and the oral storyteller for a game developer. The structure is remarkably similar.
The Rise of Interactive Myths
The participatory nature of video games sets them apart from books or movies. Listeners put themselves in the heroes' shoes in myths. Players are the heroes in video games. This distinction is important.
Consider:
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The Legend of Zelda – Link's journey is reminiscent of Joseph Campbell's classic "Hero's Journey." He moves away from home, experiences hardships, battles evil, and regains equilibrium. This is reminiscent of myths such as Perseus and Medusa or Theseus and the Minotaur.
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Dark Souls – The descent myths of Orpheus or Inanna are echoed by a violent journey into a world tainted by fallen gods. The game's difficulty itself turns into a metaphor for tenacity.
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Final Fantasy series – Modern versions of mythic sagas are intricately woven stories with crystals, prophecies, and chosen warriors.
Players actively influence the outcome through their decisions, so these aren't just stories they watch play out. As a result, the myth becomes both personal and communal.
The Archetypes of Gaming
Like ancient myths, Carl Jung's theory of archetypes—universal symbols and characters throughout human storytelling—remains relevant in video games.
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The Hero: Mario, Master Chief, Aloy, Kratos.
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The Mentor: Cortana, Yoda in Star Wars games, or Navi in Zelda.
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The Trickster: Handsome Jack (Borderlands), Kefka (Final Fantasy VI).
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The Shadow (the villain within us all): Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII), GLaDOS (Portal).
Because they symbolize ageless conflicts like bravery versus fear, freedom versus tyranny, and chaos versus order, these archetypes have resonance. These forces were embodied by figures such as Hercules or Loki in ancient mythology. The same thing is done in modern games, but instead of merely hearing about the archetype, the player actually experiences it.
Myths as Worlds—and Video Games as Universes
One of the most powerful features of myth is its ability to create an entire cosmology—a sense of how the world works.
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Norse myths gave us Yggdrasil, the world tree.
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Greek myths described Mount Olympus, Hades, and the underworld.
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Hindu epics wove together cycles of time, reincarnation, and cosmic battles.
Video games parallel this world-building:
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Elder Scrolls – With its own gods, races, histories, and moral conflicts, Tamriel is as fully developed as any ancient cosmology.
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World of Warcraft – With pantheons of gods, mythic cycles of rebirth and war, and lore spanning decades, Azeroth operates similarly to a contemporary mythos.
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God of War – Players can take on the role of Kratos as he engages in actual combat with gods in this franchise, which reimagines myth rather than merely borrowing from it.
Similar to myths, these expansive, multi-layered, and highly symbolic worlds provide explanations for existence, morality, and fate, but they do so in an interactive way.
Video Games as Moral Laboratories
Historically, myths have assisted societies in addressing moral issues: Do you have to follow the gods? Is retaliation appropriate? What does having courage mean?
Video games carry on this tradition by letting players experience moral dilemmas rather than just hear about them.
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In The Witcher 3, Geralt constantly makes morally gray decisions. Saving one town may doom another. No choice is “pure.”
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In Mass Effect, players decide whether to save an alien race or wipe them out for humanity’s safety. The weight of choice mirrors mythic struggles between survival and morality.
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In Undertale, players are forced to reflect on violence itself. Kill monsters, and the story shifts into a tragedy of bloodshed. Show mercy, and you create a myth of compassion.
Unlike ancient myths, which told you what the hero chose, video games force you to decide—and live with the consequences.
The Collective Nature of Gaming
Myths from antiquity were shared, not kept secret. To hear stories that united communities, villagers would congregate around festivals, fires, or temples.
Video games, though digital, recreate this communal aspect:
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Online multiplayer worlds like Fortnite or World of Warcraft bring millions together.
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Fans create forums, fan art, cosplay, and conventions.
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Just like oral myths evolved with each retelling, video game narratives expand through DLCs, sequels, and fan creations.
The result? Games don’t just create myths; they create mythic communities—modern tribes united by shared legends.
Critics and Counterpoints
Naturally, some contend that since video games are "just entertainment," they cannot be used to create myths. However, ancient myths probably encountered the same criticism in their day. In addition to being told for educational purposes, weren't those stories also a type of "entertainment"?
Another critique is that, whereas games are commercial, myths were considered sacred and associated with religion and ritual. However, there are similarities even here: myths were frequently supported by political patrons, priests, or kings. The cultural purpose is the same regardless of the medium.
Why It Matters: The New Myths of Our Time
Video games are more than just pastimes; they are influencing a generation's perspective on the world if myths influence how people perceive themselves.
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They teach resilience through failure (Dark Souls).
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They inspire wonder through exploration (No Man’s Sky).
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They pose moral questions about justice, revenge, and compassion (The Last of Us).
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They build collective imagination through shared universes (World of Warcraft, Elden Ring).
Video games might be the closest thing we have to collective myth-making—narratives that cut across cultures, languages, and even geography—in the fragmented, rapidly evolving digital world.
Conclusion
Myths simply changed; they never vanished. Consoles, online servers, and developers have supplanted the traditional fireside storyteller. Today's player defeats Ganon, the same place where Hercules once killed the Hydra. Today's gamers traverse post-apocalyptic wastelands or alien galaxies, just as Odysseus did while traveling through storms and monsters.
Video games are more than just a means of escape; they are contemporary myths that allow us to investigate morality, human nature, and the unknown. In our era of screens, they are how we envision the heroic, the monstrous, and the divine.
The next time you grab a controller, keep in mind that you're taking part in the oldest tradition in human history, not just playing. You are entering a myth.
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