Great religious and mythological games

Recommendations by MathBrush

My "Best Fantasy" list was growing too big, so I'm splitting off the religious, mythological, and afterlife games. Some games like Curses! have a lot of religious and mythological references, but this list focuses on games where it's the main focus.

Arthurian romance is still under Fantasy.

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1. Beyond
by Roberto Grassi, Paolo Lucchesi, and Alessandro Peretti
(2005)
Average member rating: (45 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A detective game set partially in the afterlife. Deals with some moral and religious issues.

2. All Hope Abandon
by Eric Eve
(2005)
Average member rating: (36 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Explore the afterlife after a heart attack. Sometimes a deconstruction, sometimes faithful to Christian afterlife.

3. Eurydice
by Anonymous
(2012)
Average member rating: (37 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. Short, with beautiful and haunting imagery.

4. Tapestry
by Daniel Ravipinto
(1996)
Average member rating: (41 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A very influential early game. Revisit three key choices in your life. Contains elements of Christian and Greek traditions.

5. Blue Chairs, by Chris Klimas (2004)
Average member rating: (92 ratings)
MathBrush says:

A drug-and-profanity-laced retelling of Dante's Inferno (maybe?) as you search for your Beatrice.

6. Voices
by Aris Katsaris
(2001)
Average member rating: (25 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Play a messenger from the heavens who guides a young girl. Parser game that plays like a Twine game, very story-driven.

7. Ka
by Dan Efran
(2010)
Average member rating: (20 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Recommended by Sobol in the comments. This escape game is a fascinating take on Egyptian mythology and the journey to the afterlife. Short-to-mid length with fairly easy but sometimes underhinted puzzles.

8. Gris et Jaune, by Jason Devlin (2010)
Average member rating: (25 ratings)
MathBrush says:

A game based on the rare-for-IF vodou religion. Extensively researched, and in the top tier of best stories I have read. Some harder puzzles later on.

9. The Life (and Deaths) of Doctor M
by Michael D. Hilborn
(2011)
Average member rating: (29 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Meet with an Angle and a Devil in Everlast Inn. Revisit your path and choose your destiny.

10. Square Circle
by Eric Eve
(2004)
Average member rating: (26 ratings)

MathBrush says:

This game is hard to categorize, but the latter half contains some interesting thoughts on religion, human rights, platonism and rationalism, etc.

11. Galatea
by Emily Short
(2000)
Average member rating: (332 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A puzzleless game interviewing a living statue. Heavily based in Greek mythology.

12. Cana According To Micah, by Christopher Huang (as Rev. Stephen Dawson) (2011)
Average member rating: (18 ratings)
MathBrush says:

A very well-done mid-length parser game set in Cana, where Jesus famously turned wine to water at a wedding. You are a servant at this wedding. Not at all preachy, with interesting NPCs.

13. The 12:54 to Asgard
by J. Robinson Wheeler
(2010)
Average member rating: (17 ratings)

MathBrush says:

I love this game. A blend of Greek, Norse, and Christian mythology. Has a weird opening, and the whole game is unfair in the puzzle department, but the story and imagery are great.

14. Beet the Devil
by Carolyn VanEseltine
(2011)
Average member rating: (34 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A humorous, vegetable-related trip to hell with a puppy.

15. Perdition's Flames
by Michael J. Roberts
(1993)
Average member rating: (21 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A giant game set in a bureaucratic hell like a large city.

16. The Xylophoniad
by Robin Johnson
(2016)
Average member rating: (15 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A web-based parser game in the Scott Adams tradition. Humorous mythology game.

17. The Sound of One Hand Clapping
by Erica Sadun
(1993)
Average member rating: (3 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A great old-school game (from before Inform) about Chinese mythology.

18. The Moonlit Tower, by Yoon Ha Lee (2002)
Average member rating: (59 ratings)
MathBrush says:

A game with diverse east Asian influences.

19. Carmen Devine: Supernatural Troubleshooter
by Rob Myall
(2006)
Average member rating: (9 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Partly based on the supernatural (werewolves, vampires), and partly based on some Chinese mythology (with a dangerous fox spirit).

20. DEVOTIONALIA
by G.C. "Grim" Baccaris (as G. Grimoire)
(2018)
Average member rating: (20 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A game about worshipping unknowable creatures.

21. Champion of the Gods
by Jonathan Valuckas
(2015)
Average member rating: (2 ratings)

MathBrush says:

A game about being a powerful champion in a Greek mythology-inspired setting. Great themes, good writing.

22. Heretic's Hope
by G. C. Baccaris
(2019)
Average member rating: (20 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Explore a bizarre world of sentient insects and their brooding and dark society.

23. we, the remainder
by Charm Cochran
(2021)
Average member rating: (10 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Very polished surreal horror twine about an ascension gone wrong.

24. According to Cain
by Jim Nelson
(2022)
Average member rating: (41 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Award-winning game about travelling to the past to truly get the story on Cain vs Abel. Alchemy and memories.

25. Dr Ludwig and the Devil
by SV Linwood
(2023)
Average member rating: (34 ratings)

MathBrush says:

Award-winning humorous game where you've summoned the devil and now must outsmart him.


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