Folktales from the Slavic countries form one of the richest mythologies in the world. In contrast to other folklore, Slavic nations have very few written records of the original tales; they were mostly carried over through spoken word and often in the form of storytelling. However, gaming now provides an excellent platform for the preservation and exploration of these traditional stories for countless future generations to enjoy.
Many video games have done a great job of capturing the essence of Slavic mythology by focusing on players’ moral choices. Also, the best thing about them is that each one tells a unique new story set in a fantasy world populated by creatures from Slavic folklore. Here are some of the best ones.
10Yaga
Yaga is a small indie game that follows Ivan, who is like a virtual embodiment of the Bad Luck Brian meme, but with a Slavic twist. You see, this poor one-handed blacksmith gets cursed with extremely bad luck. As if that weren’t enough, Tzar assigns him to complete a set of impossible tasks in the hopes that Ivan will eventually perish while doing so.
And that’s how your six-hour adventure, caused by the prophecy of Baba Yaga, begins. It is rooted in traditional Eastern European folklore, but your decisions can influence Ivan’s fate, so not everything is as bad as it seems.
9Black Book
Set in 19th-century Russian countryside, Black Book feels like you’re stuck inside an old Slavic fairy tale that teaches you about its haunting mythology along the way. You play as a young sorceress Vasilisa, who’s on a quest to bring her beloved back from the dead.
After all, nothing seems impossible if you truly love someone, right? Even if it involves facing demons and performing exorcisms, nothing will stop Vasilisa from finding a demonic artifact that will hopefully grant her only wish. To do so, you’ll have to solve many puzzles and fight evil forces using adeck-building combat system. Plus, every choice you make has an impact on the storyline – no pressure!
8The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
This one doesn’t need much of an introduction. Just like its prequels, the fantasy open world ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunthas more Slavic folklore elements than any other game on this list. But we expect nothing less from the game that very much hyped up Slavic mythology in pop culture.
You step into the boots of Geralt of Rivia, a legendary Witcher who makes a living by slaying monsters. His adopted daughter, on the other hand, is being sought by a mysterious entity known as the Wild Hunt. Along the way, you’ll become entangled in a complicated web of political intrigue, monster hunts, and romantic relationships that will impact the outcome of the game’s amazing narrative.
7Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
If you’re a big fan ofGwent, then you’ll might want to check outThronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. It’s a single-player RPG set in the world of The Witcher video game series that follows Queen Meve. She rules two northern kingdoms, Lyria and Rivia, which are always under Nilfgaardian attack.
Forging alliances and fighting battles are crucial aspects of the gameplay, and this is where the Gwent part comes into game. The Queen’s army is represented by a customizable card deck, so winning Gwent matches equates to winning battles.
6Gord
The title comes from the term for Slavic fortified settlement, so you may probably guess what this strategy city-building game is about. First, you build a gord in a dark location near a haunted forest. This is the easy part. Then, you discover how upsetting it is for your villagers to live in the gord, which is under constant threat of demonic beings from Slavic folklore.
No doubt, keeping your settlement from falling is a challenging task in this game, even if you ignore monsters for a second. Sure, villagers might die in battles, but they also risk losing their minds over offering their children to entities called Horror. On the bright side, you can always cheer them up with some real-life Slavic festivals, which is a cool addition to this game.
5Thea: The Awakening
In the virtual world of Thea, you are a Slavic deity (of your choice) tasked with protecting and guiding a handful of survivors through the mysterious apocalypse known as Darkness. you’re able to make them stay in and fortify their village. They may also go outside to explore the world full of deadly monsters inspired by Slavic mythology.
Whatever you decide, bear in mind that – thanks to the multi-genre concept of this game – there are several ways for resolving conflicts and keeping your desperate flock alive. You can engage in combat through card-based mini-games or explore non-violent options that come withturn-based strategy and RPG elements.
4Smite
This free-to-play MOBA has over 100 playable deities that can be found in mythologies from all around the world. Greek, Egyptian, Norse – just to name a few,Smitecovers them all with each god and goddess having unique abilities and roles.
When it comes to the Slavic pantheon, you may select between Chernobog and the infamous Baba Yaga. The Lord of Darkness is classified as a Hunter who impales enemies with crystals throughout the game. Baba Yaga, on the other hand, is a high-damage Mage paired with a wooden hut that walks on chicken legs.
3Blacktail
In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is portrayed as both a wise elderly woman and a cruel cannibalistic hag. However, in the visually stunning dark fantasy world ofBlacktail, Yaga is a young orphan girl accused of witchcraft. She’s also the main protagonist looking for her twin sister Zora who went missing along with other children from their village.
The previously described contrast of Yaga’s representation in Slavic mythology is cleverly included into Blacktail’s morality-based gameplay. Choices really matter; therefore, you get to pick whether Yaga takes the good or the evil route in her coming-of-age journey.
2Yes, Your Grace
Do you think being a king is an easy job? If the answer is yes, install this choice-driven adventure, play it, and then reconsider your answer since its gameplay will show you everything good, bad, and ugly about running a kingdom.
Long story short, Yes, Your Grace places you on the throne of Eryk who, like any wise ruler, must protect his realm from barbarians or starvation. On top of that, you’re also a devoted husband and a loving parent –in medieval times! Now, as if that wasn’t challenging enough, add some terrifying Slavic legends and monsters in the mix, and you get the picture. At least you can enjoy Slavic folk music while making some difficult choices.
1Eventide: Slavic Fable
Slavic Fable is the first of three hidden object games in the Eventide series. It follows a botanist who is trying to save her grandmother from a Slavic demon Boruta. Luckily, she has some friendly creatures from Slavic folklore to help her on that quest.
If you’re looking for a casual game to play that will help you unwind after a long day, you might give this one a try. Just so you know, its charming story and well-thought-out puzzles go perfectly with some snacks and a cup of your favorite warm beverage.
