8 Underrated Games Set in Ancient Egypt 

The land of the Pharaohs and Pyramids is clearly a well-trodden path for video game developers. Ancient Egypt offers an interesting setting for a variety of game genres, with big-hitting titles like Assassin’s Creed Origins standing out.

Yet, the sheer number of titles set in Ancient Egypt – the early 2000s was a particularly prolific period for churning out games with this setting – means there are inevitably some overlooked. 

Of course, as with Greek and Norse Mythology games, there is an argument that developers have flogged this particular era to death. Yet, if the game is good enough, it really doesn’t matter that you are revisiting Egypt for the 10^th or 100^th time. Below, we pick out eight titles that we believe deserved a bit more attention from gamers: 

Immortal Redneck

What we like about this one is it strays away from the traditional stereotypes of games set in Ancient Egyptian, breaking all the rules, including that of the protagonist, an affable redneck. Somehow the redneck tourist ends up in a fantastical version of the ancient world, and then a rapid-fire adventure ensues. 

Pharaoh/Pharaoh: A New Era

Overshadowed by bigger strategy games like SimCity and Age of Empires, this classic city-building game lets players develop and manage populations in Ancient Egypt. You are responsible for everything, from building the pyramids to maintaining trade and the economy. The game did kind of gain a cult following though, leading to a remake, Pharaoh: A New Era coming out in 2020 – more than 20 years after the original. 

Legend of Ra 

There is no end of Egyptian-themed slots, with titles like Book of Dead and Cleopatra gaining most of the attention, but Legends of Ra from EvoPlay is a fun tomb-raiding-themed slot with a dash of cheekiness. Nice animations, strong gameplay, and innovative special features all characterize this underrated title. 

Catyph: The Kunci Experiment

Set in an Egyptian-like future world, the criminally underrated Catyph: The Kunci Experiment from all-in-one designer, artist and publisher Simon Mesnard deserves a lot more attention. It’s actually a sequel to Mesnard’s ASA: A Space Adventure, but this puzzle-adventure hybrid is superior. 

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

Lara Croft is rarely a name that pops up in the underrated games list, but this lesser-known Tomb Raider spin-off title deserves a bit more love. Yes, it had some technical issues with loading, but Temple of Osiris nonetheless is inventive, clever, and challenging. Worth a revisit. 

Ankh 

A game that was a smash hit in Germany but did little elsewhere, Ankh is a light-hearted adventure title set in Ancient Egypt. It’s got quirky little puzzles, a fun storyline, and decent 3D graphics. A couple of sequels followed, but the original is arguably the best. 

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

Another hidden gem from the early 2000s, players control the demigod Sphinx and the mummy of Tutankhamun in their battle against the mad god, Set.

Sphinx is for action and exploration, and Tutankhamun for puzzles and stealth. Both combine for a satisfying adventure. Originally released in 2003, the game was remastered for Linux/Mac in 2017 and Nintendo DS in 2019. 

Cleopatra: A Queen’s Destiny

Set in ancient Egypt, you play as Thomas, a young apprentice to an astrologer challenged with solving puzzles and saving the day. Despite the title, Queen Cleo is on the periphery of the story, but that doesn’t impact a game that hits the right balance between entertainment and education.