The latest installment in Ubisoft’s acclaimed Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, is just around the corner. Set over a thousand years after the last game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Valhalla will allow players to take on the role of Eivor, a raider during the Viking invasion of Great Britain. If previous games in the Assassin’s Creed franchise are any indication, players are in for a fantastical adventure featuring notable historical figures, epic battles, and even mythological creatures.
Though Ubisoft has been commended for spacing out installments in the formerly annual franchise in order to give the Assassin’s Creed developers some breathing room, November may still feel far away to some gamers. Luckily, the wonderful world of video games boasts a variety of Nordic-influenced games, more than enough to keep players busy until Assassin’s Creed Valhalla drops November 17.
With that in mind, here are four different Norse mythology-inspired games to check out before Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releases.
God of War
After a decade of highly successful games set in Ancient Greece, Santa Monica Studio moved the titular god Kratos and his son Atreus to ancient Norway in 2018’s God of War. Set in the realm of Midgard, the Viking term for Earth, Kratos faces a variety of foes from Norse mythology, including dark elves, draugrs, and Valkyries. Though the newest entry differs greatly from the original God of War games in several ways, the near-open world environment and more varied combat system is sure to please fans both new and old.
Munin
A beautiful puzzle-platformer from indie studio Daedalic Entertainment, Munin tells the story of the titular Raven, who must solve a variety of puzzles on foot after her wings are stolen by the trickster god Loki. Based on one of the two ravens that served the god Odin, each of the nine chapters in Munin is modelled after one of the nine worlds in Norse mythology. Though the game has received some criticism for some bugs and the occasional frustrating puzzle, Munin has an undeniable charm, and is sure to please fans of similar artistic puzzle games like The Bridge and Gorogoa. Bonus points for the nerds in the back row: the studio’s name, Daedalic Entertainment, comes from the Greek mythological figure Daedalus, the father of the better-known Icarus, who met his end after flying too close to the sun.
Jotun
This indie action-adventure title from Canadian developer Thunder Lotus Games takes its name from the jötunn of Norse mythology, better known to Marvel fans as frost giants. Jotun follows Thora, a recently deceased Viking woman, as she battles the titular giants in order to impress the gods and earn her place in the glorious afterlife, Valhalla. Featuring a compelling player quest and a gorgeous hand-drawn art style, the game has plenty to offer mythology fans as they eagerly await the next Assassin’s Creed. Originally released in 2015, Jotun developer Thunder Lotus Games has gone on to release the Lovecraftian Metroidvania title Sundered and the newly-released Spiritfarer, games also praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art and fascinating lore.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
All roads lead back to Skyrim. Though it was initially released nearly a decade ago, Bethesda has kept interest in Skyrim alive and well through a variety of ports and remasters over the years. The game features a heavy Nordic influence, from Alduin the World Eater’s undeniable similarity to the Norse serpent demigod Jörmungandr to the Hall of Valor’s resemblance of the mythical Valhalla. The title of the game itself may even be a reference to a specific myth: Skrýmir is the true name of a jötunn Thor encounters on his travels. Whether they completed the game's main storyline back in 2011 or got distracted by another title, the seemingly-endless Skyrim has no shortage of material to offer gamers, and will help them keep their weapons sharp in preparation for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla this November.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releases on November 17th, 2020, for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia (and the PS5 and Xbox Series X at a later date).