Viking games, like Valheim and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, are rising in popularity - and in quantity. Ever since Bethesda’s Skyrim launched in 2011, the gaming industry has seen more and more Viking-filled (or at least Viking-adjacent) titles hit the market. These games inspired by Norse history and culture have varied in their focus and gameplay, but they all feature Viking-style warriors in all their glory - and usually include some fascinating Norse mythology, too. The frequency with which these games are being published is reminiscent of the horde of zombie games like Resident Evil and Days Gone that were prominent for years.

Which isn't to say that Vikings are replacing zombies - games like The Last of Us Part 2 and Dying Light 2 are still big names, the former receiving quite a few Game of the Year awards. There are plenty of zombie games available and plenty more still to come. But there are also a similar number of Viking fantasies, from action RPGs to survival games, and while these stories were popular as far back as 2011, when Skyrim arguably began the trend, the rising number of Viking-oriented titles being created today suggests a popularity that may come to rival the undead.

Related: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Discovery Tour Lets Players Be Actual Vikings

One potential issue that comes with so many titles in the same niche is just how similar they can be. At their core, a lot of zombie games come down to the same thing: Kill lots of zombies and don’t die. This is an extreme generalization, as plenty of zombie games like The Last of Us and Dying Light feature interesting stories and worlds, but because they all prominently feature one particular threat, many of the games can end up looking similar. The same could be a risk for Viking titles.

Viking Games Have Become Prolific

Viking Games Are The New Zombie Games

Because Norse mythology and the romanticized Viking lifestyle are so interesting, games usually include many details drawn from history or legend, such as Norse gods, other mythological beings like the Valkyries, the famous Vikings raids, and berserkers. Games like Valheim and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice use themes of the afterlife as seen through a Norse lens, and the story of Ragnarok is a perennially popular one that features in a few Viking titles such as Tribes of Midgard and (so far as is known currently) God of War: Ragnarok.

Yet while the tales of Loki and Odin are fascinating, there are only so many times they can be told before they go stale. Viking-inspired games often need to have something unique. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla stands out because it’s from a longstanding series, but also because of the futuristic elements the series is known for. Valheim's survival elements and afterlife setting make it unique, with a rather fundamentally contrasting concept.

Future Viking titles will have to work just as hard to keep players interested. While zombie games have their own fan base, the over-saturation of the market can make it difficult for smaller games to make it big. It takes the ingenuity of a game like Valheim or a fascinating - and heartbreaking - story like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice to make these smaller titles stand out.

Related: How Valheim Does Vikings Different Than AC Valhalla

With the Hellblade and God of War sequels coming up on the horizon, plus new Viking-themed titles like Tribes of Midgard, it will be interesting to see how they can hold onto their own identities among their peers. Considering that zombie games are still released regularly, it looks like Viking games could also be here to stay - so long as developers continue to put effort into their storytelling.

Next: Why God Of War 2 Is Delayed Until 2022