A visit to Greece is a visit to a country steeped in myth, history and culture.

It is also a visit to a vibrant and exciting country with plenty of contemporary attractions and a modern lifestyle. It's fair to say that Greece is varied, interesting and a place everyone should visit once in their lifetime. Even if you haven't been before, you might find yourself in Greece in another way: on digital media.

Greece, specifically Ancient Greece, has acted as a backdrop for many video games over the years. It might be the impressive Pantheon that is recognised the world over, or it could be that you have experienced characters from Greek mythology, such as Zeus or the Minotaur. One way or another, if you are a video game fan, then you're likely to have spent some time in Ancient Greece or surrounded by the imagery and themes of the era.

Don't believe us? Here are a handful of video games that have used Ancient Greece in one form or another over the years.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Perhaps the most recent example of Ancient Greece in a video game is that of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which placed you right in the heart of Sparta fighting for freedom. Not only were there subtle references to Greek Mythology throughout the game but some sites of specific interest such as the Pantheon and Ancient Athens. You could encounter figures from history too, such as Socrates and Alcibiades. The latter might not be well-known in pop culture, but his over-the-top party animal portrayal is historically accurate, as he is often described as flamboyant in real life.

Zeus: Master of Olympus

Zeus is described by Britannica as the God of Sky and is a huge character from Greek Mythology, so it is a surprise there haven't been more games named after him. Recently, mobile releases have increasingly featured the God, with Gala Bingo having several online slots dedicated to his imagery, including Zeus 1000 and Zeus Lightning Power Reels. His imagery lends itself well to the online slot industry, and his name is more often used in serious apps to suggest power, such as signing service Zeus. However, you can still get Zeus: Master of Olympus on mobile, a version of the city building game which dropped on PC at the turn of the century. And it is still just as popular today.

God of War

In 2005, God of War was first released on the PlayStation 2, and it used Ancient Greece as its backdrop. It isn't the conventional Ancient Greece, but rather an alternative populated by the Olympian gods, Titans, and other Greek mythological beings. That means outings for Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite. Again, Zeus makes an appearance, and God of War is probably the first game of its kind to feature so many characters. The game plays on the themes of Assassin's Creed, the Spartans and the like but leans so heavily on mythology to create its engrossing backdrop.

Titan Quest

Titan Quest is a role-playing action game, released on major consoles in 2018 but first seen on PC as far back as 2006. The game starts in Greece and features the Olympian Gods heavily as it seems fairly standard for these game types. The game moves on from Greece, along the fabled Silk Road, to China. If you beat the game, which was not easy, you get to meet Zeus, who tells the player they are the human champion, before heading off to feature in an online slot or as the inspiration behind another tech app!