There are plenty of video games based on various mythologies from around the world. Still, games based on Japanese, Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythology are the most common. Games based on Chinese mythology are also becoming more popular these days.
While it's great that there's some variation, seeing games based on the same few mythologies so often gets tiring. Luckily, there are still a handful of games based on lesser-known legends, whether they come from other ancient cultures that no longer exist, indigenous tribes, or aren't typically thought of as a basis for video games.
7 Mulaka
Based on the mythology of the Tarahumara or Raramuri people of northern Mexico, Mulaka is a 3D platformer developed by Lienzo that launched in 2018. In Mulaka, you play as an eponymous shaman as he fights against the corrupted creatures that have overwhelmed the region.
Mulaka has a variety of useful skills at his disposal to help him fight against the corruption, including a spear he can use at close range or long range, spiritual abilities, animal transformations for both traversal and combat, potion crafting, and skill enhancements. Mulaka also includes art, music, and language directly from the Tarahumara culture.
6 The Mooseman
Based on the mythology of the Komi people of Russia and other Finno-Ugric mythologies, The Mooseman was developed by Morteshka and launched in 2017. The Mooseman features the eponymous character, a shaman and a son of Yen, the creator god, as he sets out to find the sun and protect the world from a permanent ice age.
Because The Mooseman is a 2D puzzle-solving adventure game, the Mooseman can only move in two directions but can switch between the human and spirit realms to solve puzzles and stay hidden from enemies. The Mooseman is also a concise game, with an average playtime of only an hour and a half.
5 Never Alone
Never Alone, or Kisima Inŋitchuŋa, is a puzzle-platformer developed by Upper One Games based on the mythology of the Inupiat people native to Alaska and first launched in 2016. Never Alone stars a girl named Nuna and her pet arctic fox as they attempt to bring balance back to nature after a blizzard destroys their village.
A unique feature included in Never Alone is a series of videos called cultural insights. They are found by locating owls throughout the game and have various Inupiaq community members sharing their culture's stories. There is also an expansion known as Never Alone: Foxtales, which tells another story of Nuna and her Arctic Fox trying to find their way back home.
4 Nightfall: Escape
A survival horror game developed by Zeenoh and 7 Seals, Nightfall: Escape features creatures from Philippine mythology and launched on PC in 2016. Possibly inspired by the Silent Hill series, Nightfall: Escape stars field journalist Ara Cruz who winds up in an alternate dimension when investigating a series of mysterious disappearances near an abandoned mansion.
Ara's primary tool is her flashlight, but she can obtain weapons and other tools to defend herself from the creatures she encounters and to help her solve puzzles. In addition to the inventory using a grid-based system, there's also a bestiary where players can learn more about each creature.
3 Maldita Castilla
Maldita Castilla, or Cursed Castilla as it's called in some regions, is a side-scrolling action platformer developed by Locomalito. It initially launched for PC in 2012 but didn't see a worldwide console launch until 2016. Maldita Castilla is based on Spanish and other European mythology, particularly the Amadis de Gaula, a literary work from the 16th century.
Inspired by retro side-scrolling arcade games like Ghosts N' Goblins, Maldita Castilla stars a knight named Don Ramiro as he slays the demons that have taken over the castle on his way to find and destroy the source of the evil that has taken over.
2 Moon Hunters
Moon Hunters is a co-op roguelike action game developed by Kitfox Games and originally launched for PC and PlayStation 4 in 2016 and launched for other platforms the following year. Based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology, Moon Hunters has six playable characters who must go on a quest to discover why the moon has disappeared and bring balance back to the world.
Due to the roguelike elements featured in Moon Hunters, each area is procedurally generated, making each playthrough different. The ending can also change depending on your choices, affecting how the final battle plays out.
1 Assassin's Creed 3: The Tyranny Of King Washington
A three-part episodic DLC for Assassin's Creed 3, The Tyranny Of King Washington features the protagonist Connor being sent to an alternate dimension where he never became an assassin, and George Washington has become the king of the United States due to obtaining the Apple of Eden.
Because The Tyranny Of King Washington is partially based on the Native American mythology of the Mohawk tribe, Connor gains the ability to transform into several significant animals, including a bear, an eagle, and a wolf, along with several other unique abilities exclusive to the DLC. The story isn't canon to the rest of the series but is still a fascinating what-if scenario.