Greek Mythology

2020 · Action Roguelike · PC / Steam

Hades solved the roguelike genre's biggest problem by making failure feel like progress, and it did it with some of the tightest combat and most charming writing in any game of its era. Supergiant Games built a game where dying sends you back to the start but moves the story forward, turning repetition into something you actually look forward to. The weapon variety, the boon system, and the sheer personality packed into every interaction keep runs feeling fresh for far longer than they should. If you've ever bounced off roguelikes because they felt like a grind, this is the one that might change your mind.

2012 · Madeline Miller · 378 pages · Literary Fiction

Madeline Miller's debut novel retells the story of Achilles through the eyes of Patroclus, and the result is one of the most emotionally devastating love stories published this century. Miller writes about the Trojan War with the authority of a classicist and the tenderness of a poet, and the relationship at the book's center is rendered with such care that its inevitable end hits like a physical blow. The supporting cast is thinner than the leads, and readers deeply familiar with the Iliad may find Miller's interpretive choices limiting. But as a novel about love, glory, and the terrible price of both, it is extraordinary.

2005 · Rick Riordan · 377 pages · Fantasy

Rick Riordan's witty, fast-paced reimagining of Greek mythology through the eyes of a dyslexic twelve-year-old became a gateway to classical literature for millions of young readers, and its charm holds up well beyond its target age group.

2021 · Pat Barker · 304 pages · Historical Fiction

A fierce, unflinching sequel to The Silence of the Girls that follows the women of Troy in the brutal aftermath of the city's fall. Pat Barker strips the myth of its grandeur and shows what victory looks like from the side of the defeated.

2018 · Madeline Miller · 400 pages · Fantasy

Madeline Miller's retelling of Circe's story transforms a minor mythological figure into a fully realized woman whose journey from powerless nymph to self-determined witch feels both ancient and thoroughly modern. The prose is gorgeous without being heavy, and Miller's command of Greek mythology gives every scene the weight of something that has been told before but never quite like this. The episodic structure can make the middle section feel scattered, and readers looking for fast-paced plotting will need to adjust their expectations. But as a portrait of a woman building a life on her own terms in a world run by capricious gods, it's one of the best mythological retellings in recent memory.

2016 · 2-4 Players · ~20 min · Competitive / Abstract

Santorini is one of the sharpest abstract strategy games you can buy, hiding real competitive depth beneath a Greek mythology theme and a ruleset that takes less than a minute to explain. The god powers give it a shelf life that most abstracts can't match, and the short play time makes rematches almost automatic. It stumbles a bit beyond two players and a few power matchups feel lopsided, but those are minor marks against what is otherwise a near-perfect gateway to competitive two-player gaming. If you want a game that rewards thinking ahead and punishes sloppy moves, all wrapped up in twenty minutes, this is it.

2023 · 1 Season · Disney+ · Fantasy / Adventure / Family

Percy Jackson and the Olympians delivers the faithful book adaptation fans have waited years for, anchored by a strong young cast and Rick Riordan's direct involvement, even if the pacing and budget constraints create occasional growing pains.

2009 · 2-5 Players · ~60-90 min · Competitive

A confrontational auction-and-conquest game set in the Greek islands, Cyclades rewards aggressive bidding and tactical flexibility but demands a group that enjoys direct conflict.

2016 · 2-4 Players · ~60-100 min · Competitive

The Oracle of Delphi is Stefan Feld's refreshing departure from point salad design, replacing victory point accumulation with a race to complete twelve tasks that creates urgency and excitement unusual for the euro genre.

2024 · 1 Season · Netflix · Dark Comedy, Fantasy

Kaos is an ambitious, wildly uneven reimagining of Greek mythology that lives and dies on Jeff Goldblum's magnetic performance as a paranoid Zeus. The show's irreverent tone and inventive world-building make for a refreshing take on well-worn myths, but its cancellation after one season means several promising storylines will never reach their intended payoff. It's a fun, frustrating ride that rewards viewers willing to accept the mess alongside the brilliance.

2019 · Alex Michaelides · 325 pages · Thriller

The Silent Patient is a debut thriller with a final-act twist that either makes the entire book or breaks it. The setup, a woman who shot her husband and then stopped speaking, is compelling, and the dual narrative sustains mystery through 300 pages. The craft is visible throughout, and the twist recontextualizes everything in a way that rewards attention. Whether the recontextualization is brilliant or manipulative depends entirely on your relationship with the rules of the game.