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2025
Configuring Martial Representations of Carthage Using Mods in Total War: ROME II. By Edward Hammond
In this blog post, Edward Hammond explores how two mods to Total War: Rome II reimagine the base game’s representation of ancient Carthage.
2024
Glyphs of Sennaar. By Julie Levy
In this blog post, Julie Levy deconstructs the language mechanics in the 2023 game Chants of Sennaar, and shows how the game advocates for unity.
2023
A Warning Against Imperialism #2: Dorian Pavus & Cremisius Aclassi Fight Back in Dragon Age. By Natalie J. Swain
In this second post on classical reception and Dragon Age, Natalie J. Swain zooms in on the characters Dorian Pavus and Cremisius Aclassi, and discusses the popular discourse of “moral decay” in relation to the “decline” of Rome.
A Warning Against Imperialism #1: The Tevinter Imperium as Rome in Dragon Age. By Natalie J. Swain
In this first post, Natalie J. Swain discusses classical reception in BioWare’s Dragon Age series, considering the Tevinter empire (and its decline) in relationship with ancient Rome and popular ideas around it.
2022
1. Entering The Forgotten City
Does Sci-fi Tell Ancient History? Well, The Forgotten City Does. By David Serrano Lozano
In the first post of the ‘Entering The Forgotten City’ series, David Serrano Lozano discusses how the game stands out between other recreations of ancient Rome, and discusses crucial insights from interviews with the game’s developers.
The Society of The Forgotten City #1: Roman Citizens and Imperial Subjects. By Hamish Cameron
In the first of a diptych on The Forgotten City’s Roman society, Hamish Cameron explains how the game abstracts concepts of Roman citizenship.
The Society of The Forgotten City #2: (Mis)representing Slavery. By Hamish Cameron
In his second blog post, Hamish Cameron discusses how The Forgotten treats (and avoids) issues of slavery in the Roman world.
The End of The Line: The Gods of The Forgotten City. By Julie Levy
For the final post on The Forgotten City, Julie Levy talks us through the game’s reception of the gods, and how it ties into contemporary notions of Ancient Aliens.
2. The Hidden Gems of Ludic Antiquity
An Unconquered Spirit: Fan Communities Resume Development on Abandoned Game. By Alexander Greyswood
Alexander Greyswood takes us through the Invictus mod for Imperator: Rome, explaining how a fan community kept alive a game on which development was abruptly stopped.
Hope for Future Pasts: The Classical Tradition in Horizon Zero Dawn (2017). By Rick Castle
In his blog post, Rick Castle unearths how the highly popular game Horizon Zero Dawn both subverts and reinscribes traditional modes of engagement with the classical tradition.
Mobile Games and the Ancient World. By Kate Cook
For the final post in the Hidden Gems series, Kate Cook provides a much-needed look into the immense world of mobile antiquity games.
2021
1. The Mechanics of Antiquity Games
The Mechanics of Antiquity, by Julie Levy
In our first blog post, Julie Levy surveys different gameplay mechanics in antiquity games, and ponders whether antiquity games could offer ‘more’ than what they have in the past.
Myth and Combat Mechanics in Supergiant’s Hades, by Kira Jones
Kira Jones discusses how the mechanics and the character Poseidon in Supergiant’s Hades compare to ancient myth.
By the Power of Zeus: Apotheon, Divine Power-Ups and their Classical Inspirations, by Maciej Paprocki
Maciej Paprocki talks about the creative process of the divine power-ups in the game Apotheon, and lays bare the connections between the game and ancient myth.
2. Britannia on the Board
Rebellion: Britannia #1: The Game, by Maurice Suckling
In his first post, Maurice Suckling introduces his board game Rebellion: Britannia, and gives an example of what a play session would look like.
Rebellion: Britannia #2: The History, by Maurice Suckling
Maurice Suckling surveys the Roman conquest of Britain, as the historical background for his board game Rebellion: Britannia.
Rebellion: Britannia #3: Coherent Historicity in the Game, by Maurice Suckling
Maurice Suckling discusses how the history of 1st century Roman Britain was designed into the rules and gameplay of his board game Rebellion: Britannia.
Rebellion: Britannia #4: Problematic Historicity in the Game, by Maurice Suckling
In his final post, Maurice Suckling describes the historical problems in adapting the Roman conquest of Britain for his board game Rebellion: Britannia.
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