Myth

Myth, real-time tactical combat game series that was released in 1997 by American electronic game manufacturer Bungie Software. Dropped into a market already glutted with the legendary Warcraft and Command and Conquer series, Myth set itself apart by focusing on warfare tactics and ignoring economic and resource development, offering a purer battle-based experience.

In Myth players control groups of units, including human swordsmen, “elven” archers, Molotov cocktail-throwing “dwarves,” and journeymen (healers). Play is heavily dependent on knowing how to take advantage of the units’ different abilities, with swordsmen able to quickly close in on and butcher archers, archers able to shoot down frail dwarves from a safe distance, and dwarves able to blow up swordsmen before they can be reached. In single-player games, players must use their battalions to accomplish various goals in a quest-style game. In multiplayer action, players first choose units, with different associated “costs,” for their armies, and then warfare begins on predetermined maps customized for one of many different battle types. These types include everything from capture the flag to a hunting game in which players compete to see who can kill the most animals.

One factor that sets Myth apart from other games in the genre is its dedicated fan base. Myth fans have provided extensive volunteer programming and updating to keep the series fresh and enjoyable for other die-hard fans. Myth spawned two direct sequels, Myth II: Soulblighter and Myth III: The Wolf Age.