7 Best Video Games Where All The Gods Are Dead

Over time, I’ve really grown to love games set in empty, abandoned worlds. They create a thoughtful atmosphere that helps me get completely lost in the experience.

I’m a sucker for games where you explore lost worlds and ancient civilizations. I really love piecing together how things *used* to be, learning the stories behind them, and just getting a feel for what life was like back then. It’s a bittersweet experience, honestly, but I find it incredibly immersive.

I especially love seeing religious ideas explored in video games – particularly how characters deal with gods or divine powers, and what happens when those powers are gone.

Stories about a world where the gods are gone aren’t very common, but when done right, they’re amazing. Here are seven of the best video games that explore that idea.

7. Faith: The Unholy Trinity

There’s Only Room for Demons

Although the game *Faith: The Unholy Trinity* focuses on Christianity and God as the source of power against demons, God never physically appears within the game itself.

Fathers Garcia and Ward are the main characters in this story. They use both exorcisms and practical methods to fight a group of cultists who are trying to unleash a world-ending creature.

Despite the constant onslaught of demons and possessions, our heroes are never aided by any divine forces. They’re always left to face each new, terrifying, and visually striking horror on their own, which makes their struggles even more difficult to watch.

While God isn’t completely gone in the world of *Faith: The Unholy Trinity*, his power seems diminished. Garcia and Ward seem to be relying more on their own beliefs than on divine intervention, suggesting a distance between humanity and the divine that the church doesn’t acknowledge.

6. Neon White

No Gods, Only Angels

I’m really drawn to video games that tell original stories by stepping away from typical themes, and *Neon White* does exactly that with its portrayal of God.

Rather than showing this godlike character as flawless and innocent, the story presents him as more relatable, with actions that ultimately lead to his imprisonment by those in heaven. This creates a surprising situation where the usual power structure is flipped.

Although prison isn’t a death sentence, it feels like a spiritual void. Instead of guidance, it’s filled with people who claim to be religious but twist faith to serve their own selfish purposes.

Neon White boasts a surprisingly compelling story, brought to life through its characters and the challenges they face. This narrative perfectly complements the game’s thrilling first-person action, where fast-paced platforming and strategic choices combine to create a truly exhilarating experience.

I usually avoid using complicated terms, but because the idea of a missing God is so important to the story, I’m going to make an exception and strongly recommend you play this fantastic indie game.

5. Salt and Sanctuary

A Divine Fiction

The world of *Salt and Sanctuary* is deceptive – names and appearances are misleading, and anything presented as holy is simply made up.

Despite the importance of religious beliefs within the game’s story and how you play, players end up worshiping gods who are clearly flawed and show their weakness throughout the game.

You hint at a god who isn’t really there, a belief you maintain even though you can’t prove it, essentially deceiving yourself to hold onto your faith. This seems to be a common pattern in a world that often lacks joy or optimism.

I absolutely love *Salt and Sanctuary*. It brilliantly blends the exploration of Metroidvania games with the challenging combat of Souls-like titles. But what truly makes it one of my all-time favorites is how incredibly oppressive its world feels – not just in its visuals and sound, but also in its story and even in small details.

The biggest irony – and what I love most about *Salt and Sanctuary* – is that even the game’s supposed ‘God’ boss can be defeated and isn’t invincible. This really drives home the game’s themes better than any spoken words could.

4. Lies of P

Seeking Ascension

Lies of P explores many themes at once, staying believable while still embracing fantastical elements, like the story of a fragmented god that drives the narrative of Krat.

Like most games in the Souls-like genre, the story is told in pieces and can be hard to follow. However, the main plot centers around a villain who wants to gain immense power by harnessing the strength of a dead god, ultimately hoping to become a god himself.

As a fan, I always understood Ergo as the key to the Alchemists’ dream – a way to truly transcend life. But even though Manus gets incredibly powerful, he’s still… limited, and flawed. It’s like the game is telling us that, ultimately, death is the one thing nobody can escape, and Manus is a powerful reminder of that.

The story’s transformation from chaotic, puppet-like figures to devoted cultists aiming for godhood is really captivating. What’s impressive is how smoothly it blends different genres, making it surprisingly easy to follow and enjoy.

While *Lies of P* clearly draws inspiration from FromSoftware games, it truly shines due to its unique storytelling and creative take on the Pinocchio myth. The gameplay is so refined, it’s easy to overlook just how well-crafted it is, but it all adds up to a truly exceptional experience.

3. Fear & Hunger

A Mythology of Reminiscences

I’ve found the story and world-building in *Fear & Hunger* to be particularly compelling, especially how it presents its gods.

The game is notable for its huge cast of incredibly powerful beings. This includes fake gods, echoes of forgotten deities, gods the player actively brings into existence, and even characters who are presented as gods but aren’t truly divine.

The original gods of this world are gone, leaving only faint remnants of their power. The beings now considered divine are simply powerful mortals who have faded into obscurity. This reinforces the game’s central theme: there’s no higher power to turn to for help.

What makes the gods in Fear & Hunger so compelling – despite being unreliable and deceitful – is how they actually enhance the game’s challenging design. The game constantly throws overwhelming obstacles, negative effects, and terrifying situations at you, and the lack of helpful divine intervention only strengthens that feeling of helplessness and dread.

The narrative and gameplay work together seamlessly, creating a powerful and memorable experience. This strong connection between story and action makes it one of the most impactful games of recent years.

2. ULTRAKILL

An Afterlife in Chaos

After battling a powerful archangel who absolutely despises you, seeing the words “Face it, brother, God is dead” appear on screen like a visual novel really makes you want to stand up and cheer.

ULTRAKILL features many instances like this one, and even though I don’t know much about its story, the vanishing of its main god, similar to what happens in Neon White, is key to how the narrative unfolds. It also cleverly questions established traditions and beliefs.

Following a dramatic rebirth that has completely shifted the balance of power across different realms, we have a world filled with chaos – including a strict council of angels and war machines left over after humanity is gone. If you’re looking for a story that really throws out the rulebook when it comes to traditional myths, this one is a standout.

Even though it’s still in development, *ULTRAKILL* is already considered one of the greatest first-person shooter games ever made. The story is fantastic, but what really sets it apart is its incredibly fast-paced, inventive, and accurate shooting mechanics.

Okay, so this game basically runs on bloodshed, and it’s set in a seriously packed Hell. Honestly, it’s become one of the weirdest, most captivating adventures I’ve ever played – and I mean that in the best way possible! It’s a religious-themed journey, but totally unlike anything I’ve seen before.

1. Dark Souls

Between Humans and Shells

Playing *Dark Souls* feels like beginning with nothing and finishing with even less. I’ve rarely felt such a sense of emptiness after completing a game.

Fighting the remnants of a once-great civilization’s gods throughout this journey proved surprisingly sad, and it’s something I still feel the effects of now.

In Lordran, every being thought to be a god is described with a word that diminishes their power – illusory, failed, abandoned, and so on. These descriptions highlight that they are merely remnants of their former glory, consumed by a lasting curse that values humanity above all else.

Although the phrase “No Gods or Kings. Only Man” originated in *BioShock*, I believe *Dark Souls* truly embodies its meaning. The game’s story, visuals, and gameplay all emphasize that our experiences are a journey undertaken without any divine or royal observers.

If gods exist in this universe, I believe they do, but they aren’t living beings. They’re simply remnants of a former order, a grand, empty structure that continues to operate on autopilot, which explains why everyone – from those who tend the fires to the gods’ followers – behaves mechanically.

2025-10-09 20:11