Ilum

About

Ilum is an adventure game set in ancient Babylon during its final days in 539 BC. You navigate a world inspired by real cities like Borsippa and Kutha, figuring out a story tied to the Ark of the Covenant and prophesied collapse of the empire. The single-player experience mixes exploration of historically informed locations with myth-driven quests, all voiced in Akkadian to emphasize its roots in Babylonian and Biblical lore. The game’s strength lies in its detailed reconstructions of sites like the Tower of Babel and Nebuchadnezzar’s palaces, informed by archaeological records and cuneiform texts. While the open-world design and narrative focus on religious prophecy offer a niche appeal, the linguistic and cultural authenticity sets it apart. Released in 2022, it draws players seeking a blend of history and mythology in a less常见的 setting.

Storyline

Nebuchadnezzar II is the king of kings of the near east, the center of civilization and culture. He had just sieged and razed Jerusalem to the ground, destroyed its temple, captured all Jewish relics, including the Ark of the Covenant and the 10 Commandments, and brought all inhabitants as captives to Babylon. What initially seemed as another Babylonian conquest, it was actually the result of a prophecy known much before: Jerusalem’s destruction was actually the result of the idolatry consuming Jewish lands. The prophecy also set that Babylon itself was going to be destroyed after 70 years, with all captives being released and all sacred relics sent back to Jerusalem. How can Babylon, the biggest and most protected city on earth, be destroyed by the prophecy of an invisible God brought upon by slaves? 539 BC. The 70 years are fulfilled. Now it is your duty to destroy Babylon and take the Ark of Covenant back to Jerusalem!