Frequently the figure from Greek mythology, Ares appears in contemporary popular culture, as he is the ancient Greek god of war in the most generally familiar classical mythology. To provide historic color, the Macedonian Phalangites in the film Alexander chant "Enyalios" in the Battle of Gaugamela as they march into battle.
Ares is the name of NASA's transport ship replacing the Space Shuttle, an extension of NASA's uses of Saturn for manned rockets, Mercury for a satellite program, and the Apollo program, rather than as any reflection of the intrinsic nature of the war god.
In Planet Comics there was a strip called Mars God of War, featuring a character based on Ares under the name of Mars. This character was a villain who took over people's bodies in attempts to cause war.
In pop music English band Bloc Party recorded a song "Ares" on their third album Intimacy. Japanese pop artist Gackt has a song named Ares on his second solo album, Mars (album).
Ares is a main character in the book series The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. He is a supporting character in the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. In John C. Wright's Chronicles of Chaos, he is a major character, an influential faction to be appeased when dealing with the children.
Ares is a regular character in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. Portrayed by the late Kevin Tod Smith (credited as Kevin Smith), he is scripted as a conflicted God who is torn between his passionate desire for Xena and his inherent desire to foster war and people's evil nature. The character is one of the more complex of the series. After the fall of the Olympian Gods, Ares is rendered mortal but restores his godhood along back with his sister Aphrodite after having a bite of Odin's apple through Xena's help.
In the short-lived television series Valentine, Ares was a businessman who went by the name Ari. Initially, he was the villain of the series. He indirectly threatened Kate, refused to give Grace a divorce, and had an antagonistic relationship with Ray. However, he had a positive, albeit awkward, relationship with his son, Danny. As the series progressed, Ari's relationship with Grace improved and he was charged with finding a weapon for his father. Unfortunately, in a battle against Bastet for that weapon, Ari was fatally wounded. Greg Ellis portrayed Ari and appeared in all eight episodes that aired.
Ares has also become a popular character in comics, spawning distinct versions of the character in both DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
Ares is eligible in Age of Mythology when advancing to the Classical Age. Doing so by choosing Ares as patron god provides enhancements for infantry units, the power of pestilence (by which enemy buildings cannot produce units for a period of time) and the mythical cyclops units.
Ares is the main antagonist, and final boss battle, in the 2005 video game God of War. In it, Ares runs amok and assails the city of Athens while challenging the other gods and looking for Pandora's Box to maximize his power; the other gods enlist the aid of a Spartan named Kratos (the player), former protégé of Ares, who was tricked by the god to slay his family in the past. Since Zeus forbids the gods to fight each other, Kratos searches for Pandora's Box, which gives him the power to rival a god. Ares is slain by Kratos, who takes his position as "God of War". Ares reappears in the 2007 video game God of War II during a flashback near the beginning. Ares remains are seen in the 2010 video game God of War III as one of Kratos' battles takes place over Ares' ice tomb. His remains are seen in the ice. Ares also appears in a flashback in the 2010 video game God of War: Ghost of Sparta where it is shown that he kidnapped Kratos' brother Deimos as a prophecy foretold the demise of Olympus was to come by a marked warior. Zeus and Ares believed the warrior to be Deimos because of his unusual birthmark, but the prophecy actually referred to Kratos, as Kratos marked himself with a tattoo in the shape of his brothers birthmark to honor him.
Ares is also a playable character in Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 following his takeover of Harchester United F.C. and merger with Terry Silver and his Dynatox Industries.
Ares is also the final boss in Spartan: Total Warrior.