Historical accuracy isn’t something that is usually associated with the video gaming industry. Many developers play fast and loose with factual accuracy, in favor of creating an enjoyable playing experience. However, this started to change when the gaming industry became a leading form of media. Many gamers began showing interest in developers implementing education into their games. Making their guilty pleasure hobby feel significantly less guilty.
Even AAA titles like the Assassins Creed series now actively encourages gamers to learn more about the eras that they are playing in. This is predominantly achieved by adding notes or diary entries as collectibles. These collectibles add factual context to the game, not only teaching gamers but also increasing their in-game immersion.
10 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an adventure RPG developed by Warhorse Studios. The gameplay focused heavily on realism. Players need to eat, drink and sleep to stay healthy. Furthermore, armor, clothing, and perishable food deteriorate as time passes.
The game is set in the early 1400s Kingdom of Bohemia, also known as the Czech Kingdom. Despite having a huge open world, the developer’s ensured that the environment was filled with historically accurate weapons, characters, and buildings.
9 Verdun
Verdun deserves praise for being one of the few first-person shooters that makes a conscious effort to give players a historically accurate gameplay experience. As the name suggests, the game is inspired by the Battle of Verdun. The Battle of Verdun is believed to be one of the longest battles in history. It lasted almost a year and claimed over 300,000 lives. Consequently, making it one of the most deadly battles in history too.
Furthermore, the game was praised for its accurate portrayal of trench warfare and for adding realistic human tendencies as gameplay mechanics. For example, suppression fire greatly affects the player’s vision. When under fire, the camera becomes blurry and will shake to indicate that the character is trying to avoid being hit.
Unfortunately, the game was received relatively poorly. Likely justifying the views of skeptics who believe that it isn’t possible to make a realistic FPS game enjoyable.
8 The Assassins Creed Series
A pioneer of historical accuracy in gaming, the Assassins Creed series has taken players to some of history’s most famous time-periods. From the 15th century Renaissance Italy to the 1700s American Revolution, to Ancient Egypt’s Ptolemaic period.
The over-arching storylines in the Assassin Creed games are usually more historically influenced than historically accurate. However, the games are littered with famous historical figures and locations that often play key roles. Furthermore, the series often provides players with a database in the pause menu. This database provides players with a plethora of optional documents to read that educate players on the era that they are playing in.
7 Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Valiant Hearts: The Great War was released in 2014, a century after World War 1. Developers Ubisoft Montpellier wanted the side-scrolling puzzle game to teach players about the great war. They achieved this by including over 100 collectibles in the game, each with their own description. These descriptions contained factually accurate information about their usage at the time.
It won the Best Narrative award at The Game Awards 2014 and the Artistic Achievement award at the 11th British Academy Games Awards.
6 The Total War Series
The Total War series has dominated the real-time strategy market since Shogun: Total War was released in 2000. The series is known for combining a turn-based strategy overworld with real-time strategy combat.
The series’ settings having included Ancient Rome, 16th-century feudal Japan, and the 18th century Early Modern Period. The game’s historical accuracy focuses predominantly on eras social cultures. As well as ensuring that the commandable units have accurate weapons and armory of their corresponding period.
When looking for historical accuracy, it may be worth giving the Total War: Warhammer games a miss. As historians are yet to find evidence of Bone Giants or Zombie Dragons.
5 The Age Of Empires Series
The Age of Empires games span across the Stone Age, Ancient History, Bronze age, and Iron age. The gameplay focuses on careful management of limited resources, and the intelligent use of technological advances. These technologies are accurate to their time periods and can give players a decisive edge on their opponents if used correctly.
The series had a spin-off game named Age of Mythology. The game focused on Egyptian, Greek, and Norse Mythology, while keeping the gameplay similar to the Age of Empires series.
4 March Of The Eagles
Like many entries on this list, March of the Eagles is a strategy game. Its gameplay is similar to many other strategy games with production management, unit management, and diplomacy all being common-place.
March of the Eagles takes place in the early 1800s during the Napoleonic wars. The game features major powers from the era such as the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Spain, and the United Kingdom. It attempted to differentiate itself from other strategy games by adding a concept named Ideas. These Ideas included technological advances that were historically accurate to the various Empires.
3 The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail series has seen many iterations over the years. From the 1971 PC text adventure to the bright and colorful IOS and Android version released in 2009. The 1985 iteration of the game is the most well known in the series. It put players in the shoes of either a banker from Boston, a farmer from Illinois, or a Carpenter from Ohio as they embarked on the trail.
The educational game was known for its punishing difficulty. It threw problems at players that people suffered with when embarking on the real Oregon Trail. Such as illnesses like typhoid and cholera that were deadly at the time, and difficulties when fording rivers that could kill player’s oxen or destroy their wagon.
2 The Crusader Kings Series
The Crusader Kings series take place in the middle ages, predominantly across Europe. The series has featured some of the most notable leaders in history, such as William the Conqueror, Ivar the Boneless, and Genghis Khan. As well as historical battles like the Battle of Hastings.
The games differentiate themselves from similar strategy titles with its increased focus on role-playing gameplay. These RPG elements are predominantly funneled through the game’s dynasty simulating. Players are required to manage the politics, religions, and economics of their chosen empire and are rewarded with classic RPG traits.
1 Europa Universalis 4
Europa Universalis 4 earns its top spot on this list with its implementation of historical events that take place in real-time. The strategy game is set between the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period.
The game throws a multitude of issues at the player for them to manage. From resource management to conventing providences religious beliefs, to managing the discipline and morale of their units.
Furthermore, Paradox Development Studio requires players to keep a careful eye on technological advancements. They are split into three categories, Military, Administration, and Diplomacy. Players need to keep on top of them to ensure that they aren’t eclipsed by their competition.
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