Players tired of the swords-and-sorcery of fantasy games or the blaster-toting adventures of sci-fi titles might have a hard time finding a game for their fancy. However, players with a knack for history might appreciate video games that dabble into “what-if?” territory. Moreover, a lot of titles actually add unique twists to historical events that result in crazy and memorable video game stories.
Some alternate history concepts in games just end up becoming outright insane. However, just which video games have the craziest alternate history settings? Moreover, how did these settings affect the narrative of the game?
10 Fallout
Essentially, Bethesda’s Fallout series follow the aftermath when tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China resulted in the Great War. Unfortunately, two hours of thermonuclear bombardment on October 23, 2077 wiped out sociopolitical structures in the United States. Thankfully, most survivors come in the form of Vaulters who lived in underground Vaults, courtesy of the enigmatic Vault-Tec Corporation.
As a result, history “branched out” from this 2077 divergence point. Unlike today’s technology, Fallout‘s world follows a retro-futuristic theme based on the 1950’s vision of “the Atomic Age.” Aside from dangerous levels of radiation, others surmise the lack of transistor forced Fallout‘s world to depend on natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy.
9 Command & Conquer
One of the pioneers of modern RTS actually had an extremely unique take on historical narratives. In Command & Conquer, Westwood Studios envisioned a world changed by the arrival of a meteor containing the mysterious Tiberium in 1995. Unfortunately, despite Tiberium’s potential as a resource, its adverse mutations remain extremely lethal to all living things on Earth. Nevertheless, various Tiberium Wars ensued between the UN-backed Global Defense Initiative and the enigmatic Brotherhood of Nod.
In this wild alternate history, the C&C timeline elaborates on an “infected” world where only very few cities remain habitable due to the threat of Tiberium poisoning. Moreover, C&C had quite a unique take on technology reliant on an alien mineral. In turn, C&C has one of the most unique depictions of a divergent alternate timeline.
8 Red Alert
Originally envisioned as a prequel of C&C, Westwood Studios’ Red Alert series gave yet another unique take on alternate history. Instead of revolving around an alien mineral, Red Alert instead plays with conspiracy theories and military fiction. For instance, the Red Alert story adds a unique “Third World War” event between the Allied Powers and the Soviet Union. Moreover, advancements in time travel have led to the death of Albert Einstein. In turn, Red Alert‘s timeline didn’t have nuclear technology and instead relied on Tesla’s famous Tesla coil.
Moreover, aside from the popular Chronosphere, Red Alert also featured mind control (courtesy of Soviet traitor and psychic Yuri). Future installments also had robots (courtesy of the Empire of the Rising Sun), and even Albert Einstein’s time-based technology.
7 Wolfenstein
Of all alternate timelines in video game history, it’s Wolfenstein‘s that perhaps the most terrifying. In Wolfenstein‘s alternate timeline, Nazi Germany has won World War 2 and have begun expanding their reign of terror. Moreover, this shift in narrative gave players the look and feel of a Nazi-dominated world. Thankfully, in The New Order, William Blazkowicz joins the resistance and manages to stop the Nazis and their terrible rule.
Aside from this terrifying narrative, Wolfenstein does introduce unique historical elements to its story. For instance, the Nazis in the Wolfenstein timeline appear to have been relying on reverse-engineered alien technology from the ancient Da’at Yichud. Moreover, this discovery led the Nazis to use rudimentary forms of artificial intelligence and energy weapons.
6 STALKER
Horror fans know just how immersive STALKER‘s world can become despite its limited setting. Essentially, the game takes place in 2006 when a second nuclear disaster took place in Ukraine’s Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. However, this second disaster spawned different kinds of mutations. Interestingly, the player finds themselves in the area as a Scavenger. Eventually, they see various factions who have taken interest in whatever lies deep within Chernobyl’s increasingly-unstable center.
Unlike other settings, it’s the unsettling “unsureness” of Chernobyl’s “second disaster” that adds a much-needed flair to their version of an alternate timeline. Instead of relying on extremely radical alternate history ideas, the mystery within this alternate Chernobyl proves enough to create a memorable story for players.
5 Assassin’s Creed
Despite the series’ historical premise, Assassin’s Creed soon reveals an alternate history so well-hidden behind the scenes that it’s almost practically embedded in the real world. Essentially, the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order wage war over their “views” of what a “peaceful” world should look like. Interestingly, both parties seem to take particular interest in the Isu, an ancient species of advanced humanoids that founded the human race.
As a result, the Assassin’s Creed titles take players on journeys to find various Pieces of Eden. These pieces of technology grant various abilities to their wielders that seem god-like in nature. However, it’s soon revealed that the Isu has other plans in mind as well. Interestingly, the Assassin’s Creed games also let players explore various historical timelines and meet various historical individuals, from Leonardo da Vinci to Jack the Ripper.
4 The Order: 1886
Despite the lukewarm reception, The Order: 1886 has one of the most interesting alternate history premises in video games. Essentially, the game takes place in an alternate 19th Century. Moreover, this version of steampunk London features the Knights of the Round Table. However, they don’t serve as mere knights. Rather, they fight various supernatural creatures such as vampires and even werewolves.
In their history, some humans in the 800s-900s have taken on bestial traits. Despite their low numbers, the half-breeds seem to have the upper hand in the Human-Hybrid War. However, King Arthur and his Round Table managed to fend off these creatures. And The Order: 1886 explores a new threat from these half-breeds as well as the political consequences of a world where these half-breeds exist.
3 Metal Gear
Things in the Metal Gear series kick-off when a group of some of the world’s most powerful elite formed the Philosophers. These individuals from the United States, Russia, and China aspired to control the world’s economy and sociopolitical through their actions. Things come to a head when the Philosophers’ Legacy — a USD 100-billion cash source and the names of their members — become shuffled into various parties behind the scenes.
Interestingly, the activities of the Philosophers resulted in notable elements in the Metal Gear narrative. For instance, these included the creation of the Metal Gear machines, cloning programs, and even advanced AI. Moreover, the Metal Gear timeline remains quite interesting given how they explored these grandiose ideas from the down-low. Unlike other games, Metal Gear explores these concepts with conspiracies, spies, and espionage.
2 Prey
What if John F. Kennedy survived his assassination and the Space Race skyrocketed to epic proportions? In Prey, players explore this alternate history as well as a chilling take on what might have happened when mankind finally reached the final frontier. For instance, the game’s timeline showed how mankind discovered the Typhon, hostile aliens that have both physical and psychic manifestations. The United States and the Soviet Union secretly captured the Typhon and imprisoned it in the Kletka space station.
Afterward, the United States took full custody of the Kletka and started studying the Typhon for possible benefits to human technology. In turn, they placed the Kletka in the Talos I space station. Unfortunately, in Prey‘s story, players take on the role of Morgan Yu as they explore the abandoned Talos I after a captive Typhon got loose from confinement.
1 Resident Evil
Interestingly, despite its zombie-centric narrative, events in the first Resident Evil games have created significant diversions from the real world’s timeline. For instance, the unfortunate Raccoon City Destruction Incident jumpstarted an illegal black market race to dominate the field of bio-organic warfare.
Additionally, the arrival of various zombifying viruses led to widespread outbreaks in various areas of the world. In turn, nations and governments have begun investing in various “anti-bioterrorism” groups that receive training to combat these threats. Unfortunately, the occasional zombie outbreak became “the usual” incident in Resident Evil‘s landscape.
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