Top 6 Historical Games

We have compiled a selection of games with a historical bias that can boast a beautiful picture, exciting gameplay, and a competent plot presentation — these aspects are necessary to maintain the player's interest, even in "historical" games.

Total War

The Total War series of games today have many disadvantages:

• - Optimization problems
• - Horse-drawn price tags for games and add-ons
• - A decrease in the number of mechanics with each new game
• - Excessive reliance on the efforts of modders

However, the overall scale and sophistication of the mechanics make you shake your head respectfully. But before, we had the Shogun, Rome, the Empire, and Napoleon, devoid of disadvantages. In them, the player will have to lead the chosen side of the conflict to victory.

Take Total War: Shogun 2 as an example. The game is dedicated to the period of feudal fragmentation in Japan. In this game, you step into the role of a dominant family, vanquish your adversaries, and rise to the honored rank of shogun.

The global map in this turn-based strategy game shows the beauty of Japan. Mountains, forests, and rivers are visible. Caravans ply the paths between the cities, and birds fly in the sky. On one of the sections of the map, the player must develop cities, train an army, and participate in political squabbles.

Grandiose battles are more like a historical reconstruction. They need to take into account the terrain and the weather. Before the start, the commander gives a motivational speech, and the loaded soldiers go into battle. During the war, the fighters get tired, the shooters run out of ammunition, and the death of their comrades lowers morale. Units with low morale will run away from the battlefield. All this makes what is happening more realistic.

There is something to see in naval battles. In them, you need to skillfully maneuver ships, fire at the enemy from a distance, or go for a rapprochement. The nearest ship can be pulled up with hooks and boarded. And if you bring the camera closer to the boat, you can hear the sailors singing songs. 

Assassin's Creed

The famous series of games from Ubisoft. It can only be called historical with a stifled laugh, especially knowing the plot. In it, the player had to feel himself as an assassin – a member of the ancient order of assassins, who, according to the French developers, were righteous people. The assassins were opposed by no less mysterious Templars, an organization that tries to control the world. But what a dive into a slice of a particular era there was!

In Assassin's Creed 1, the player finds himself in the heat of the third crusade. In the role of assassin Altair, you need to take a direct part in the conflict and eliminate shadow manipulators on both sides. The game provides plenty of opportunities to explore Jerusalem, Damascus, and Acre, where most of the game takes place. 

The main character is mobile and quickly climbs most buildings. The key card of the series is the opportunity to explore the surroundings from a high tower, where you can appreciate the architecture and scale of past cities. It is also inspiring to see with your own eyes the conflict between the Saracens and the Crusaders, as well as their leaders – Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. However, the game is too long, and we want to finish everything as soon as possible by the time we meet with them. But the spirit of that time is felt!

Assassin's Creed 2 resumes the story from the first game, greatly enhancing its earlier version—fans consider this follow-up to be among the best iterations in the series. This time, the game takes place in Italy during the Renaissance. In the role of assassin Ezio, the player is allowed to explore the picturesque corners of Italy and get acquainted with the famous Leonardo da Vinci, Nicolo Machiavelli, and Rodrigo Borgia. They will even let you get to Rome and look at the central city of the world of that era.

All games in the series vary in scale and quality. Some came out in such a raw form that the Internet was filled with videos where flying teeth appeared in place of people. However, this does not negate that the player was allowed to visit Syria, Israel, Italy, America, France, and England virtually and explore them properly. 

It is also worth mentioning Assassin's Creed Black Flag, where the mechanics of ship control are atmospherically implemented — the spirit of piracy of the early 18th century is perfectly conveyed. Thanks to Black Flag, the sailors' song "Drunken Sailor" and many others from the repertoire of Edward Canway's team have sunk into the soul of many. 

Despite the French developers' shortcomings, the Assasin's Creed series found a way to fit hooded assassins into significant historical events organically, except for Assasin's Creed Valhalla. An extensive and noisy Viking is trying to act like an assassin, which sounds and looks stupid. But she still conveys historical events perfectly because, in the last trilogy, they introduced a whole mode for education — "History of." Soon, Assassin's Creed Mirage will receive the same mode, where the developers will tell the story of the city of Baghdad that has already disappeared. 

Red Dead Redemption 2

A reference Western from the developers of Rockstar Games. It is a cautionary tale about the brave Dutch Van der Linde gang trying to survive in the Wild West. Although the player is entrusted with the role of a dashing bandit who robs and kills honest people, he can re-educate himself and start helping people, hunting for heads, and promoting the law in unaffected civilization lands. What kind of western is this if you can't have a pistol duel with an arrogant scoundrel? The player's behavior affects the passage and the world's attitude towards him.   

In your free time from robbery or heroic deeds, you can treat yourself to a glass in the saloon. As entertainment, you can play cards, dominoes, and fillets of five fingers (this is when you hit with a knife between your fingers). These are simple joys, but there were no others in those days. Observing the lives of ordinary people who go about their business is also enjoyable. Many of them will be happy to share the details of their daily lives. And women and people of color will complain about their unenviable fate.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

The adventures of the Czech ragamuffin Ingrich are perhaps the main competitor of the "Troubles" today in all aspects: historicity and a scenario related to actual events; a combat system close to fencing and the realities of the 15th century; the behavior of the hero dressed in full armor and armor; horse racing and animal behavior; the atmosphere and way of life of the peasants of that time! The developers from Warhorse have been making their masterpiece for seven long years — and it was worth it.

Even though the game greatly emphasizes historicity, it is exciting to learn how to play it: shoot arrows clumsily, engage in challenging battles, get injured and recover, trade, and communicate with local non-writers. The exploration of an open and large world filled with content does not disappear anywhere — you will find caves or camps of bandits, hunt animals, and dig up a treasure. The game skillfully creates the spirit of adventure, and you want to return to Kingdom Come: Delivery just to be back in the era shown by Warhorse Studio.

The Saboteur

It is an action-adventure game where you must conduct subversive activities during World War II in Nazi-occupied France. The main character is a former car mechanic, Sean Delvin, now a racer. The enemies burned down his native hut, so he will have to take revenge on the invaders.

His profession allows you to drive various cars – a delight for the eyes of avid car enthusiasts who are fond of the technology of the past. The role of the saboteur connects with the underground world of France and makes a witness to the consequences of the oppression of the Nazi occupiers. The high mobility of the hero allows him to climb many buildings and observe the architecture of the 40s of the XX century. You can also climb to sights such as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe!

The game distinguishes itself through its distinctive palette of hues. In the territories occupied by the Nazis, the color is gray and repulsive, but it is worth the hero's actions to restore the will to resist people as the colors return to the world. The beauty of Paris is blossoming, plunging into a cruel but beautiful era!

Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

A tactical shooter that focuses on realism. The developers of Gearbox Software scrupulously transmitted the moment of the storming of Normandy by the brave American paratroopers in 1944. The weapons and uniforms of the soldiers of that time were transferred in detail. Attention is also assigned to the tactical component: the player must control a dedicated squad to surround and destroy the enemy. Opening a three-dimensional combat map to make a combat plan is also possible.

The Final Verdict

Even if the game has a historically severe component, it remains a game. The game should delight with exciting gameplay, immerse the player in itself, and make him look around. Should you, after witnessing everything presented, desire further insights into the destinations explored by the protagonist, the underlying customs and practices of the inhabitants, notable individuals from the past, or the functions of various implements used in work and conflict — the game has admirably fulfilled its instructive role.

If not, then after dozens of hours of passing, something will still be deposited in the player's brain - names, dates, places, or events. The main thing is that the game mechanics maintain interest and do not significantly distort historical events. Otherwise, the effect of passing will only be harmful.