Video game artists are wonderful storytellers, and historical video games tell a wonderful story that is thrilling, exciting and fun to immerse yourself in. Video games hold up a mirror to society, and historical video games are a very exciting subgenre in this niche. Most of the best games make use of actual historical facts to add weight to their in-game story. If you are a fan of history as well as some heart-stopping action, then you should take a look at the 5 best historical games.
Assassin’s Creed Origins (AC Origins)
The Assassin’s Creed franchise is the very first name that pops into anyone’s head when they think of historical video games. Assassin’s Creed Origins was released in 2017, and it offers a lot of insight into the origins of the major elements of the story. The game’s events are set in Ancient Ptolemaic Egypt (49-43 BC).
The main plot element of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is the conflict that exists between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. AC Origins explores the story of the ‘Hidden Ones’ and ‘The Order of the Ancients’. These two sects went on to become the Assassins and Templars in the later games. It is a very fascinating game. The player has to follow the lives of Bayek, a Nubian mercenary called a Medjay, and his wife Aya as they struggle to protect the Egyptian people during a period of conflict and upheaval. Egypt is plagued by internal strife due to the impending Roman invasion. AC Origins is the best and most exciting historical game that you can play.
Call of Duty: World War II
Call of Duty is an exciting franchise of first-person shooter games, and COD WWII is one of the best games they’ve ever come up with. This game is set in the ‘European Theatre’ of the Second World War and is rife with historical facts. The player has to play as ‘Red Daniels’ in the 1st Infantry Division of the US Army, all taking part in the battles of the Western Front. Most important among these is the Battle of Normandy, which was also known as Operation Overlord. The game is based on this operation.
Within the first 3 days of its release, COD WWII earned more than $500 million in revenue. By the end of 2017, it had managed to earn more than $1 billion in revenue, making it one of the most successful COD games of all time. It also has an alternate history mode, where the player can fight against Nazi zombies.
Ghost of Tsushima
One of the most critically acclaimed video games of 2020, Ghost of Tsushima will drop you into the middle of 13th century Japan. You’ll have to assume the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai and the head of the Sakai clan. The aim is to protect Tsushima Island from Mongolian invaders during the first Mongol Invasion. The visuals and combat of the game are beyond beautiful – and the gameplay is designed to be smooth and immersive. The recreation of 13th century Japan is very accurate and the design of the numerous characters is very faithful. The samurai and shogun storylines are intricately woven into the game.
The highest level of difficulty in the game is called “Lethal”, and it is a mode where the fighters can do a lot of damage to each other. This is much different from the traditional “Lethal” modes in video games. This feature received a lot of praise from game critics.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
The Age of Empires II is one of the most accurate and exciting historical video games ever and is set in the Middle Ages. It is a gorgeous strategy game that allows the player to assume total control of any of the 13 diverse and playable civilizations that are present in the game. You have to pick any one of the 13 civilizations and help them to make their way through the Dark Age, the Feudal Age, the Castle Age, and the Renaissance. This is one of the most engrossing and critically acclaimed games of all time. Despite being first released in 1999, Age of Empires has still managed to stay popular and relevant. An HD version of the game with better graphics was released by Ensemble Studios in November 2019.
Assassin’s Creed II (AC II)
The sequel to the first Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed II was released by Ubisoft in 2009 and is one of the best historical video games in the world. The game is set in Italy during the Renaissance period, and the player has to assume the shoes of Ezio Auditore de Firenze, an Assassin. Players have the ability to explore the most well-known seats of Italian power, such as Florence, Venice, and Tuscany. The design of the game is beautiful and the plot of the game is historically accurate. Ezio goes on a long quest to kill the men responsible for his father’s death.
In the background of the game is the centuries-old conflict between the creed of Assassins and the Order of the Knights Templar. Upon release, AC II received universal acclaim from players and critics. It is said to be one of the best games of the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Summary of the Best Historical Video Games
Here’s a tabular summary of the best 5 historical video games that have been listed here. You can find out everything about them.
| Game | Publisher | Release Year | Setting | IMDB Rating |
| Assassin’s Creed Origins | Ubisoft Montreal | 2017 | Ancient Egypt | 8.5 |
| Call of Duty: World War II | Sledgehammer Games & Activision | 2017 | European Theatre in World War II | 7.8 |
| Ghost of Tsushima | Sucker Punch Productions & Sony Interactive | 2020 | Tsushima Island in the Kamakura Period | 9.3 |
| Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings | Ensemble Studios & Microsoft | 1999 | Europe in the Middle Ages | 8.8 |
| Assassin’s Creed | Ubisoft Montreal | 2009 | Renaissance Italy | 9.1 |
Conclusion
This has been a complete and in-depth list of the 5 best video games with historical origins. Historical video games are very educational and exciting and they offer players the chance to explore a different world. If you want to step into a time machine and take in the glorious and inglorious past, then you have to try out the 5 video games listed over here. Buy them, install them and start playing them now.
