Believe it or not, there are still people out there who claim that video games cannot go hand in hand with studying history. For today, we want to prove them wrong and show how you can have the best of both worlds.
Video games can definitely be educational in many ways. For instance, we can learn about what tanks were used in the Second World War by playing the World of Tanks game. We can learn about the music, clothing, and lifestyle of the ’50s by playing Mafia II. We can learn a lot about the disco music of the ’80s by playing GTA Vice City. The examples could continue forever.
Learning history is also possible by playing video games, and by “history” in this case, we mean something more than just what we can see in the games mentioned above. We’re talking about the architecture, culture, and tradition that were predominant in ancient times. Let’s cut to the chase:
Assassin’s Creed
The Assassin’s Creed series, which was developed by Ubisoft, is renowned for its numerous historical settings. Thus, players are allowed to explore iconic cities and time periods such as Renaissance Italy, the Third Crusade, Ancient Egypt, and Revolutionary America. Players of Assassin’s Creed even get the chance to interact with historical figures and experience key events as they navigate the conflict between Assassins and Templars.
Age of Empires
The Age of Empires series qualifies as a real-time strategic game that spans various historical periods, from the Stone Age to the Age of Imperialism. As a player, you get the chance to build and expand your empires, engage in battles against rival civilizations, and explore detailed landscapes inspired by historical maps and records.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is set in medieval Bohemia during the early 15th century, and it offers a realistic and immersive portrayal of life from the Middle Ages. As a player, you will step in the shoes of Henry, who was the son of a blacksmith caught in the midst of political intrigue and warfare. By playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you get to explore a meticulously recreated landscape that was inspired by historical events and locations.
The Uncharted series
While it is primarily focused on action-adventure gameplay, the Uncharted series features stunning and amazingly crafted environments that were inspired by locations and historical figures from the real world. Players will have to join treasure hunter Nathan Drake as he explores lost cities, ancient ruins, and exotic locales as he searches for legendary treasures and artifacts.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game developed by Rockstar, the same company responsible for the insanely popular Grand Theft Auto series. Red Dead Redemption 2 is set in the late 1800s, and it transports players to the American Wild West, offering a vast open world for them to explore. Once you play this game, you can explore from the plains of New Hanover to the swamps of Lemoyne. You can immerse yourself in the rugged landscapes and historical events of the era as you encounter cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws along your journey.
Sniper elite 4
Sniper Elite 4 is a tactical stealth shooter that takes you to WWII Italy, as you need to take down the Nazis using your sniper rifle and lots of other dangerous “toys”. You get to see numerous weapons, cars, and settlements of the ’40s, back when humanity was going through the most devastating military conflict in history.
Feel free to tell us in the comments about other games that can allow us to learn history!
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.
