When we cross that line into college applications, there comes a day when we all must decide what we want to do with us. Some will become doctors, many will drop out, but a select few of us are just the right blend of nerdiness to pursue a history degree.
Those of us who make the cut tend to be refined creatures with sophisticated tastes. We’re the ones who pick up on small details and tell our friends why the games we’re playing actually matter. While looking for depth in your hobby, here are 10 games that pull together the factors we’re looking for for our next study session.
10 Age of Empires
The various titles that have emerged from this franchise are set in various time periods which focus on Real-Time Strategy gameplay in the advancement of competing civilizations. Players occupy great civilizations of the past, often racing to progress to a certain checkpoint or accomplishment.
While this game implies it is based on actual historical events, the details presented in the game are broad and lack depth. While this title won’t help you pass that final exam you have coming up in a few weeks, it’s an enjoyable enough series that allows you to control iconic civilizations from various periods of time.
9 Dynasty Warriors
Who doesn’t love a good hack and slash game when they’re done cramming 30 pages from a book, falling apart from years of loving use? Add some leftover pizza, and we’ll be hooked all night long.
Dynasty Warriors serves this specific need. The game isn’t fully authentic historically, as it is really based on another loosely accurate series of 14th-century novels called Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Nevertheless, it has enough cheesy relevance to make you feel like you’re playing an indy attempt at bringing a poorly dubbed film to the video game world.
8 Call of Duty
Throughout the Call of Duty franchise, we have seen amazing replications of battlefield environments. Titles like World at War have managed to capture the aesthetic of real battlefields in amazing ways, even if they aren’t always the most true to form in regard to tactics.
What really sets Call of Duty apart from many games that seek to do this is its campaign mode. While most players pick up the newest additions to the franchise for the multiplayer experience it offers, Call of Duty consistently delivers a well thought out campaign experience that feels like an actual representation of the battlefield.
7 Kingdom Come: Deliverance
For those of us who can’t get enough of the early 15th century, Kingdom Come: Deliverance has all the story-driven action we could hope for in an RPG and more. Based on real events, the game centers around the survivor of a military raid named Henry and his efforts to return Bohemia’s true king to power.
The open world of this game includes many locations that are masterfully brought to life. In addition, items such as weapons are masterfully presented with authentic historical accuracy. Overall, this is a game that we can get lost in and appreciate, and it is easily worth your time.
6 Fallout
While Fallout is far from an accurate portrayal of historical events, the Fallout world does incorporate several real details in its lead up to the catastrophic events which serve as the backdrop for the series.
For true historians among us, what is more enjoyable than a well thought out historical reimagining? The events that went into the background of Fallout could have realistically transpired in our own reality. The nostalgic atmosphere presented through a dystopian future is second to none, and the soundtrack is to die for.
5 L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is a bit of an odd entry into this game, as it is more focused around crime and doesn’t give much credence to war outside of the setting being after World War II. While it might seem out of place, the depth of attention paid to minor details in this game is mind-boggling, and any history buff who enjoys a good criminal investigation will soon be hooked.
For many of us, worldbuilding is one of the first make-or-break factors in determining how invested we are in a game. This game incorporates eight square miles of ground, which is true to form in representing 1947 Los Angeles through the eyes of an awesome cop character, making a great overall experience.
4 Total War
For fans of war history, the Total War franchise offers many options that will appeal to a variety of budding historians. With titles such as Three Kingdoms and Rome, the series has touched on a variety of major civilizations in its attempt to present a dynamic range of military strategy games. It even has a few releases that delve into the realm of fantasy, such as Warhammer.
While the original title was single-player only, later titles offer multiplayer functionality. What sets these games apart from similar titles is their focus on war and diplomacy, with more attention to highlighting significant areas and cultural factors.
3 Battlefield
While we will credit the entire series here, Battlefield 1 takes the spotlight by creating a war game that we can really get behind. While the campaign is a bit lackluster, featuring war stories from allied soldiers, the multiplayer mode is where this title shines.
In multiplayer modes, players assume roles and participate in battle or objective-based combat in teams. This is fought with small arms, ground weapons such as tanks, and aerial vehicles. The attention to detail involved in all of these is unparalleled, and this game manages to create a real war feel that history majors will love.
2 Civilization
Based on the original turn-based strategy game developed by Sid Meier, Civilization is one of the best-known strategy games of all time. Spawning multiple sequels, the franchise has taken leaps in creating a unique feel for developing civilizations and advancing them through the centuries. The fact that the game allows players to progress into the future is a nice bonus that is unique to the series.
While this series doesn’t have the historical underpinning of Age of Empires, there is a significant amount of history which inherently exhibits itself through its gameplay. Anyone interested in the development of groups of people will be drawn to these titles, if just for a short time.
1 Assassin’s Creed
Oh, Assassin’s Creed. What a tricky relationship we have with you. On one hand, the Assassin’s Creed franchise follows some of the most popular conspiracy theories ever revealed in an effort to take players to historical sites and witness some major events. Locations and characters are documented from history, and certain Easter Eggs will have players searching the world for more.
Unfortunately, many of the games are based a little too much on the conspiracies they present. Historical facts that make magnificent stories in their own right are often overshadowed by unconfirmed or outright false portrayals that diminish the potential the games could have. Repetition of design and tasks also make the game feel a little generic at times. Still, Leonardo Da Vinci and Socrates are both pretty awesome, amirite?