Before we start with the list, we all have to admit something at first. History, as we know, is not 100% correct. We can never know how historical events have actually happened. But there are a lot of things that we can agree with each other that they happened. And what can be a better way to teach the young generation those historical facts than making video games about them?
We do not like studying in the school that much, to be honest. The reason we have to study because it brings a lot of benefits in the future (like passing tests and exams). But learning while playing video games is the dream of all men and boys. You are still playing games, nobody actually asks you to learn anything from those games. But the developers of the titles in our list today know how to put the historical knowledge into our brain throughout the process of the games naturally and organically.
If that does sound interesting to you, then let’s take a look at the list of interesting video games that contain historical facts right below.
THE AGE OF EMPIRES SERIES
Platform: PC
Well, if this game does not show up on our list, then we should not be making this list in the first place. The Age of Empires game series has been one of the biggest icons in the video game industry because it is “kinda” the beginning of the real-time strategy game genre. Thanks to this game series, we had Warcraft and Command & Conquer. It is not too much to say that this game series has been a part of the history of this industry.
Although civilization development in the game is not 100% correct, it still follows logical pathways that can’t be denied. Starting from the Stone Age, gamers will upgrade their civilizations and armies for battles. With simple and straightforward graphics, this game series has managed to simplify the civilization development to the point that the game can explain it without any words. That is why this game series can teach you historical facts without making your study.
MEDAL OF HONOR: FRONTLINE
Release date: May 17th, 2011
Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC
Medal Of Honor is famous as a game series with fictional plots, and that is fine with us. But there was one time when the developers decided to do something historically accurate, and that was why we had Medal Of Honor: Frontline. This game was released on May 29th, 2002. It was released right after the iconic movie Saving Private Ryan, so the theme of World War II was extremely famous at that time. The game starts by portraying the Invasion of Normandy, and that portrayal is super realistic.
This game was first released on the PS2 platform, so its graphics were limited by the hardware of the PS2. If you want to play Medal Of Honor: Frontline, we do recommend the remastered version of this game on the PS3 platform.
L.A. NOIRE
Release date: May 17th, 2011
Platform: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
This game was released on May 17th, 2011, but even until now, it still does not have a sequel. Made by Rockstar Game, L.A. Noire will bring the players to Los Angeles city in 1947. Players will become a police detective to solve some huge cases. Although the storylines of those cases are all fictional, the city in the game is exactly Los Angeles city in 1947. There are a lot of locations in the game that existed in Los Angeles in 1947 but could not make it till today. The cars, the clothes, the buildings, and the music of the game all created a true vibe of Los Angeles city in 1947. If you are interested in a journey to Los Angeles city in 1947, you know where the ticket is now.
PHARAOH
Release date: 1999
Platform: PC
Have you ever looked at the great pyramids in ancient Egypt and asked yourself about the way people in ancient Egypt built up those wonders. If you have, then take a look at Pharaoh. This game is an empire-building simulating game, and it has successfully created the world of ancient Egypt for its players. You can be the Pharaoh, build your own pyramid the way you want. The colorful graphics and the lively music of the game will also bring you a lot of happiness while building your cities and pyramids.
However, the combat system of this game does not work well. But if you put it aside and only consider this game as an empire-building simulating game, Pharaoh will never let you down. Throughout the game, there will be a lot of pop-up displays to tell the players about the historical facts relating to what is happening on your screen. If you are into ancient Egypt, you can play this game now and then thanks us later.
THE CIVILIZATION SERIES
Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Now, this is the ultimate final boss of our list today. Every single game of the Civilization series has been a breakthrough. The first Civilization was a big hit, and all the later games of the series were incredibly updated, in comparison with the previous titles. The strategy and gameplay system of this game series is deep and dense, so gamers can form any kind of strategy for their civilizations. There are many ways to guide a civilization from the Stone Age to the Modern Age, and the game provides you more than enough tools to perform your chosen strategy.
However, we have to notify you guys that history is mainly determined by the resources distribution. And since you have control over that aspect, this game series, in general, is not historically accurate. But then it still can perfectly and logically show us the outcomes of our actions in the game. Once you master this game series, you can look back at history and understand why people acted the way they acted.