History-Based Video Game List

[vcczar]

History-Based Video Game List

I'm going to attempt to regularly compile a list of history-based video games here by genre. Feel free to add your suggestions, but if you do so, please post your suggestions in the same format that I am using. Note: This list will be Euro-centric mainly because the bulk of history games are, unfortunately. I'd like to see a good abolitionist game or Civil Rights game, Native American game, women's suffrage game, but we lack one.  

Games set in Antiquity (prior to Charlemagne): 

• Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV - Player aims to unite China following the fragmentation of the Han Empire. Game includes 1,000+ Chinese generals and politicians, all with individual personalities and abilities. (Keywords: China, Wargame, Management, RPG, Diplomacy, PC Game, Console Game.) 
• Orbi Universo - Set in prehistory and goes through the present. The game is visually simplistic in that it's in the form of a flowchart or brainstorm chart. You make decisions for your civilization based on discoveries and innovations, similar to the game Civilization, except this is more cultural focuses. If you civilization is wiped out by invasion, disease, etc, then you lose. Very innovative game. (Keywords: global, management, survival, PC game)
• Imperator: Rome - Similar to other Paradox games, especially Europa Universalis, I think. Plays as Rome or any other non-Roman nation or tribe. I confess I haven't played this game much and I'm not completely certain how unique it is from, say EU. (Keywords: Europe, Ancient Egypt, Roman, Germania, Israeli, Ancient Greece, PC Game, wargame, Diplomacy)
• Caesar IV - City building game in which you build a Roman City, hopefully one that competes or surpasses Rome. This is kind of an older PC game. (Keywords: City Building, Roman, PC Game)
• Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile - I actually played the predecessor of this game--Pharoah. It's exactly like Caesar IV except that one is building Ancient Egyptian cities. I assume this update to Pharoah is the same, and it appears that it is. (Keywords: City Building, Ancient Egypt, PC Game)
• Dynasty Warriors IX - Same historical figures and setting as the RTK XIV game listed above. This game is a hack and slash game rather than a battlefield strategy, empire management game. (Keywords: China, Hack and Slash, PC Game, Console Game)
• Builders of Ancient Greece - forthcoming game

Games set in the Middle Ages (Charlemagne to the Protestant Reformation): 

• Crusader Kings 3 - Maintain your dynasty from the begining of the Middle Ages to the end of the Middle Ages. RPG-focused realm-management game with a slight focus towards warfare. (Keywords: quasi-global, Wargame, RPG, Management, Diplomacy, PC Game)
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• Bladestorm - Similar to Dynasty Warriors, a hack and slash game set in the time of China's Three Kingdoms, except this one is set during the 100 Years War between England and France. (Keywords: 100 Years War, Europe, Hack and Slash, Console Game.)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverence - Game set in the Czech-speaking lands in the late Middle Ages. First-person fighting RPG. (Keywords: 1st Person fighting, RPG, Czech, PC Game)
• The Guild 3 - Player plays as a merchant or artisan and aims to lead his city's guild and possibly his city. There's debate whether or not TG3 or TG2 is better. This newer game is considered more simplistic. (Keywords: business, economics & trade, RPG, Europe)
• Banner Saga 3 - Viking Age RPG & turn-based strategy game (keywords: RPG, Vikings, Scandinavia, PC game)
• Detective Di - Tang Dynasty-era detective game. (keywords: China, crime, detective, PC game)
• Four Last Things - Hilarious point-and-click game that uses music and works of art. Very Monty Pythonesque (keywords: humor, point and click, Europe, PC game)

Games set in the Renaissance (Protestant Reformation to the end of the 30 Years War)

• Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence - Basically the Japanese-version of RTK XIV above. The goal is to unify Japan. Game includes 1,000+ Japanese samurai, generals, politicians, each with personalities and abilities. (Keywords: Japan, Wargame, Management, RPG, Diplomacy, PC Game, Console Game.) 
• Europa Universalis IV - Similar to CK3 except the focus is on the nation rather than on the dynasy. While warfare is still a big part of the game, trade, exploration, and colonization have a larger focus. (Keywords: global, wargame, economics and trade, management, diplomacy, PC game)
• 30 Years War by Ageod - Grand strategy warfare game. Politics and diplomacy is extremely limited. Game is heavy on logistics, so you have to be very smart and efficient with strategic movement. Goal is to defeat the other coalition to preserve or weaken Protestant Christianity, although some nations have secular reasons for involvement. (Keywords: Central Europe, wargame, PC Game)
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• Elsinore - Game set in the world of Hamlet from William Shakespeare. Player is Hamlet. The goal is to get your revenge on your Uncle while also surviving. (keywords: Denmark, RPG, Shakespeare, PC game)

Games set in the Enlightenment (The end of the 30 Years War to the American Rev War)

• Europa Universalis IV -see info in previous era group
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• Uncharted Waters 2 - Age of exploration game focused on exploration and trade. Player plays as an RPG character from one of about 5 nations. This is an old SNES game. There's a current Uncharted Waters: Online but it seems somewhat fantasy-based. I recommend getting a mod to play UW and UW2 on PC. (Keywords: naval, economics & trade, exploration, console game, mod for PC)
• Port Royal 4 - Caribbean trading game during the Golden Age of Piracy. This is the most recent version but some argue the older versions are better as this one is considered more simplified. (Keywords: naval, economics & trade, Caribbean, PC game)
• Principia - Play as Sir Isaac Newton or another scientist during the time. The goal is to to out-innovate, out-research and become histories Isaac Newton, whether you are playing as Newton or not. It's a vastly underrated game, but it seems a little unfinished in the later stages. For instance, as famous scientists die, they aren't replaced. So inevitably Newton has no real competition as he's younger than most of the scientists. (Keywords: Europe, Science, PC Game)

Games set in the Era of Romanticism (The American Rev War to Queen Victoria)

• Europa Universalis IV -see info in a previous era group
• L'Empereur - An old NES or SNES game that would require a mod to play. While somewhat primitive today, there's some qualities about it that make it the best Napoleonic warfare game. It's made by the company that made RTK XIV and is initially a lot more challanging than any game made by this company. Seriously underrated in ways but also imbalanced. The beginning of the game, before Napoleon controls France, is extremely difficult because he's outnumbered consistently. If you survive to take France, it becomes a little too easy to conquer Europe. Horatio Nelson is a little too easy to trick into getting himself killed. Player plays only as Napoleon and his family. (Keywords: Napoleonic, Europe, wargame, RPG, console game, Mod for PC)
• Wars of Napoleon by Ageod - Same as my description of the 30 Years War in an above era group but this game is focused on the Napoleonic Wars. Player plays as Napoleon's coalition or the coalition aimed at defeating Napoleon. (Keywords: Napoleonic, Europe, wargame, PC Game)
• Liberty or Death - Same company that makes L'Empereur mentioned above. Also an outdated NES or SNES game that would require a mod to play on PC. Player plays as America or as the British. The British have a more difficult time because they have to have enough success in the war to maintain the support of Parliament. The Americans have to score enough successes that France and Spain are encouraged to join. In some ways, might stlll be the best Rev War game. (Keywords: Rev War, wargame, USA, console game, Mod for PC)
• General Staff - forthcoming PC game
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• A More Perfect Union - forthcoming PC Game
• Nantucket - Sequel to Herman Melville's Moby Dick. You are Ishmael, the sole survivor from when Moby Dick wrecked Captain Ahab's crew. You seek revenge. (Keywords: naval, whaling, economics & trade, literature, PC game)

Games set in the Victorian Era (Queen Victoria to World War I)

• Victoria 3 - forthcoming PC game
• General Staff - see discription in previous era grouping
• Grand Tactician: The Civil War - Player plays as the US or CS. The game emphasizes warfare at an extremely logistics-based level, while also giving a lot of space to strategy and tactics. It's the most detailed and realistic Civil War strategy game to date, requiring quite a learning curve. The game gives some space politics, legislation, and general government, but it's more as a means for warfare. (Keywords: American Civil War, US, wargame, PC game)
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• A More Perfect Union - see description in an above era group
• Anno 1800 - City building game set during the Victorian Era. While the buildings, professions, and the like give a Victorian feel, the fact that one builds London-like cities on islands, and cannot build on a continent, makes the game seem more like steampunk fantasy. (keywords: city building, Europe, colonization, PC game)
• Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper - The game does an amazing job of bringing the Jack the Ripper murders to life. Frogwares, which makes this game, makes a lot of other Sherlock Holmes games, all worthy of being on this list, but this one is the most historical. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments is generally considered the best in regards ot game play. (keywords: London, England, Crime, Detective, PC Game)
• Assassins Creed: Syndicate - The AC games are so alternate history that I'm usually loathe to add them on a list like this, but I think this game does an amazing job capturing Victorian London. If you beat the game, just walk around and witness the city. The game includes historical figures such as Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, Queen Victoria, etc. (keywords: London, England, hack & slash, PC game, console game).
• Red Dead Redemption 2 - Fantastic open world game covering the Wild West. (keywords: US, Wild West, shooter, PC game, console game)
• 80 Days - Based on the novel of the similar name by Jules Verne. This adaption is a little steampunk, but it otherwise captures the tourism and transportation craze of the Victorian Age. (keywords: global, literature, transportation, PC game)
• Oregon Trail - Old, old PC game that will require a mod to play. I played this as early as elementary school. Captures the movement westward. (keywords: US, manifest destiny, native americans, mod for pc)
• Railway Empire - Build a rail network in 19th century US during the rail craze that sought to connect the Atlantic to the Pacific. (keywords: transportation, business, management, PC game)
• Walden - You are Henry David Thoreau attempting to live alone in nature during the era of Transcendantalism in Concord, Massachusetts. (keywords: US, literature, PC game)

Games set in the World Wars Era (World War I through World War II)

• Hearts of Iron IV - Unlike other games by Paradox this game is almost exclusively warfare focused, although it allows for a sort of token politics. Diplomacy enters the game only as a means for the war-focus, as does just about all the politics and trade in the game as well. Player plays as any nation during WWII. Mods allow the game start in WWI or extend to the Cold War or beyong. (Keywords: WWII, wargame, PC game, global)
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• A More Perfect Union - see description in an above era group
• Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot - The First Cases - Similar to the Sherlock Holmes games, but Poirot is a much different type of detective and set a generation later. Another Poirot game I'll tag with this is called the ABC Murders, which is also a PC game. (keywords: detective, Europe, crime, PC game)
• The Last Express - Aside from the controls, I'd say this might be the greatest game ever made as far as narrative. I don't know how this has not been made into a movie. Player plays as a stowaway on the Orient Express just as WWI is about to breakout. The player is trying to solve a crime that has occurred and one that is arguably about to happen. Action takes place inside of a moving train from Paris to, I believe, Istanbul. Very innovative format for a game too, and I hope some gamemakers copy the style. (keywords: transportation, crime, detective, WWI, PC game)
• Gangsters - This is an old PC game that for most would be consider micromanaging hell. You operate a gangster empire in Chicago and you have to handle every minute detail as you dominate the city. It's considered one of the most difficult games, which I beat back in like 1998 or 1999. May need a mod to play it. (keywords: crime, gangsters, management, PC game)
• Empire of Sin - A great RPG, turn based gangster game set in Chicago. The game has been updated a few times since I've beaten it. It had been easy to win once you ended up getting solidly on your feet. I hear they've made it more difficult, which is a bonus. (keywords: crime, gangsters, management, PC game, turn-based)
• Plutocracy - A business sim, focusing mostly on stocks it seems. I haven't played this game that much. (keywords: business, stock market, management, PC game)

Games set in the Cold War (End of War War II to the fall of the USSR)

• Twilight Struggle - Card game this is generally played as a board game but Steam allows the game to be played as a PC game. Player plays as the US or USSR. Players more or less aim to out-influence the other power in every region of the world. Probably the best-balanced history-focused card-based strategy game I've played. (keywords: Cold War, global, PC game, card game)
• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• A More Perfect Union - see description in an above era group
• Tropico 6 - Player runs a Carribean island and is generally allied either with the US or USSR. City builder. Based on Castro's Cuba for the most part. (keywords: Carribean, Cold War, City Building, management, politics, PC game)
• Crisis in the Kremlin - Vintage game on Steam. Player is basicaly Gorbachev and has to keep the USSR alive via reform and/or successful management. (keywords: USSR, Cold War, management, politics)
• Aerobiz - This is an old SNES game that will require a mod. Player runs a airline company during the Cold War. The game includes many Cold War events, which sometimes allow purcheses, trades, etc between Western and Soviet Bloc nations. (keywords: US, USSR, global, Cold War, transportation, mod for PC)

Games set in Post-Cold War Era (Post-Cold War) 

Note: game's setting must predate release of the game by at least 10 years, so that it's history-based*

• Orbi Universo - See description in first era group
• A More Perfect Union - see description in an above era group
• President Infinity - Presidential election game that actually has player-made elections to take you back further than this era. (keywords: US, Politics, PC game)

 

 

[vcczar]

I've got like 30 more games I want to add to this list, but this is all I had time to add at the moment. 

[vcczar]

Ok, I think this is my list. Could probably add 30 more but these others would be outdated PC games and outdated console games, most likely. These are all games I've played. 

[MrPotatoTed]

There's a game where you play as FBI Director J Edgar Hoover, called Jey's Empire.  I really enjoyed it, though it's crazy difficult and I've lost every time I've played.

On the modern front, there's Is The President A Traitor?   You play someone trying to investigate a web of conspiracy potentially going all the way to the top of the executive branch.  Others including Justices, cabinet, etc may be implicated as well.  You choose who to interrogate, when to get a warrant, when to convict, when to try to flip someone, which informants to trust,  etc.  Every game is randomized.  I think I've won once and gotten murdered a lot. ;c)

Edited October 19, 2022 by MrPotatoTed

[vcczar]

12 hours ago, MrPotatoTed said:

There's a game where you play as FBI Director J Edgar Hoover, called Jey's Empire.  I really enjoyed it, though it's crazy difficult and I've lost every time I've played.

On the modern front, there's Is The President A Traitor?   You play someone trying to investigate a web of conspiracy potentially going all the way to the top of the executive branch.  Others including Justices, cabinet, etc may be implicated as well.  You choose who to interrogate, when to get a warrant, when to convict, when to try to flip someone, which informants to trust,  etc.  Every game is randomized.  I think I've won once and gotten murdered a lot. ;c)

I played the 2nd game. I think I won the first time I played. I was really bad at playing it because I would only skim the text and move on to when I could make an action. Didn’t really have the patience for it but somewhere I revealed who all the bad guys were. Im unsure if I won because I don’t remember if they got convicted or anything. I may have just played until it was clear who the bad guys were and then I stopped or got killed. I played it only for a day. I can see that it’s a great game, but it isn’t my style. I’ll add it to the list later though. 

I’ve had the Hoover game on my wishlist for awhile. I’m not sure why I haven’t decided to get it yet. I’ll consider playing it once I take a break from Victoria 3. 

[carbonmonoxide321]

This list is amazing

[Cenzonico]

On 10/18/2022 at 11:49 AM, vcczar said:

Games set in the Victorian Era (Queen Victoria to World War I)

the lack of Vicky 2 disturbs me. 

[vcczar]

9 minutes ago, Cenzonico said:

the lack of Vicky 2 disturbs me. 

I put Victoria 3 in its place because it's about to be released. I only put one game per series, and the most recent one usually. 

[Cenzonico]

9 minutes ago, vcczar said:

I put Victoria 3 in its place because it's about to be released. I only put one game per series, and the most recent one usually. 

Ah okay.

[ConservativeElector2]

Don't forget about the Total War games. Napoleon, Empire, Rome (II), Medieval II, Shogun (2), Attila, Three Kingdoms

[RDS123]

Shadow President. Released and set a few months prior to the Gulf War and the year before the collapse of the USSR. 

[Bushwa777]

I also like the following:

Pacific strike: you play as a carrier pilot in ww2 Pacific.  Need a mod to play 

Aces of the deep: play as a sub commander for nazi Germany in ww2

Oregon trail 2: better then original.  You play from 1840 to 1860 and depending on year have more places to go to like California or salt lake city and more forts to help you out 

Edited January 20, 2023 by Bushwa777

[vcczar]

43 minutes ago, Bushwa777 said:

I also like the following:

Pacific strike: you play as a carrier pilot in ww2 Pacific.  Need a mod to play 

Aces of the deep: play as a sub commander for nazi Germany in ww2

Oregon trail 2: better then original.  You play from 1840 to 1860 and depending on year have more places to go to like California or salt lake city and more forts to help you out 

I've been playing the updated Oregon Trail. 

For whatever reason, I've never really gotten into WWII games. Hearts of Iron is probably my favorite and it's still probably my least favorite of the major Paradox games. I think the primary reason for this is that I have a great preference, greater knowledge for linear warfare. This basically places me in a box from c. 1618 (30 Years War) through c. 1865 (American Civil War). I think I lose interest in post-Civil War battles because so much of it involves trenches. I also don't think I'm interested in the added factor of tanks and air power. As such, I don't think I've significantly enjoyed any war game beyond or before this linear warfare period. Much of it might be because I have a rather complete understanding of tactics, strategies, and logistics for linear warfare. If you add air power, I go into confusion, although I could probably figure it out if I can make it interesting to myself. 

I think I'm more likely to enjoy a sub commander game, if I had to select a WW2 game.