Basically, games are meant to be fun and provide a nice break from the stresses of everyday life. But they can offer more than just a good time. They can actually teach you something. Obviously this isn't the case for all games. Because you won't learn much from playing games like Gang Beasts or Mario Kart. But there are other titles that can teach us a lot about history.
After all, if you see a game set in a specific era, there's a good chance that the game's developers have put a lot of time and effort into researching that era. We then use that research to create a world and narrative that fits the setting. So you can actually learn a lot about events, locations, etc. by playing these games. Here are some titles that fit that description:
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely regarded as one of the best action-adventure games of its time. A lot of this comes down to a deep, character-driven story. However, although the main narrative revolves around Arthur Morgan and his personal relationships, there is a lot of real history involved in the story.
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Of course, Arthur and the Van Der Linde gang never actually existed. However, the changes taking place in the world at that time affect the story. As the world became more civilized, outlaws were driven out and their behavior became increasingly unacceptable. Additionally, the game addresses many of the hardships that Native Americans faced at the time, including broken treaties and loss of land.
Kingdom Come: Salvation
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an action RPG set in Bohemia in 1403. The game has a reputation for realism, and this extends to historical accuracy. It's not a completely accurate representation of what it was like in the 1400s, but it's pretty close. So you can learn a lot about that era by playing the game.
Mainly, you can learn about the social and political atmosphere of the time. You can also meet and interact with some historical figures and learn about them as well. However, the most useful thing about games that help with education is the in-game codecs. There is so much historical information in it.
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
First-person shooters are generally not considered learning tools. After all, they rarely depict war in a realistic, grounded way. That said, they are known to use actual historical events in their stories. Brother In Arms: Hell's Highway is a perfect example of this. The game is based on the real-life operation Operation Market Garden. This is a conflict that occurred in the Netherlands occupied by Germany during World War II.
In the game, you take control of the 101st Airborne Division, a real-life group involved in the operation. The weapons and overall atmosphere of the game are also known to be quite consistent with actual events. However, the developers took some creative freedom for gameplay reasons. That said, playing this game will give you a fair amount of information about Operation Market Garden.
LA Noir
LA Noire takes you back to the 1940s by putting you in the shoes of a Los Angeles detective. As such, you can roam around a very accurate version of the city of that era. Everything from the architecture to the fashion makes you feel like you're waltzing through 1940s LA.
But historical accuracy is not limited to clothing and buildings. The game also tells us about various things that were happening in society at the time. For example, the game shows how difficult it is for soldiers to return from World War II and reintegrate into society after their trauma. It also addresses issues of race and gender discrimination of the time.
Call of Duty: World at War
That's not to say that every Call of Duty game is historically accurate. Eventually, in Black Ops 6, you film the Bill Clinton gala and escape on a motorcycle. World at War is more realistic and consistent with actual history. Throughout the campaign, you'll visit many actual locations from World War II and take part in reenactments of famous battles. For example, the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Berlin, etc. appear in the campaign.
Who participates in these battles and how exactly they play out have changed slightly. However, throughout the game, especially in mission briefings that use archival footage, you can learn about various locations and conflicts that occurred during World War II.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Video game developers love making games about World War II, but World War I doesn't get much attention in the gaming world. However, one game that focuses on this is Valiant Hearts: The Great War. This game is a different type of war game as it is a puzzle adventure title rather than a shooting game.
The game presents different perspectives on war and tries to show the true horrors of war. You can learn a lot along the way, especially if you take the time to look for collectibles. Because these collections are items and letters from the war and come with real information. For example, the first collectible you can get is a German helmet, and by looking at it in the menu you can learn about its real history.
Assassin's Creed 3
The historical accuracy of the Assassin's Creed series is often debated. The game uses real places, people, and events, but twists things to fit the story. Historical figures have different personalities, and events are altered to include hooded assassins or enemy soldiers. For example, in Assassin's Creed 3, the American Revolution was greatly influenced by the actions of the Assassins' main enemies, the Templars.
But beyond that, you can learn a lot about the American Revolution from AC3. You can learn about and participate in real-life events such as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Boston Tea Party. Plus, during your adventure you'll meet people like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Pentiment
Pentiment is a colorful 2D adventure game set in the 16th century. Although the narrative is not an exact recreation of historical events, the world is designed to make you feel as if you are wandering around the 16th century. This means that everything from the costumes to the dialogue to the overall social atmosphere of the game is accurate to the period.
So you can learn a lot as you play the game, especially by using the in-game glossary. This glossary can help you look up words that come up in conversation if you don't know what they mean. So it's literally teaching us about things from the 16th century.
This historical strategy game will turn you into a history buff.
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