History is a playground for video games. In some cases, like with the Assassin's Creed franchise, that playground is very literal, as the series' main focus is giving you an open-world historical city or two where you can goof off. Other games merely use history as a jumping-off point to tell a more personal or grandiose story.
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However, properly depicting history means properly depicting the culture of the era as well. That involves not just getting the architecture right, but understanding how people lived their lives in that era, what they believed, and what they struggled through. Finally, mythology can play an important role in this as well. The further back you go, the less understanding humans had of the world around them, attributing a lot to myth and legend. When all three of these elements come together, as they do in the games below, it creates a bit of gaming magic, a perfect blend of educational and fantastical gameplay that most players will remember forever.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Hey Kid, Want To Explore Bohemia?
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
When it comes to historical authenticity, few games can compare to the level of detail present in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It even gives the Assassin's Creed franchise a run for its money. The culture of medieval Bohemia permeates every detail, from the farms in the countryside to the architecture in Kutna Hora.
This authenticity extends to the game's deep RPG mechanics. Swordplay requires specific directional inputs for blocking and attacking, rather than a single button press. Everything from Henry's clothes to how long ago he bathed will determine how people react to him, and even those reactions will change from one place to the next. As for mythology, it is tied directly to the game's cultural depiction, specifically of religious iconography. From the crosses on shields to the churches dotting the landscape, the citizens' beliefs in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 are clear as day. They even attribute mysterious events to ghosts and demons.
Assassin's Creed Origins
The Only Way To Make Egypt Look Better Is To Go There Yourself
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Every Assassin's Creed game feels deeply connected to history, but none feel quite as firmly situated in their chosen era as Assassin's Creed Origins. Maybe it's the unique setting (not many games are set in an Ancient Egypt this vividly realized), the cultural detail in cities like Thebes or Krokodilopolis, the grounded combat system, or the stellar soundtrack, but there's something about Origins that just feels more authentic.
As for the mythology side of things, it's pretty front and center. You can walk Bayek out into the middle of the desert, and literal gods like Anubis or Sobek will show up to fight you right there. Even standard enemies have a mythological tilt to them; you won't just be fighting city guards and bandits here. Is every part contributing to a cohesive whole here? Not really, but all these aspects undeniably play a major role in shaping Origins' world, even if the world is sometimes at odds with itself.
Pentiment
Hey, Mr. Painter, Solve This Murder
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
From Kingdom Come's Bohemia, let's jump about 100 years into the future and travel a little further west to Bavaria. Pentiment is a historical RPG where you play a traveling painter named Andreas. When he arrives in the town of Tassing, Andreas is quickly embroiled in a series of murder mysteries involving the local elite. Suddenly, he's expected to investigate these mysteries and accuse a suspect, and getting it wrong (or right) will leave an impact on the entire town.
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The ability to decipher these mysteries is heavily influenced by your understanding of the era and culture in which the story takes place. The best way to do this is by chatting with the locals, who are more than willing to outline the town's inner workings and social connections, especially if you invite them to dinner. While some may balk at calling it "mythology," taking Andreas to visit the local abbey reveals how steeped in Catholicism (specifically the Rule of Saint Benedict) Tassing is, both its beliefs and its myths.
Ghost Of Tsushima
Who Needs The Samurai Code When You've Got Stealth Kills?
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
The Mongol invasion of the Japanese islands of Tsushima and Iki in 1274 is a real historical event, and was actually the first of two attempts by the Mongols to take the archipelago (because they didn't learn to not mess with samurai after the first try). While that first invasion wasn't literally turned back by a single samurai with a grappling hook, Ghost of Tsushima's setting and story are otherwise firmly grounded in Japanese history and culture.
The status Jin slowly earns himself, that of a ghost out for revenge against the invaders, is where mythology comes into play. Jin isn't just a myth himself, but he represents something much greater: resistance. Even if Jin's motivations are more steeped in revenge than national duty, his presence strikes fear in the invaders all the same. Then there are the myths Jin encounters along the way, from unkillable warriors to murderous spirits that he, the living myth, must confront.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Don't Let Tuberculosis Spoil The Gorgeous View
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
Red Dead Redemption 2 is (currently) Rockstar's magnum opus, not only one of the best historical video games of all time, but one of the best open-world games, period. This game is almost eight years old, and it remains an outstanding and unsurpassed achievement in the genre. A huge part of that is the authenticity of its world, from the wild stretches of nature to the bustling towns and cities of the Wild West.
Outlaw culture is at the forefront of the narrative, and in deconstructing it so thoroughly, Rockstar asks its players if the "noble outlaw" is real or a myth. That's at the forefront of Arthur's internal conflict once he's diagnosed with tuberculosis: can a man who's lived the life he has become a good person before he dies? Perhaps unsurprisingly, the game leaves that ambiguous, letting you decide what to think about Arthur, his life, and his place in the world. That means, in a way, you determine if RDR 2 is steeped in mythology or not, depending on how you play.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
History, Culture, And Mythology Are Basically The Indy Elevator Pitch
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released
- December 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
History, culture, and mythology are areas of significant interest for archaeologists, and since Indiana Jones is an archaeologist, he should naturally represent those three pillars, on top of being a handsome adventurer with a strong right hook. Thankfully, unlike his last two cinematic outings, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures these elements perfectly, along with virtually everything else that made this character a pop culture icon.
Indiana travels from the Vatican to Egypt to Iraq, combing through ancient ruins and Nazi camps alike. The protagonist's knowledge of history and culture is evident at every moment, as he comments on iconic works of art and lost relics with equal insight. His adventures lead him to long-forgotten tombs of individuals who were hailed as "Warrior Giants," ancient figures whose skeletons are unusually large compared to a regular human.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Enough Plague Rats For A Lifetime
A Plague Tale: Innocence is firmly committed to its setting, a depiction of medieval France during the Black Plague. While the game takes some liberties with the moment-to-moment events of that era, the strong connection to France is evident throughout both this campaign and its sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem.
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Culturally, the most notable elements are Amicia and Hugo de Rune, the two lead characters. They come from nobility, and while their parents raised them well, the adjustment to a life on the run is emblematic of the all-encompassing nature of the plague and its effects. Then there's Hugo, who seems to have an innate power to control the swarms of rats that carry the disease. Is there an old French myth about a boy who controls rats? Not really (it's more akin to the German myth of the Pied Piper), but there is a distinct supernatural element to this game that goes beyond spooky stories told in taverns.
Nioh
History And Fiction So Intertwined You'll Think Demons Really Took Over Japan
For all intents and purposes, you could describe Nioh (and its two sequels) as historical epics, and you'd be absolutely correct. Of the three, the first game is arguably the entry most firmly rooted in history (Nioh 3 also features time travel, for example). Nioh is set during Japan's Sengoku period and follows William Adams, a rare British samurai who is hunting a sorcerer. On his quest, he becomes a silent contributor to major moments in Japanese history, like the Battle of Sekigahara. He'll also fight yokai; lots and lots of yokai.
The actual plot of Nioh is not married to historical accuracy. If the inclusion of monsters didn't give that away, even an amateur historian could tell you that this story is heavily fictionalized. That doesn't diminish its connection to history or culture, though; in fact, that connection is what grounds the game in its gameplay stylings and keeps things from getting too grandiose. It never progresses to the point where you're battling an interdimensional god like some JRPGs. Instead, things stay firmly localized in Japan, which keeps events mostly believable, even if the giant snake monsters and animal spirits threaten to undermine authenticity entirely.
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