Historical Strategy Games With The Best Stories, Ranked

The strategy genre is one of the most popular in gaming, and that's been the case for several decades. There's something appealing about being able to take control of large armies and siege units to both conquer new territories and build different civilizations on them. Combining strategy with historical settings is probably one of the greatest ideals gaming developers ever had, as it has led to the creation of amazing titles over the years.

While some strategic historical games focus solely on world-building and warfare, others adopt different storylines and focus on creating a compelling narrative around themselves. Here are a few historical strategy games with the best stories.

5 Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

An In-Depth Look Into Medieval Warfare Strategies

• Accurate depiction of medieval military campaigns.
• Joan of Arc's campaign is rich in narrative.

Set during the Middle Ages, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition combines historical campaigns for civilization development and territory conquest, with notable figures of the era, such as Saladin, Joan of Arc, and Genghis Khan. Covering different warfare campaigns and the rise and fall of civilizations and armies, the game offers an in-depth look into medieval armed conflicts.

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, has one of the greatest story progressions of its genre, interweaving military campaigns that involve resource management, with iconic leaders and their lives. A great example is Joan of Arc's campaign, which offers rich narrative elements for players to become invested in.

4 Total War: Three Kingdoms

A Struggle For Power And Territory Control In Ancient China

• Complex narrative-driven military campaigns.
• The three main characters form alliances, and also plot against each other.

Total War: Three Kingdoms is set in ancient China, in the middle of a war. Several factions are fighting over control of large territories after the Han dynasty collapsed, leaving power up for grabs. Following characters such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian, players will get to see how they form alliances with each other and plot betrayals at the same time.

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Total War games are well-known for containing great military campaigns with a strong focus on resource management and strategy, and Total War: Three Kingdoms isn't an exception. Blending grand strategy elements with character-driven storytelling, the game offers players historical depth and accuracy.

3 Europa Universalis 4

Lead A Nation Through The Centuries To Turn It Into A Superpower

• The game features real-life events like the Protestant Reformation.
• Players can change history in many different ways.

While it's not the only game in its genre that spans over 400 years, Europa Universalis 4 does so gracefully while offering players a fun experience. Focused on global history and going from the Dark Ages to the Age of Enlightenment, the game allows players to control a nation and lead it through the centuries to make it prosper and grow in terms of territory and power.

Europa Universalis 4 features diplomacy, military campaigns, colonization and a few elements of trade. It also includes real-life events, such as the Protestant Reformation, and combines them with intriguing narratives while trying to maintain as much historical accuracy as possible. Another interesting element of the story is that, depending on players' actions, history will change dramatically, leading to events that might not have happened in real life.

2 Crusader Kings 3

A More Personal Approach To Warfare Tactics

• Offers a more personal perspective of military leaders.
• Players can conquer territories and form alliances either through marriage or by force.

Allowing players to control a dynasty, Crusader Kings 3 offers the possibility to manage political alliances, military campaigns, and personal relationships. Showing personal stories of different rulers, players will have the chance to take an in-depth look into marriage problems, the sting of betrayal, and the stress of planning warfare tactics.

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As the game progresses, players can form different alliances either through marriage or through territory conquest of sovereign nations — all while involved in narrative-driven events that still manage to involve strategy and diplomacy without feeling overwhelming. Crusader Kings 3 portrays the rise and fall of kingdoms accurately, while providing different perspectives that are not often seen in other games of its genre.

1 Rome: Total War

One Of The Greatest Historical Strategy Games Ever

• The game covers important real-life events of Roman history, such as the conquest of Carthage and numerous Greek States, and the Punic Wars.
• Provides players with an in-depth look into both Roman warfare, politics, and its complex societal issues.

Rome: Total War puts players in the shoes of different Roman factions as the Great Roman Empire rises. The game combines the crude realities of war with the strategic moves of warfare generals and the political debates of the Roman Senate. Players will get an in-depth look into Rome's conquest of other civilizations through armed conflict, providing a rich narrative experience that covers several different elements.

Considered by many to be one of the best games that touch on the vast topic of Roman history, Rome: Total War leads players through the conquest of real-life historical civilizations. It also covers the tumultuous era of the Punic Wars, which helped Rome establish itself as the leading power of the world at that time. Few games have managed to capture the complexity of Roman civilization like Rome: Total War has, which is why it's still critically acclaimed by both veteran players and newcomers alike.

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