List of historical video games
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The historical video game belongs to a video game genre in which stories are based upon historical events, environments, or people. Some historical video games are simulators, which attempt an accurate portrayal of a historical event, civilization or biography, to the degree that the available historical research will allow. Other historical video games are fictionalized tales that are based on mythology, legends or a fictional character within a historical setting.
Panhistorical video games
[edit]Video games that take place across many periods of history.
| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Earth | 2001 | 500,000 BC – 2,200 AD (in skirmish mode)/1200s BC – 2098 AD (in Story mode) | A strategy game that spans multiple historical periods, from Prehistoric Age to Space Age. |
| Ara: History Untold | 2024 | 10.000 BC – 2050s AD | Ara: History Untold is a turn-based grand strategy video game that allows players to build and lead a nation through an alternate history from Stone Age to Singularity Age. |
| Millennia (video game) | 2024 | 10.000 BC – 2100s AD | Millennia is a 4X turn-based strategy video game in which players lead their nation through 10 different ages, from Age of Stone to Age of Transcendence. |
| Empire Earth III | 2007 | 1200s BC – 2100s AD | A sequel in the same vein as the original Empire Earth, covering ancient to modern times. |
| Empire Earth II | 2005 | 2333 BC – 2070 AD (in Campaign)/50,000 BC – 2,230 AD (in Skirmish mode) | A strategy game that covers thousands of years, from ancient times to futuristic warfare. |
| Rise of Nations | 2003 | 10,000 BC – 1970 AD | A real-time strategy game where players advance through historical eras, starting from ancient times. |
| Humankind (video game) | 2021 | 10,000 BC – 2020s AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Neolithic Era to Contemporary Era. |
| Civilization | 1991 | 4,000 BC – 2100 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Ancient Era to Space Era. |
| Civilization Revolution | 2008 | 4,000 BC – 2100 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Antiquity Age, through key historical eras such as the Classical and Renaissance periods, to Modern Age. The game highlights significant historical moments, including early military conquests, the exploration and colonization of new lands, and the development of modern democracies and technology. |
| Civilization Revolution 2 | 2014 | 4,000 BC – 2100 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players experience history from the foundation of early cities in 4,000 BC through major global historical developments such as the rise of empires, technological revolutions, and global diplomacy. |
| Civilization III | 2001 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game, where players start in 4,000 BC, founding early cities and expanding into larger empires by navigating historical events such as the Iron Age, the Renaissance, and the Age of Imperialism. The game introduces elements of global trade, colonial expansion, and the development of nation-states, reflecting the broader historical context of human civilization. |
| Civilization IV | 2005 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players guide civilizations through ancient conflicts, the rise of major religions, the formation of powerful empires, and modern global diplomacy. The game emphasizes cultural development, religion, and historical advancements in science and warfare. |
| Civilization V | 2010 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players lead their civilization through ancient empires, the rise of feudal kingdoms, industrial expansion, and modern global politics. The game focuses on the interactions between ancient cultures, world-changing technological advancements like gunpowder and electricity, and global conflicts like the World Wars. |
| Civilization VI | 2016 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players engage with real-world historical figures and events, managing ancient kingdoms, imperialistic expansion, and industrial and digital revolutions. The game emphasizes the geographical and political developments of civilizations, highlighting how cities, technologies, and cultures evolve across eras. |
| Civilization VI: Rise and Fall | 2018 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | This expansion for Civilization VI adds new mechanics that reflect the ebb and flow of civilizations throughout history. Golden ages and dark ages mirror real-world historical cycles of prosperity and decline, while governors and loyalty mechanics represent the internal dynamics of historical empires. |
| Civilization VI: Gathering Storm | 2019 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | With a focus on climate change and natural disasters, this expansion emphasizes how human civilizations have impacted and been shaped by their environment. From ancient agricultural practices to industrial pollution, players must navigate environmental challenges while advancing through historical eras. |
| Civilization VII | 2025 | 4,000 BC – 2050 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Antiquity and through the Exploration Age, to the Modern Age. |
| Civilization II | 1996 | 4,000 BC – 2010 AD | A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players encounter significant events such as the rise and fall of empires, the spread of religions, and the Industrial Revolution. They must navigate ancient diplomacy and warfare, and advance through technological, cultural, and societal developments. |
Games set in the Stone Age (before 10.000 BC)
[edit]| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey | 2019 | 10,000,000 – 2,000,000 BC | The game is set in prehistoric Africa, allowing players to experience the evolution of the human lineage through the ages. |
| Far Cry Primal | 2016 | 10,000 BC | Set during the end of the Upper Paleolithic and the beginning of the Mesolithic period, the game explores the conflict between early human tribes in the Oros Valley. |
| Dawn of Man | 2019 | 10,000 BC | The player guides a prehistoric settlements through different eras, starting from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age. |
| BC Kings | 2008 | 10,000 BC | A strategy game combining traditional RTS elements with role-playing mechanics set in a prehistoric world. |
Games set in Antiquity and Classical antiquity (10.000 BC - 500 AD)
[edit]| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Empires | 1997 | 8000 BC – 476 AD | A classic strategy game covering different ages, from the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman Empire. |
| Predynastic the Egypt | 2016 | 5000 – 3150 BC | The game is set in Predynastic Egypt, from first settlements to unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. |
| Egypt: Old Kingdom | 2018 | 3500 – 2140 BC | A strategy game where players build Egypt's first empire, from tribal unification to the establishment of the Old Kingdom. |
| The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian | 2002 | 3200 – 3000 BC | The game is set during the First Dynasty of Egypt. |
| Chariots of War | 2003 | 3100 – 1200 BC | A strategy game set in the ancient Near East, covering the historical period from early Mesopotamian civilizations. |
| Builders of Egypt | 2021 | 3100 – 30 BC | A city-building strategy game that spans from the foundation of the Old Kingdom of Egypt to its annexation by Rome. |
| Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile | 2004 | 3100 – 30 BC | A city-building game set in ancient Egypt, focusing on the cultural and economic development of the Nile civilizations. |
| Pharaoh | 1999 | 3000 – 30 BC | A city-building game where players oversee the development of cities in ancient Egypt from the Old Kingdom to Roman times. |
| Old World | 2021 | 3000 BC – 500 AD | A grand strategy game set during the Bronze and Iron Ages around the Mediterranean and beyond, mixing historical events and characters. |
| Egypt III | 2004 | 1279 – 1213 BC | Another game in the Egypt series, this one set during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II. |
| Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom | 2003 | 2205 BC – 1234 AD | A city-building game set in ancient China, focusing on the rise and fall of dynasties from Xia to Jin. |
| Zeus: Master of Olympus | 2000 | 2000 – 1000 BC | A city-building game centered on the ancient Greek civilization, with mythological elements. |
| Age of Mythology | 2002 | 9000 – 1100 BC | Set during the mythological age, covering mythological events from Greece, Egypt, Scandinavia and Atlantis, it features major mythological events like the destruction of Atlantis located in Atlantic Ocean (9.000 BC according with Plato) and the Trojan War (1194–1184 BC). Mythological figures such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax the Great, Hippolyta, Odysseus, Heracles, Jason, Theseus, Brokkr, Eitri and Perseus are playable in the campaign. |
| Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon (DLC) | 2016 | 9000 – 1100 BC | An expansion to the remastered version, introducing a new Chinese mythology campaign. |
| Age of Mythology: Retold | 2024 | 9000 – 1100 BC | A complete remaster of Age of Mythology, with updated graphics and features. |
| Pharaonic | 2016 | 1550 – 1525 BC | A sidescrolling RPG set in ancient Egypt during the reign of Ahmosis I, the Red Pharaoh. |
| Rise of the Argonauts | 2008 | 1300s BC | Based on the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, this action RPG takes place during the Late Bronze Age. |
| Ancient Conquest: Quest for the Golden Fleece | 1999 | 1300s BC | A strategy game inspired by the mythological journey of Jason and the Argonauts. |
| Disney's Hercules | 1997 | 1300s BC | A platform game based on Disney’s animated adaptation of the myth of Hercules. |
| Heracles Chariot Racing | 2007 | 1300s BC | A racing game centered around the mythological hero Heracles, featuring chariots. |
| Kid Icarus: Uprising | 2012 | 1300s BC | An action-adventure game based loosely on Greek mythology, including characters like Pit and Medusa. |
| Theseus: Journey to Athens | 2018 | 1300s BC | A role-playing adventure game set in ancient Greece, following the journey of Theseus to Athens. |
| Mytheon | 2011 | 1300s BC | An action RPG heavily influenced by ancient Greek mythology and mythological creatures. |
| Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy | 2000 | 1360 BC | An adventure game set in ancient Egypt, revolving around the construction of the city of Heliopolis. |
| Loki | 2007 | 1200s BC – 1500s AD | An action RPG where players control heroes from various mythologies, including ancient Egypt, Greece, and Norse mythology. |
| Total War: Pharaoh | 2023 | 1205 – 1155 BC | Set during the Late Bronze Age collapse, focusing on Egypt and surrounding civilizations. Historical characters like Ramses III, Merneptah, Seti II, Tausret, Amenmesse, Ninurta-apal-Ekur, Adad-shuma-usur and Suppiluliuma II appear in the game. |
| Total War Saga: Troy | 2020 | 1200 - 1180 BC | A strategy game centered on the events of the Trojan War, blending myth and history.Mythological figures such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Paris, Hector, Ajax the Great, Penthesilea, Menelaus, Hippolyta, Diomedes, Rhesus of Thrace and Memnon are playable in the campaign. |
| Warriors: Legends of Troy | 2011 | 1200 BC | An action game set during the Trojan War, based on Homer’s Iliad. |
| Battle for Troy | 2004 | 1200 BC | A strategy game centered around the legendary Trojan War. |
| Odyssey: The Search for Ulysses | 2000 | 1200 BC | An adventure game based on Homer’s Odyssey, focusing on the journey of Ulysses. |
| Spartan | 2004 | 1200 – 100 BC | A strategy game that covers ancient Greek city-states and their rise and fall, including Sparta. |
| Egypt 1156 B.C. | 1997 | 1156 BC | An adventure game where the player investigates the theft of a royal tomb in ancient Egypt. |
| Invictus | 2000 | 1000s BC | A strategy game where players control legendary Greek heroes during ancient times. |
| CivCity: Rome | 2006 | 756 – 27 BC | A city-building strategy game set in the Roman Republic, with an emphasis on city planning. |
| Caesar | 1992 | 756 – 27 BC | The first in the Caesar series, pioneering the city-building genre with a focus on managing a Roman city. |
| Caesar II | 1995 | 756 – 27 BC | A more refined version of the city-building formula with improved mechanics and graphics. |
| Caesar III | 1998 | 756 – 27 BC | Widely regarded as a classic, known for its detailed city management and historical setting in ancient Rome. |
| Caesar IV | 2006 | 756 – 27 BC | The first 3D entry in the series, bringing new visual depth and strategic complexity to Roman city-building. |
| Apotheon | 2015 | 500s BC | A 2D action RPG based on ancient Greek mythology. Players control Nikandreos, a mortal warrior who battles gods and mythological creatures to overthrow Zeus. |
| Hades | 2020 | 500s BC | An action roguelike game set in the world of Greek mythology. Players take on the role of Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the underworld. The game features characters from Greek mythology like Zeus, Poseidon, and Persephone, blending mythological storytelling with fast-paced combat. |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising | 2020 | 500s BC | An open-world action-adventure game set in a stylized version of ancient Greece, where players control Fenyx, a demigod on a quest to rescue the Greek gods from the titan Typhon. The date is according to the dialogue between Zeus and Prometheus from the Immortals Fenyx Rising: Story Trailer, where Zeus is shocked to learn that video games will be invented in 2,500 years. |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising: A New God (DLC) | 2021 | 500s BC | An expansion to the main game, which focuses on Fenyx’s trials to become a god. |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising: Myths of the Eastern Realm (DLC) | 2021 | 500s BC | An expansion to the main game, that focuses on separate story featuring Chinese mythology. |
| Immortals Fenyx Rising: The Lost Gods (DLC) | 2021 | 500s BC | An expansion to the main game, that focuses on a top-down adventure featuring new characters. |
| Rygar: The Legendary Adventure | 2002 | 500s BC | A third-person action-adventure game based loosely on Greek and Roman mythology. Players control Rygar, a warrior equipped with the Diskarmor, as he battles through mythological landscapes to defeat gods and restore peace. |
| Legion Arena | 2005 | 509 – 27 BC | A tactical role-playing game where players take control of Roman legions, starting from the Roman Republic. The game progresses through various historical campaigns, allowing players to upgrade and manage their troops while fighting in battles inspired by ancient history. |
| 0 A.D. | 2018 | 500 BC – 1 AD, 1 – 500 AD | A free, open-source real-time strategy game that covers ancient civilizations from 500 BC to 500 AD. Players can control various factions such as the Romans, Greeks, and Persians, engaging in both economic development and military conquests. |
| Legion Gold | 2002 | 500 BC – 16 AD | A remastered version of Legion, a turn-based strategy game that covers the rise of the Roman Empire and other ancient civilizations. The game allows players to control multiple factions, from the Romans to the Gauls, and manage both military campaigns and city development. |
| The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome | 2007 | 500 BC – 16 AD | A historical strategy game where players can relive the major battles of the Roman Republic and Empire. |
| Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients | 2015 | 500 – 300s BC | A strategy game set during the ancient Italian wars. The game focuses on the unification of Italy and features campaigns centered around Pyrrhus of Epirus and the struggles between early Roman and Italic states. |
| Builders of Greece | TBA | 500 – 300 BC | An upcoming city-building game where players build and manage a city-state in ancient Greece. The game emphasizes historical accuracy in terms of architecture, politics, and economy, allowing players to shape the development of their city through various historical eras. |
| Ancient Wars: Sparta | 2007 | 490 – 480 BC | A real-time strategy game set during the Greco-Persian Wars. Players control the armies of Sparta, Persia, and Egypt, recreating historical battles such as the Battle of Thermopylae and the Greco-Persian conflicts. |
| 300: March to Glory | 2007 | 480 BC | An action game follows King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they defend Greece from the Persian invasion at the Battle of Thermopylae. |
| God of War: Chains of Olympus | 2008 | 480 BC | In the beginning of the game, Kratos confront an Persian King who led the massive siege upon Attica to bring Greece down by the Persian Empire. Nameless, fictional King of Persia in Chains of Olympus is most likely based on King Xerxes I, famous for the war he fought against the Spartans in 480 B.C. |
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 2018 | 480 – 420 BC, | The game is set in a vast, open-world recreation of ancient Greece, with locations including Athens, Sparta, and various islands across the Aegean Sea, during the Peloponnesian War. |
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Legacy of the First Blade (DLC) | 2018 | 480 – 420 BC | An expansion to the main game, that focuses on the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood and introduces Darius, the first wielder of the hidden blade. |
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey: The Fate of Atlantis (DLC) | 2019 | 480 – 420 BC | An expansion to the main game, that explores the mythological side of the Assassin’s Creed universe, taking players to the legendary city of Atlantis and introducing gods like Hades and Poseidon. |
| God of War | 2005 | 404 BC | Ares, the god of war, besieges Athens, and Kratos is sent by Athena, the goddess of wisdom, to stop him. The historical Siege of Athens, the last battle in the Peloponnesian War, happened in 404 BC. |
| Total War: Rome II | 2013 | 431 BC – 275 AD | From Peloponnesian War to Crisis of the Third Century of Roman Empire. Real historical figures such as Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Scipio Africanus, Vercingetorix, Octavian Augustus, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Pericles and Aurelian appear in the game. |
| Hegemony Gold: Wars of Ancient Greece | 2012 | 400–300s BC | Ancient Greece - the campaigns of Philip II of Macedon and the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens |
| The Lost City of Atlantis | 1995 | 400s BC | |
| God of War: Ghost of Sparta | 2010 | 1600 BC | The game depicts the destruction of Atlantis, located in Crete. Kratos destroys the city with the help of a titan named Thera, named after the volcano that erupted in 1620 BC, destroying Akrotiri, the city that archaeologists believe inspired Plato to write the legend. |
| Fate of Hellas | 2008 | 396–326 BC | |
| Imperiums: Greek Wars | 2020 | 359 BC | |
| Rome: Total War: Alexander | 2006 | 336–323 BC | The main campaign of Alexander centers around Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire. |
| The Great Battles of Alexander | 1997 | 336–323 BC | |
| Alexander: The Heroes Hour | 2004 | 336–323 BC | |
| Age of Alexander | 2009 | 336–323 BC | |
| Alexander | 2004 | 333–323 BC | Startegia |
| Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War | 2006 | 333–30 BC | |
| Tin Soldiers: Alexander The Great | 2004 | 333–323 BC | |
| Imperator: Rome | 2019 | 304–27 BC | |
| Spartan: Total Warrior | 2005 | 300 BC | |
| Titan Quest | 2006 | 282 BC - after destruction of Colossus of Rhodes | After killing Typhon, the protagonist apparently explores the ruins of the Colossus of Rhodes, destroyed by an earthquake in 282 BC, in Titan Quest: Immortal Throne expansion pack. |
| God of War II | 2007 | 282 BC | The Colossus of Rhodes which was destroyed in 282 BC by an earthquake in the historical reality, is brought back to life by Zeus and destroyed by Kratos in a battle. Zeus kills Kratos and annihilates Sparta. In historical reality, Sparta lost its independence as a military power in 192 BC. |
| God of War III | 2010 | 389–426 AD | Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism presented as destruction of Greek pantheon and massacre of Greek gods by Kratos. City of Olympia, Greece appears in the game as being attacked by centaurs, cyclops, chimeras and titans. For each time Kratos killed a god, a disaster occurs. In real history, Olympia was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from 776 BC to 394 AD. In the 3rd century, Olympia the site suffer heavy damage from a series of earthquakes and from germanic invasion. The Temple of Zeus was destroyed around 426 AD. |
| Europa Universalis: Rome | 2008 | 280–27 BC | Set during the time of the Roman Republic. |
| Aggressors: Ancient Rome | 2018 | 280 BC–500 AD | |
| Centurion: Defender of Rome | 1990 | 275–27 BC | |
| Rome: Total War | 2004 | 270 BC–14 AD | The rise and expansion of Roman Empire. |
| Nemesis of the Roman Empire | 2003 | 264–146 BC | |
| Walls of Rome | 1993 | 264–146 BC | |
| Legions of Death | 1987 | 264–146 BC | |
| Pax Romana | 2003 | 264–50 BC | |
| Salammbo: Battle for Carthage | 2002 | 241–237 BC | |
| The Great Battles of Hannibal | 1997 | 218–201 BC | |
| Rise of the Phoenix | 1993 | 206–202 BC | |
| Imperivm: Great Battles of Rome | 2005 | 200–30 BC | |
| Gladius | 2003 | 100s BC | |
| Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising | 2011 | 100s BC | |
| Expeditions: Rome | 2022 | 60s BC | |
| Grand Ages: Rome | 2010 | 60 BC–9 AD | |
| Praetorians | 2003 | 58–45 BC | |
| The Great Battles of Caesar | 1998 | 58–45 BC | |
| Legionnaire | 1982 | 58–45 BC | |
| Celtic Kings: Rage of War | 2002 | 50 BC | |
| Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar | 2014 | 50s BC | Ancient Rome - the gallic campaign of Jules Caesar. |
| Assassin's Creed Origins | 2017 | 49–44 BC | The game is set in Ancient Egypt near the end of the Ptolemaic period and follows a Medjay named Bayek, and explores the origins of the centuries-long conflict between the Hidden Ones—forerunners to the Brotherhood of Assassins. Real historical figures like Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, Ptolemy XIII and Marcus Junius Brutus appear in the game. |
| Warrior of Rome | 1991 | 48 BC | |
| Warrior of Rome II | 1992 | 48 BC | |
| Shadow of Rome | 2005 | 44 BC | The plot is a fictionalized version of the assassination of Julius Caesar. |
| Rome: Caesar's Will | 2000 | 44 BC | |
| Teudogar and the Alliance with Rome | 2003 | 27 BC–14 AD | RPG in the style of Ultima VII |
| Glory of the Roman Empire | 2006 | 1–100 AD | |
| Imperium Romanum | 2008 | 1–100 AD | |
| The Forgotten City | 2021 | 1–100 AD | |
| Ryse: Son of Rome | 2013 | 58–68 AD | Set in an alternate version of Ancient Rome, Ryse follows the 10 years of the life of the Roman centurion Marius Titus as he becomes one of the leaders in the Roman Legion during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. In the game, Tiberius and Commodus appear as Nero's sons. Marius participates in the expedition from Britain in AD 61 to defeat Queen Boudica's rebellion. The game ends with Nero's suicide, set in AD 68. |
| Nethergate | 1998 | 60–61 AD | |
| Pompei: The Legend of Vesuvius | 2000 | 79 AD | |
| Rome: Pathway to Power | 1992 | 92 AD | |
| Catechumen | 2000 | 100s AD | |
| Circus Maximus: Chariot Wars | 2002 | 100s AD | |
| The Gladiators of Rome | 2002 | 100s AD | |
| Age of Gladiators | 2016 | 100s AD | |
| Age of Gladiators II: Rome | 2018 | 100s AD | |
| Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans | 2009 | 101–106 AD | |
| Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance | 2003 | 117 AD | |
| Colosseum: Road to Freedom | 2005 | 177–192 AD | Set around the time of the Emperor Commodus |
| Gladiator Begins | 2010 | 177–192 AD | Set around the time of the Emperor Commodus |
| Three Kingdoms: Fate of the Dragon | 2001 | 184–220 AD | |
| SPQR: The Empire's Darkest Hour | 1997 | 193–211 AD | point-and-click Myst-style game set in Ancient Rome |
| Dragon Throne: Battle of Red Cliffs | 2002 | 208–209 AD | |
| Kessen II | 2001 | 220–280 AD | |
| Romance of the Three Kingdoms | 1985 | 220–280 AD | |
| Total War: Three Kingdoms | 2019 | 220–280 AD | Set during the Three Kingdoms period. |
| Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion | 2005 | 363–476 AD | Decline of Roman Empire |
| Against Rome | 2004 | 400s AD | |
| Annals of Rome | 1986 | 400s AD | |
| King Arthur | 2004 | 400s AD | |
| Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail | 1990 | 400s AD | |
| Legion: The Legend of Excalibur | 2002 | 400s AD |
Games set in the Post-classical Era (500–1500)
[edit]Post-classical history era refers to the period from about 500 CE to 1500 CE, roughly corresponding to the European Middle Ages.
| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Empires II/Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition | 1999 | 394–1598 | Sequel to the original Age of Empires, Age of Empires II covers a large period of time, from as early as Alaric I to as late as the Battle of Noryang. |
| Total War: Attila | 2015 | 395–814 | From Final partition of the Roman Empire and Hunnic Invasion under Attila to rule of byzantine emperor Justinian I and coronation of Charlemagne |
| Requital | 2006 | 500s | |
| Stronghold Legends | 2006 | 516–1477 | Set in middle-age, gives the player a choice of different starting rulers with different troop types (including King Arthur and his knights of the round table, Count Vlad Dracul, and Siegfried of Xanten) |
| Silkroad Online | 2004 | 600s | |
| Quraish | 2005 | 632–661 | |
| Crusader Kings 2 | 2012 | 769 – 1452 | A grand strategy game with a heavy RPG flavor set in medieval Europe, northern Africa and the middle East. Through DLCs the map has also expanded to include India. The game is played from the perspective of a ruler in that time period, changing perspective to the primary heir once the ruler dies. The focus is on building up your house(family). |
| Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | 2017 | 790 | |
| Saga: Rage of the Vikings | 1998 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Rune | 2000 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Rune II | 2019 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Curse of Atlantis: Thorgal's Quest | 2003 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Viking: Battle for Asgard | 2008 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Valhalla Chronicles | 2003 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Volgarr the Viking | 2013 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| War of the Vikings | 2014 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Jotun | 2015 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Northgard | 2017 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Vikings: Wolves of Midgard | 2017 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| The Frostrune | 2017 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Valheim | 2021 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Kingdoms of England II: Vikings, Fields of Conquest | 1992 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Bad North | 2018 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Dusk of the Gods | 1991 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Hammer of the Gods | 1994 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Heimdall | 1991 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Heimdall 2 | 1994 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Thorgal: Curse of Atlantis | 2002 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Vikings: The Strategy of Ultimate Conquest | 1996 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Besieger | 2004 | 793–1066 | Set in the Viking Age |
| Ancestors Legacy | 2018 | 793–1300s | |
| Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | 2003 | 800s | Set in Persia during the 9th century AD |
| Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands | 2010 | 800s | The game takes place in the seven-year gap between Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. |
| Prince of Persia: Warrior Within | 2004 | 800s | Set in Persia during the 9th century AD |
| Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones | 2005 | 800s | Set in Persia during the 9th century AD |
| Persian Wars | 2001 | 800s | |
| Assassin's Creed Valhalla[1] | 2020 | 847–886 | The game recounts a history of the Viking invasion of Britain, Norse colonization of North America, Viking Expansion in Ireland and Siege of Paris (885–886) |
| Assassin's Creed Mirage | 2023 | 861 | Set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Includes events from the Anarchy at Samarra. |
| Crusader Kings III | 2020 | 867–1453 | Crusader Kings III is a grand strategy game and dynasty simulator set in the Middle Ages. Players can choose a start date of either 867 or 1066 and play until 1453. |
| Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia | 2018 | 878–900s | |
| Cosmology of Kyoto | 1993 | 900s–1000s | |
| Brave | 2012 | 900s–1000s | |
| Cultures | 2000 | 986 | |
| Cultures 2: The Gates of Asgard | 2002 | 986 | |
| For Honor | 2017 | 1000–1200s | Players can play as a character from one of four different factions, namely the Iron Legion (Knights), the Warborn (Vikings), the Dawn Empire (Samurai), and the Wu Lin (Ancient Chinese). |
| Knights of Honor | 2004 | 1000s–1300s | |
| Medieval Lords: Build, Defend, Expand | 2004 | 1000s–1300s | |
| Rampart (video game) | 1990 | 1000s–1300s | |
| Medieval Lords: Soldier Kings of Europe | 1991 | 1028–1400s | |
| Castlevania: Lords of Shadow | 2010 | 1047 | The setting of Lords of Shadow is during "the end of days" in the year 1047 |
| Age of Empires IV | 2021 | 1066–1453 | |
| Medieval II: Total War | 2006 | 1066–1530 | From Norman Conquest and Crusades to Inquisition and Age of Discovery |
| Crusader Kings | 2004 | 1066–1452 | |
| Maldita Castilla | 2016 | 1081 | |
| Conqueror A.D. 1086 | 1995 | 1086 | |
| Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade | 2004 | 1096–1099 | |
| Knights of the Temple II | 2005 | 1096–1099 | |
| Lords of the Rising Sun | 1989 | 1100s | |
| Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come | 2009 | 1100s | |
| The History Channel: Crusades - Quest for Power | 2003 | 1100s | |
| Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | 1991 | 1100s–1200s | |
| Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown | 2003 | 1100s–1200s | |
| Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood | 1991 | 1100s–1200s | |
| Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood | 2002 | 1100s–1200s | |
| Empires Apart | 2018 | 1100s–1300s | |
| Lords of the Realm | 1994 | 1100s–1300s | |
| Lords of the Realm II | 1996 | 1100s–1300s | |
| Lords of the Realm III | 2004 | 1100s–1300s | |
| Portugal 1111: A Conquista de Soure | 2004 | 1111 | |
| Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth | 2017 | 1135–1162 | The game begins with the option of an interactive tutorial inside a cathedral. It then transitions to the Prologue which is set in Shiring in 1135. |
| Defender of the Crown | 1986 | 1149 | |
| Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms | 2007 | 1174–1521 | From Third Crusade and Northern Crusades to First War of Scottish Independence and Spanish colonization of the Americas |
| Genji: Dawn of the Samurai | 2005 | 1179–1189 | |
| Genji: Days of the Blade | 2006 | 1179–1189 | |
| Yoshitsune Eiyūden: The Story of Hero Yoshitsune | 2005 | 1184–1189 | |
| Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf | 1992 | 1184–1274 | |
| Genghis Khan: Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika IV | 1998 | 1189–1370 | |
| The Kings' Crusade | 2010 | 1189–1192 | |
| Empires: Dawn of the Modern World | 2003 | 1189–1945 | |
| Dante's Inferno | 2010 | 1189–1191 | The story follows Dante, a Templar knight from the Crusade who (despite his faith) has committed numerous atrocities during the Third Crusade. At the city of Acre, Dante is entrusted to keep a group of Saracen prisoners safe so King Richard I could obtain a holy relic from Saladin. |
| Assassin's Creed | 2007 | 1191 | The plot is set in a fictional history of real-world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control. The game primarily takes place during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in 1191, with the plot revolving around the Secret Order of Assassins, based upon the Hashshashin sect. |
| Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines | 2009 | 1192 | Beginning shortly after the events of the first game, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad learns of a plan of the remaining Templars to escape to Cyprus, and so infiltrates one of their strongholds in Acre to stop them from doing so. |
| The Cursed Crusade | 2011 | 1198–1204 | Fourth Crusade |
| Stronghold: Crusader | 2002 | 1100s | |
| Stronghold Crusader II | 2014 | 1100s | |
| Stronghold | 2001 | 1200s | |
| Stronghold 2 | 2005 | 1200s | |
| Stronghold: Warlords | 2021 | 1200s | |
| Stronghold 3 | 2011 | 1200s | |
| XIII Century | 2007 | 1200s | |
| Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades | 2011 | 1200s | |
| Castles | 1991 | 1200s | |
| Knights and Merchants: The Shattered Kingdom | 1998 | 1200s | |
| Mordhau | 2019 | 1200s–1500s | |
| Genghis Khan | 1987 | 1206–1227 | |
| Pilgrim: Faith as a Weapon | 1997 | 1208 | |
| The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin | 2000 | 1208 | |
| The Golden Horde | 2008 | 1237–1242 | |
| Ghost of Tsushima | 2020 | 1274 | Featuring an open world, it follows a samurai on a quest to protect Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. |
| The First Templar | 2011 | 1291–1307 | From Siege of Acre (1291) to Trials of the Knights Templar |
| Braveheart | 1999 | 1296–1305 | |
| The Legend of William Tell | 1990 | 1300s | |
| Time Gate: Knight's Chase | 1996 | 1300s | |
| Castle Strike | 2004 | 1300s–1400s | |
| Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War | 2007 | 1300s–1400s | |
| Murder in the Abbey | 2008 | 1327 | |
| The History Channel: Great Battles Medieval | 2011 | 1337–1453 | |
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | 2019 | 1348 | In 1348, Amicia de Rune is a 15-year-old Frenchwoman of noble descent who lives in Aquitaine during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem | 2022 | 1348 | |
| Inquisition | 2002 | 1348 | The 3rd person game, is set in 1348 Paris, France, where the main character, a young thief named Matthew, has come to find his riches. |
| For the Glory | 2009 | 1399–1819 | |
| Europa 1400: The Guild | 2002 | 1400s | |
| The Guild 2 | 2006 | 1400s | |
| The Patrician | 1992 | 1400s | |
| Patrician II: Quest for Power | 2000 | 1400s | |
| Patrician III: Rise of the Hanse | 2003 | 1400s | |
| Patrician IV | 2010 | 1400s | |
| Theocracy | 2000 | 1400s | |
| Aztec: The Curse in the Heart of the City of Gold | 1999 | 1400s | |
| Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado | 2000 | 1400s | |
| Knights of the Cross | 2002 | 1400s | |
| American Conquest | 2002 | 1400s–1800s | |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance | 2018 | 1403 | It is set in the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia, an Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire, with a focus on historically accurate content. |
| Anno 1404 | 2009 | 1404 | |
| Europa Universalis II | 2001 | 1419–1820 | |
| 1428: Shadows over Silesia | 2022 | 1428 | |
| Joan of Arc: Siege & the Sword | 1989 | 1428–1431 | |
| Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc | 2004 | 1428–1431 | |
| Jeanne d'Arc | 2006 | 1428–1431 | |
| Europa Universalis IV | 2013 | 1444–1821 | Being a grand strategy game, all nations represented in the game are playable with flavor events existing even for smaller nations. It is possible to continue playing a save from Crusader Kings 2 via a DLC that converts a save in the earlier set game. |
| Europa Universalis III | 2007 | 1453–1821 | |
| War of the Roses | 2012 | 1455–1487 | Set during the Wars of the Roses. |
| Assassin's Creed II | 2009 | 1459–1499 | The main narrative takes place at the height of the Renaissance in Italy during the 15th and early 16th century. |
| Sengoku | 2011 | 1467 | |
| Sid Meier's Colonization | 1994 | 1492–1850 | |
| Europa Universalis | 2000 | 1492 | |
| Exploration | 1994 | 1492 | |
| Conquest of the New World | 1996 | 1493 | |
| The Seven Cities of Gold | 1984 | 1493 |
Games set in the Age of Discovery (1500–1800)
[edit]Age of Discovery refers to the period from about 1500 to 1800, roughly corresponding to the Early modern period.
| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperialism II: Age of Exploration | 1999 | 1500s | |
| Uncharted Waters | 1990 | 1500s | |
| Galleons of Glory: The Secret Voyage of Magellan | 1990 | 1500s | |
| Gold of the Americas: The Conquest of the New World | 1989 | 1500s | |
| Nioh 2 | 2020 | 1500s | Set in Japan during the late 1500s |
| Demon Chaos | 2005 | 1500s | |
| Red Ninja: End of Honor | 2005 | 1500s | |
| Samurai Warriors | 2004 | 1500s | |
| Devil Kings | 2005 | 1500s | |
| Sword of the Samurai | 1989 | 1500s | |
| Tenchu: Stealth Assassins | 1998 | 1500s | |
| Anito: Defend a Land Enraged | 2003 | 1500s | |
| Port Royale: Gold, Power and Pirates | 2002 | 1500s–1600s | |
| Port Royale 2 | 2004 | 1500s–1600s | |
| Port Royale 3: Pirates & Merchants | 2012 | 1500s–1600s | |
| No Man's Land | 2003 | 1500s–1700s | |
| Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood | 2010 | 1500–1507 | The main story takes place immediately after the plot of Assassin's Creed II, featuring Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 16th century Italy and his quest to restore the Assassin order, and destroy his enemies: the Borgia family. |
| Anno 1503 | 2002 | 1503 | |
| Assassin's Creed: Revelations | 2011 | 1511–1512, 1191–1257 | Revelations features two other returning protagonists: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in 12th and 13th century Masyaf, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 16th century Constantinople. |
| Pentiment | 2022 | 1518 | |
| Expeditions: Conquistador | 2013 | 1518–1520 | |
| The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript | 2006 | 1522 | |
| Total War: Shogun 2 | 2011 | 1540s–1600s | |
| Kessen III | 2004 | 1550–1590 | |
| Jerusalem: The Three Roads to the Holy Land | 2002 | 1552 | |
| Onimusha: Warlords | 2001 | 1560s | |
| Nobunaga's Ambition | 1986 | 1560s–1580s | |
| Touché: The Adventures of the Fifth Musketeer | 1995 | 1562 | |
| Age of Empires III/Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | 2005 | 1565–1866 | |
| Kessen | 2000 | 1570s–1603 | |
| Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader | 2003 | 1588 | |
| Astrologaster | 2019 | 1590s | The game follows Simon Forman in Elizabethan England. |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | 2019 | 1600 | The game takes place in a fictionalized Japan set during the Sengoku period, and makes strong references to Buddhist mythology and philosophy. |
| Assassin's Creed Shadows | 2025 | 1579-1581 | Set in 16th-century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, including Nobunaga's assault on the Iga province in 1581. The game feature as a central character Yasuke,a black from Portuguese Mozambique who served as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga and become an samurai. |
| Nioh | 2017 | 1600–1615 | Set during a fictionalized version of the year 1600, the plot follows the journeys of William Adams, an Irish sailor named after and inspired by the historic Englishman who became one of the only ever Western samurai. |
| Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun | 2016 | 1600s–1700s | |
| Trek to Yomi | 2022 | 1600s–1700s | |
| Cossacks: European Wars | 2001 | 1600s–1700s | |
| Cossacks 3 | 2016 | 1600s–1700s | |
| East India Company | 2009 | 1600s–1700s | |
| Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales | 2006 | 1600s | |
| Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships | 2009 | 1600s | |
| Corsairs: Conquest at Sea | 1999 | 1600s | |
| Cutthroats: Terror on the High Seas | 1999 | 1600s | |
| Pirate Hunter | 2003 | 1600s | |
| Tortuga: Two Treasures | 2007 | 1600s | |
| Sid Meier's Pirates! | 2004 | 1600s | |
| Betrayer | 2014 | 1600s | Set in colonial Virginia. |
| Buccaneer | 1997 | 1600s | |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | 2003 | 1600s | |
| Raven's Cry | 2015 | 1600s | |
| Anno 1602 | 1998 | 1602 | |
| 7 Blades | 2000 | 1650 | |
| High Seas Trader | 1995 | 1650 | |
| Sea Of Thieves | 2018 | 1650–1750 | |
| An Eye for Optical Theory 1666[2] | 2023 | 1666 | |
| Versailles 1685 | 1997 | 1685 | |
| Cutthroat Island | 1995 | 1688 | |
| Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden | 2024 | 1695 | Set in colonial New England. |
| Card Shark | 2022 | 1700s | Set in France. |
| Mir-Mahna | 2011 | 1700s | |
| Skull & Bones | 2022 | 1700s | |
| The Case of the Golden Idol | 2022 | 1700s | |
| Empire: Total War | 2009 | 1700 | |
| Anno 1701 | 2006 | 1701 | |
| Call to Arms | 1982 | 1750–1942 | |
| Birth of America | 2006 | 1755–1783 | |
| Rise of Prussia | 2010 | 1756–1763 | |
| Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | 2013 | 1715–1722 | Golden Age of Piracy |
| Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry | 2013 | 1735 | |
| Assassin's Creed Rogue | 2014 | 1751–1776 | Seven Years' War |
| Assassin's Creed III | 2012 | 1754–1781 | American War of Independence |
| Assassin's Creed III: Liberation | 2012 | 1765–1777 | |
| Assassin's Creed Unity | 2014 | 1776–1794 | French Revolution |
| China: The Forbidden City | 1998 | 1775 | |
| Age of Sail | 1996 | 1775–1820 | |
| Age of Sail II | 2001 | 1775–1820 | |
| Liberty or Death | 1993 | 1775–1783 | |
| Mozart: The Conspirators of Prague | 2009 | 1788 | |
| Imperial Glory | 2005 | 1789–1815 | |
| Napoleon Senki | 1988 | 1796–1802 | |
| War and Peace: 1796–1815 | 2002 | 1796–1815 | |
| Napoleon: Total War | 2010 | 1796–1815 | |
| Pirates of the Barbary Coast | 1986 | 1798 | |
| Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars | 2005 | 1799–1815 |
Games set in the Modern period (1800–1945)
[edit]Games set in the Contemporary Era (1945–2025)
[edit]The current period that corresponds to the Atomic Age, Space Age and the Information Age.
| Title | Release date | Time period | Notes on setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mafia II | 2010 | 1945–1951 | |
| L.A. Noire | 2011 | 1947 | Set in 1947 Los Angeles post-WW2, the game follows detective Cole Phelps's rise among the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department as he solves a range of cases across various bureaus. |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | 2010 | 1961-1968 | Main Events: Bay of Pigs Invasion, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, Vietnam War - Tet Offensive, Laotian Civil War during the Cold War. The game's single-player campaign follows CIA operative Alex Mason as he attempts to recall specific memories in order to locate a numbers station set to instruct Soviet sleeper agents to deploy chemical weapons across the United States. |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | 2020 | 1981 | Main Events: Iran hostage crisis, Fracture Jaw, MKUltra, Presidency of Ronald Reagan, Set in 1981, Black Ops Cold War's single-player story follows CIA operative Russell Adler and his team of agents as they hunt down a Soviet spy named Perseus, the code name of a hypothetical Soviet atomic spy that would have been instrumental for the Soviets in the development of nuclear weapons. |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 2012 | 1986-2025 | Main Events: Angolan Civil War, Soviet–Afghan War and United States invasion of Panama during the First Cold War; Rare earths trade dispute and Yemeni civil war (2014–present) during Second Cold War |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 2024 | 1991 | Dissolution of the Soviet Union and Gulf War |
| Mafia III | 2016 | 1968 | |
| Medal of Honor (2010 video game) | 2010 | 2002 | Takes place during the War in Afghanistan, loosely based on parts of Operation Anaconda; specifically, the events surrounding the Battle of Roberts Ridge. |
| Six Days in Fallujah | 2023 | 2004 | Set in the Second Battle of Fallujah of the Iraq War over the span of six days in November 2004, |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 2002 | 1986 | Set in 1986 within the fictional Vice City (based on Miami and Miami Beach), the single-player story follows mobster Tommy Vercetti's rise to power after being released from prison and becoming caught up in an ambushed drug deal. The game contains vehicles, picture of Ronald Reagan shooting a picture of Mikhail Gorbachev and radio channels with music from the 1980s ( Michael Jackson, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Iron Maiden). |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2004 | 1992 | The narrative is based on multiple real-life events in Los Angeles, including the Bloods and Crips street gang rivalry, 1990s crack epidemic, 1992 Los Angeles riots, and Rampart scandal. |
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | 2001 | Set within the fictional Liberty City (loosely based on New York City), the story follows Claude, a silent protagonist who, after being left for dead by his girlfriend during a robbery, embarks on a quest for revenge leading him to become entangled in a world of crime, drugs, gang warfare, and corruption. The game was delayed following the September 11 attacks to allow the team to change references and gameplay deemed inappropriate. President Bush is featured in a report by the Liberty Tree titled 'The W' to Drop in on Liberty City on February 1st 2001 |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV takes place in 2008, within a redesigned version of Liberty City. Initially, bridges are locked down due to a terrorist threat, and police constantly pursue players if the bridges are crossed. Niko Bellic, a Serbian ex-soldier, arrives in Liberty City aboard a cargo ship to escape his criminal past, pursue the American Dream, and search for the man who betrayed his unit to an ambush during Yugoslav Wars (ten years prior). |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V follows three protagonists—retired bank robber, street gangster and drug dealer and gunrunner, and their attempts to commit heists while under pressure from a corrupt government agency and powerful criminals. Players freely roam San Andreas's open world countryside and fictional city of Los Santos, based on post-modernist Los Angeles after Great Recession. |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 2025 | 2025 | Grand Theft Auto VI is set within the fictional open world state of Leonida—based on Florida—and its Miami-inspired Vice City, the story is expected to follow the criminal duo of Lucia and her male partner. The game world parodies contemporary American culture, with satirical depictions of social media and influencer culture, and references to Internet memes such as Florida Man. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Assassin's Creed Valhalla reshapes the series' RPG storytelling by giving you a Viking settlement". Eurogamer. 30 April 2020.
- ^ "An Eye for Optical Theory 1666 on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.