10 Famous Historical Myths Perpetuated by Strategy Games

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Introduction

Love history in video games? You might be surprised how much isn’t quite right. Games often get historical battles wrong, making them seem more dramatic and straightforward than they actually were – think flaming oil on castle attackers, walls that blow up easily, or pointless bayonets. Let’s break down the ten most common historical inaccuracies you’ll find in games.

I was really pleased with how well my previous two articles (you can find them here and here, in case you missed them!) were received, where I discussed common historical inaccuracies in video games. So, I’m continuing the topic, because history and gaming often go together – they’re a perfect match!

Check out all my other lists here.

10 – Medieval Sieges Rained Boiling Oil on Attackers

It’s a common image in games and movies – defenders drenching attackers in boiling oil during medieval sieges. While games like Stronghold popularized this idea, it’s largely a myth. Oil was expensive and hard to come by, so it wasn’t a practical defense. Castles were more likely defended with readily available resources like boiling water, rocks, arrows, and other heavy objects. The dramatic image of boiling oil persists because it’s visually impactful and easy to grasp, but it doesn’t accurately reflect how medieval castles were actually defended. Despite its inaccuracy, it remains a cool visual effect.

9 – Small Weapons Were Responsible For Most Casualties

Most people unfamiliar with military history assume that rifles, machine guns, or pistols caused the most deaths in the 20th century. This idea is reinforced by many war-themed games, where these weapons are central to the gameplay. However, the reality is that artillery was, by far, the biggest killer, especially starting in World War I. It caused the majority of injuries and deaths in most major wars. While small arms are often emphasized in games for the sake of pacing and giving players control, artillery had a much larger impact on battlefield tactics, troop movements, and morale. Some more realistic games, like Combat Missions, Armored Brigade 2, and Hell Let Loose, do attempt to show the devastating effects of heavy artillery fire.

8 – Medieval Knights Were Slow And Couldn’t Move Properly

Many games, like Total War: Medieval 2, Age of Empires 2, and Chivalry 2, show knights in full armor as slow and clumsy, implying they struggled to move and were easily toppled. However, this is often an exaggeration. Historically, skilled knights were surprisingly agile in their armor. They could run, get on a horse, and recover their footing even while wearing full plate. While it took strength, endurance, and years of training, armor was designed to allow movement, and knights routinely practiced techniques like falling, rolling, and fighting on foot because they knew these situations would happen in battle.

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2026-02-01 01:43