Unmasking Video Games: The Top 10 Historical Myths Games Are Guilty Of Perpetrating
Let’s explore together the top 10 historical misconceptions that video games frequently promote, blurring the line between thrilling storytelling and accurate history. By delving into these common gaming tropes, we aim to distinguish captivating fiction from enlightening fact, thereby transforming your perspective on history within your favorite virtual realms.
Join me as we embark on an exciting journey to uncover the top 10 historical fallacies that video games often perpetuate, merging exhilarating storytelling with factual history. Through this exploration of common gaming tropes, our goal is to separate captivating fiction from enlightening fact and ultimately change the way you perceive history in your most cherished virtual environments.
10 – The Myth of Invincible German Tank Armor
In an earlier era, the internet was teeming with enigmatic entities yet to be recognized. They eventually became known as Wehraboos, originating from the plethora of subpar World War II documentaries that proliferated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These individuals zealously advocated for the myth of German tank supremacy, attributing their defeat to the overwhelming production of Allied tanks like the Sherman and T-34. However, it’s important to note that battles aren’t won solely by numerical superiority; factors such as strategy, supplies, morale, and vulnerabilities are also crucial, often not fully represented in games. For instance, German tanks, while arguably superior in raw firepower compared to their counterparts, had weaknesses that were frequently overlooked in gameplay. These high-performance tanks were prone to mechanical failures and breakdowns, leading many to be lost due to malfunction rather than enemy fire – a detail rarely, if ever, portrayed in gameplay. Additionally, logistical challenges such as fuel shortages and lack of spare parts significantly impaired their effectiveness. As the war advanced, Allied anti-tank weaponry was developed to effectively counter these tanks.
9 – Everyone Used a Sword
In many historical action games set during ancient or medieval times, swords are commonly depicted as the main weapon of choice for warriors, guards, and even common thugs. However, this romanticized portrayal overlooks the fact that swords were not the most practical weapons for standing armies during those periods. Instead, more efficient, cost-effective, and devastating weapons such as spears, axes, polearms (halberds, pikes, glaives), bows, and even simple clubs or farming tools were far more prevalent among common soldiers and peasant levies across different cultures and centuries.
The reason for this lies in the practicality of swords. They require a substantial amount of raw materials to produce, are difficult to craft properly, and are challenging to maintain. Compared to a blacksmith who could craft multiple spears with the metal used to make one sword, swords were less economical. Furthermore, swords are cutting weapons that require a relatively large surface area to be effective, while spears are thrusting weapons that can reach farther out on the battlefield.
Moreover, the courage portrayed in video games is often exaggerated, and many historical accounts describe soldiers stopping their charges just before reaching the enemy due to fear or exhaustion. As a result, having a longer weapon such as a spear would increase the likelihood of striking an opponent without putting oneself at unnecessary risk.
In summary, while swords were not inherently bad weapons, they were less practical and economical for standing armies compared to other weapons like spears, axes, polearms, bows, clubs, or even farming tools during ancient and medieval times.
8 – D-Day Bunkers Weren’t Always Massive Fortresses
In various video games such as Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Men of War, Company of Heroes, and Call of Duty: WWII, the German bunkers along the Atlantic Wall during D-Day are frequently shown as colossal, invincible concrete fortresses teeming with heavy weapons and gun crews. This dramatic portrayal is a creative liberty taken by Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan to guide the audience’s focus towards a specific objective the soldiers needed to accomplish. In reality, these defensive positions at the Normandy beaches were not as imposing but much deadlier: they were built into the cliffs, difficult to spot, and even harder to destroy, creating overlapping lines of fire that fired enfilade instead of directly. Many of these positions were smaller, reinforced concrete pillboxes, gun emplacements, or open firing positions rather than the massive, multi-room complexes often depicted. Importantly, the large bunkers equipped with heavy naval guns were scarce and mainly concentrated at strategic points like the Merville Battery or Longues-sur-Mer.
As a dedicated enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on how profoundly impactful the events of D-Day became in the realm of video games. I find myself reminiscing about the influential role Medal of Honor played, with Steven being an integral part of its creation, even expanding into a series that continues to thrive today. This gaming convention, though entertaining, has subtly skewed our understanding of the authentic struggles faced by the Allied Forces on that fateful day, perpetuating a distorted image of the real challenges they encountered.
7 – Engagement Distances Are All Wrong
In most video games, particularly first-person shooters and strategies, firefights are portrayed as happening in tight spaces, with soldiers shooting at each other so close that it seems impossible for anyone to miss a shot. This common gaming myth gives the impression of immediate danger and continuous action, but it significantly distorts how battles actually occurred throughout history, from ancient skirmishes to modern warfare. This misrepresentation affects both the strategic aspect and the effectiveness of weapons used in real combat scenarios.
Generally speaking, throughout history, conflicts between armies have taken place at distances far greater than portrayed in games. In both ancient and medieval battles, ranged weapons such as bows, javelins, and slings were extensively used to weaken enemies from afar before close combat. Even when the forces collided, polearms like spears and pikes – which could reach up to 10-20 feet – kept combatants at a considerable distance. In the era of firearms, from muskets to machine guns, effective ranges could span hundreds of meters, with soldiers often firing from hidden spots or across open fields. Games tend to compress these extensive distances, transforming strategic battles into more of an arena fight, thus downplaying the significance of positioning, formation, and the psychological impact of distant, unseen threats. To experience this for yourself, open Google Maps and draw a line that measures between 200 and 400 meters in length – this was roughly the average fighting distance during World War 2.
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2025-08-01 16:57