10 Famous Historical Myths Perpetuated by Video Games

by

Introduction

Enjoy history in video games? You might be surprised how much isn’t quite right. Games often get historical battles wrong, showing things like flaming oil poured on enemies, walls exploding dramatically, or bayonets being ineffective – all myths that make history seem more exciting than it actually was. Let’s look at the ten most common historical inaccuracies in video games.

I was really pleased with how well my last two articles (you can find them here and here, in case you haven’t seen them!) were received, where I discussed common historical inaccuracies in video games. So, I’m continuing the series – history and gaming just naturally go together!

Check out all my other lists here.

10 – Medieval Sieges Rained Boiling Oil on Attackers

It’s a common image in games and medieval movies: defenders pouring boiling oil on attackers during a siege. While games like Stronghold popularized this idea, it’s largely a myth. Oil was actually quite expensive and hard to come by in medieval times. It wasn’t a practical weapon because defenders had plenty of other readily available options like boiling water, rocks, arrows, and other heavy objects. The dramatic image of boiling oil persists because it’s visually impactful and easy to understand, but it doesn’t accurately reflect how castles were actually defended – defenses were much more about using available resources effectively. Still, it’s a cool scene to watch!

9 – Small Weapons Were Responsible For Most Casualties

Most people unfamiliar with military history assume that rifles, machine guns, and pistols caused the most deaths in 20th-century warfare. This idea is reinforced by many war-themed video 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 conflicts. Artillery dramatically changed battlefield tactics and had a much greater impact on troop morale and movement than small arms, but games often minimize this for the sake of pacing and player control. Some more realistic games, like Combat Missions, Armored Brigade 2, and Hell Let Loose, do 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 were easily toppled or moved very slowly. However, this is often an exaggeration. Historically, skilled knights were surprisingly agile in their armor. While it took strength, stamina, and extensive training, they could run, jump onto horses, and recover quickly even when fully armored. Armor wasn’t designed to restrict movement; it was built with flexibility in mind. Knights also routinely practiced techniques like falling, rolling, and fighting on foot, as they knew these situations were likely to occur in battle.

Read More

2026-01-31 17:43