10 Games That Let You Rewrite History

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History And Video Games Are A Match Made In Heaven

I love how some video games let you experience different moments and locations from the past. In this article, I’ll share some of my favorite games for traveling to historical periods I enjoy. As you might guess, since this is a strategy and wargaming site, most of the games will fall into those genres, though I’ll also include a few first-person shooters. Keep in mind that these choices reflect my personal interests in history.

10 – Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition isn’t a perfect historical simulation – it’s a fast-paced strategy game, and that’s okay. Still, it’s really enjoyable to try and recreate historical battles within the game’s limitations. I’ve spent a lot of time doing just that, with mixed results, and I’ve also looked at how the game itself attempts historical accuracy in its scenarios, like the Battle of Toro. It’s a fun challenge to work around the game’s rules and make things happen with the tools available. While Age of Empires 2 excels at smaller, quick battles, trying to recreate large, complex campaigns doesn’t really work. In fact, the game is often best enjoyed with a defensive, ‘turtling’ playstyle, if that’s your preference.

9 – Stronghold: Definitive Edition

If you’re looking for a fun medieval strategy game, Stronghold: Definitive Edition and Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition are both excellent choices. Which one you prefer really depends on the type of battles you want to simulate. I personally lean towards Stronghold, especially for European battles. It’s unmatched when it comes to recreating sieges and building detailed castles. With careful planning, you can even recreate historical battles realistically, as I demonstrated to a friend by building the Battle of Aljubarrota using the game’s map creator.

8 – Rome 2: Total War

A recent online trend suggests men frequently think about the Roman Empire – either daily or weekly. While psychologists have offered explanations, the simple reason is that the Roman Empire was genuinely impressive. Of course, the Western Roman Empire fell over 1,500 years ago, meaning joining Caesar’s army isn’t an option. Some might say it’s impossible to recapture that feeling, but I have a solution.

The easiest way to experience the Roman Empire is to play a game like Rome: Total War or Rome 2: Total War – whichever one you prefer. You can control your own empire from home, without having to worry about the sounds of battle or the challenges of history, like the forests of Teutoburg or the armies of Alaric.

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2026-03-14 13:43