Best Games About Revolution, Ranked

Summary

Revolution in gaming is depicted through powerful and immersive experiences of overthrowing oppressive forces through collective action.
Games like Fable 3, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, and Just Cause 3 offer players the chance to lead rebellions against sinister foes.
Watch_Dogs: Legion stands out by allowing players to recruit any Londoner to join the fight against oppression.

For much of documented human history, a small group of kings, dictators, and oppressive rulers have maintained power over the masses primarily through force, religious decrees, and modern tactics like divide-and-conquer. Regrettably, oppression has been commonplace, with only rare instances in the human story where people have united and managed to dethrone their oppressors after enduring hardships.

Today, the drive for justice remains potent despite the looming shadow of tyranny, as the collective resolve to resist it weakens. This spirit is particularly evident in the widespread portrayal of revolutionary themes across various gaming eras. The games on this list are not necessarily ranked by their quality but by their ability to simulate the experience of a mass revolution through gameplay mechanics, their capacity to provide players with a fulfilling way to rebel through story and narrative design, and their readiness to showcase both the positive and negative aspects of rebellion.

7. Fable 3

From Royalty And Rags To Rebellion And Riches

In essence, the Fable series revolves around a dynasty, and by the time of Fable 3, the citizens opted for a hero to rule the kingdom instead. However, just as apples can drift significantly from the parent tree, Albion finds itself under the tyrannical grip of the player character’s elder brother, Logan, who takes the crown. As Logan compels the player to make a difficult choice between their character’s love interest or the innocent populace, the stage is set for a rebellion against Logan to reclaim power.

Initiating a rebellion in Fable 3 involves engaging with the populace, albeit in a basic fashion, allowing the protagonist to rally them during the struggle against their ruler-brother. Nonetheless, only half of the game revolves around instigating a revolution; once the player assumes control over the kingdom, it’s revealed that Logan’s sudden villainous transformation stemmed from factors beyond mere power hunger.

6. Jak 2: Renegade

Ecopunk And Orange Lightning Versus Autocracy

In a stunning transformation in video game lore, the characters from Jak 2 transition from their usual blend of heroism and chattiness to finding themselves in a bleak, oppressive world controlled by the ruthless Baron Praxis. After enduring long periods of torment, Jak becomes harder (and more vocal) as he navigates the decaying urban landscape of Haven City, seeking vengeance.

The duo quickly join forces with the underground resistance and start sabotaging the baron’s activities, such as detonating his weapons stockpile, clashing with the Krimzon Guard, and (unintentionally) demolishing his statue using an eco blast. Blending traditional platforming gameplay with elements akin to Grand Theft Auto, including carjacking and vehicular combat, the game becomes more serious and mature in tone as the asymmetrical struggle for freedom escalates.

5. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Rome Rises Up Against The Borgia

Brotherhood, Ezio finds himself isolated within Templar territories, with his support system crumbling, his army in ruins, and even his aging knees giving him trouble.

In “Brotherhood,” Ezio’s mission involves challenging the Borgia family’s rule over Rome. Not only do they command the city, but they also possess an artifact of the Isu, a tool used to manipulate the populace. To bring about their downfall, Ezio employs strategies like stealth, assassination, and networking. He works to rally the city against the family by demolishing their towers, symbols, and other landmarks, enlisting supportive citizens into the Brotherhood, and thwarting the Borgia’s schemes. Although overthrowing tyrants wouldn’t become common until later in history, the theme of standing up against oppression is skillfully portrayed in “Brotherhood.

4. Just Cause 3

A One-Man Flying Revolution

In most real-life situations, successful rebellions against tyrannical powers involve careful strategizing and the unification of countless courageous individuals. However, this isn’t the case in the game ‘Just Cause 3’. Instead, it’s a thrilling tale about Rico Rodriguez, a lone fighter leading an airborne revolution, causing chaos to General Di Ravello, the current dictator, using guns, tanks, and massive explosives.

In simpler terms, Just Cause 3 is like an action-packed playground where you’re given the freedom to wreak havoc using a grappling hook and wingsuit. Although it may lack a compelling narrative, the thrilling and stress-relieving gameplay consistently takes center stage and compensates for any emotional connection that might be missing.

3. The Saboteur

Liberating Paris One Street At A Time

The game The Saboteur is centered around freeing Paris block by block from German occupation.

Characters assume command over Sean Devlin, a versatile character with mechanical skills, driving prowess, parkour abilities, and an overall tough demeanor. He joins the Resistance in their mission to dismantle fascist rule and restore vibrancy to the City of Lights. Once a location is liberated, the grayscale and dark filters disappear, allowing a rainbow of colors, free from the gloomy shadows of authoritarianism, to reemerge.

2. Tonight We Riot

Punching Back Against The System

The indie brawler game “Tonight We Riot” portrays an ominous reflection of our reality, where wealthy magnates secretly control politicians across political lines, the media propagate propaganda defending the ruling class, and the working class are divided, oblivious to their true oppressors. This situation leads to unbearable living conditions for most people as costs surge, society fragments, and the environment deteriorates, all while a cabal of ruthless billionaires amass even greater fortunes.

In this game, players lead a unified group of workers, battling oppressive agents within a pixelated world on the brink of perpetual exploitation and ecological disaster. If they fail, this world remains doomed. The objective is to build alliances between previously divided groups, fostering unity to construct a new, more promising world where humanity can flourish and reach its full potential. With each additional worker joining the cause, the collective’s resistance grows stronger.

1. Watch_Dogs: Legion

Everyone Plays A Part In The War Against Oppression

Crafting gameplay for a video game revolving around revolution can be challenging. Typically, games thrive on their marketing as power fantasies. Yet, toppling an oppressive regime in favor of genuine, democratic transformation is not the work of secret few but the collective agreement of many. Watch Dogs: Legion, intuitively grasped this concept, as it allows every resident of a London occupied by corporations to potentially take on the role of the protagonist.

Through revealing the complaints of a fellow Londoner against Albion, gamers can attract fresh members and construct a rebellion comprising an exceptionally diverse array of playable characters, each boasting unique characteristics and exceptional talents – ranging from ordinary traits like owning a personal scooter to extraordinary ones such as advanced hacking skills. Despite some issues with balance and the failure to delve into the interpersonal relationships among recruits, the open-ended nature of the everyman recruitment system in Legion makes it an engaging game that explores collective action.

2025-03-23 09:10