Most definitions of thehistorical fictiongenre encompass any piece of media that presents a fictional plot in a real-world setting. This can be anything from a love story set on theWorld War 2frontlines to a familial drama set in the Middle Ages to a murder mystery set in Ancient Egypt. Historical fiction is a genre that’s only continued to grow more popular over time, and that’s especially the case in the world of video games.
Since their inception, video games have held a close connection with history, with some of the earlieststrategy and simulation gamesusing real-world events to ground their pixelated battles. Over time, these simplistic backdrops became fully-realized, high-definition recreations of some of the most important moments in human history, and video games allowed players to get right in the weeds of it all. Now, in 2025, there’s no shortage of excellent video games out there for fans of historical fiction.
Games For Historical Fiction Fans: Assassin’s Creed
The most obvious recommendation for any fan of historical fiction,theAssassin’s Creedfranchisecovers a wealth of historical eras, ranging from Ancient Greece all the way up to Victorian London. TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise also throws players into the heart of some of the biggest moments in history, including the Storming of the Bastille, the Boston Tea Party, and the Hanno-ji Incident. Famous figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, and George Washington also pop up regularly during the franchise.
Games For Historical Fiction Fans: Total War
Debuting in 2000,theTotal Warfranchisehas released a total of 16 mainline entries so far, the vast majority of which cover real-world historical conflicts. Much likeAssassin’s Creed, eachTotal Warentry (aside from sequels) focuses on a distinct historical era, and while the series doesn’t claim to be entirely historically accurate, it gets quite close. Some of the franchise’s campaigns take players from one real-world battle to the next, gradually recounting the entirety of a real-life conflict. As a strategy series,Total Waris best for those who want to command large armies.
Games For Historical Fiction Fans: Civilization
While eachTotal Warentry focuses on one specific era and the handful of civilizations engaged in conflict at the time,theCivilizationfranchisegives players a plethora of different real-world factions and historical leaders to play as. An average game ofCivilizationtakes players from the dawn of man all the way up to the modern age and beyond, with most entries ending when players venture out into space. The latest entry,Civilization 7, is arguably the series' most accessible, though it does make some significant changes to the series' usual gameplay formula.
Games For Historical Fiction Fans: Ghost of Tsushima
For those who want a beautifully-realized interpretation of a very specific time period,Sucker Punch’sGhost of Tsushimais a must-play.Ghost of Tsushimatakes place during the first Mongol invasion of Japan in the late 1200s, with players taking on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai who’s forced to abandon honor to save his island.
Games For Historical Fiction Fans: Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Another quite specific entry,Kingdom Come: Deliverancedrops players intoearly 15th-century Bohemiaand has them fighting for and against various medieval lords in a first-person action-RPG. ThoughKingdom Come: Deliverancecaught some flak for its portrayal of Hungarians and Cumans, it received praise from many historical researchers and scholars for its portrayal of daily medieval life and warfare.
For those who want a slightly more modern setting,Rockstar’sRed Dead Redemption 2is the perfect choice. Set in 1899,Red Dead Redemption 2follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw struggling to adapt to the fast-changing world he finds himself in. Along with embracing its historical setting,Red Dead Redemption 2tells one of the best stories in gaming history, complete with complex character relationships and nail-biting twists and turns.
