List of historical video games explained

The historical video game belongs to a video game genre in which stories are based upon historical events, environments, or people. Some historical video games are simulators, which attempt an accurate portrayal of a historical event, civilization or biography, to the degree that the available historical research will allow. Other historical video games are fictionalized tales that are based on mythology, legends or a fictional character within a historical setting.

Panhistorical video games

Video games that take place across many periods of history.

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
Empire Earth	2001	500,000 BC – 2,200 AD (in skirmish mode)/1200s BC – 2098 AD (in Story mode)	A strategy game that spans multiple historical periods, from Prehistoric Age to Space Age.
	2024	10.000 BC – 2050s AD	Ara: History Untold is a turn-based grand strategy video game that allows players to build and lead a nation through an alternate history from Stone Age to Singularity Age.
Millennia (video game)	2024	10.000 BC – 2100s AD	Millennia is a 4X turn-based strategy video game in which players lead their nation through 10 different ages, from Age of Stone to Age of Transcendence.
Empire Earth III	2007	1200s BC – 2100s AD	A sequel in the same vein as the original Empire Earth, covering ancient to modern times.
Empire Earth II	2005	2333 BC – 2070 AD (in Campaign)/50,000 BC – 2,230 AD (in Skirmish mode)	A strategy game that covers thousands of years, from ancient times to futuristic warfare.
Rise of Nations	2003	10,000 BC – 1970 AD	A real-time strategy game where players advance through historical eras, starting from ancient times.
Humankind	2021	10,000 BC – 2020s AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Neolithic Era to Contemporary Era.
Civilization	1991	4,000 BC – 2100 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Ancient Era to Space Era.
Civilization Revolution	2008	4,000 BC – 2100 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Antiquity Age, through key historical eras such as the Classical and Renaissance periods, to Modern Age. The game highlights significant historical moments, including early military conquests, the exploration and colonization of new lands, and the development of modern democracies and technology.
Civilization Revolution 2	2014	4,000 BC – 2100 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players experience history from the foundation of early cities in 4,000 BC through major global historical developments such as the rise of empires, technological revolutions, and global diplomacy.
Civilization III	2001	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game, where players start in 4,000 BC, founding early cities and expanding into larger empires by navigating historical events such as the Iron Age, the Renaissance, and the Age of Imperialism. The game introduces elements of global trade, colonial expansion, and the development of nation-states, reflecting the broader historical context of human civilization.
Civilization IV	2005	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players guide civilizations through ancient conflicts, the rise of major religions, the formation of powerful empires, and modern global diplomacy. The game emphasizes cultural development, religion, and historical advancements in science and warfare.
Civilization V	2010	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players lead their civilization through ancient empires, the rise of feudal kingdoms, industrial expansion, and modern global politics. The game focuses on the interactions between ancient cultures, world-changing technological advancements like gunpowder and electricity, and global conflicts like the World Wars.
Civilization VI	2016	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players engage with real-world historical figures and events, managing ancient kingdoms, imperialistic expansion, and industrial and digital revolutions. The game emphasizes the geographical and political developments of civilizations, highlighting how cities, technologies, and cultures evolve across eras.
	2018	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	This expansion for Civilization VI adds new mechanics that reflect the ebb and flow of civilizations throughout history. Golden ages and dark ages mirror real-world historical cycles of prosperity and decline, while governors and loyalty mechanics represent the internal dynamics of historical empires.
	2019	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	With a focus on climate change and natural disasters, this expansion emphasizes how human civilizations have impacted and been shaped by their environment. From ancient agricultural practices to industrial pollution, players must navigate environmental challenges while advancing through historical eras.
Civilization VII	2025	4,000 BC – 2050 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players advance through historical eras, starting from Antiquity and through the Exploration Age, to the Modern Age.
Civilization II	1996	4,000 BC – 2010 AD	A turn-based strategy 4X video game where players encounter significant events such as the rise and fall of empires, the spread of religions, and the Industrial Revolution. They must navigate ancient diplomacy and warfare, and advance through technological, cultural, and societal developments.

Games set in the Stone Age (before 10.000 BC)

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
	2019	10,000,000 – 2,000,000 BC	The game is set in prehistoric Africa, allowing players to experience the evolution of the human lineage through the ages.
Far Cry Primal	2016	10,000 BC	Set during the end of the Upper Paleolithic and the beginning of the Mesolithic period, the game explores the conflict between early human tribes in the Oros Valley.
Dawn of Man	2019	10,000 BC	The player guides a prehistoric settlements through different eras, starting from the Paleolithic to the Iron Age.
BC Kings	2008	10,000 BC	A strategy game combining traditional RTS elements with role-playing mechanics set in a prehistoric world.

Games set in Antiquity and Classical antiquity (10.000 BC - 500 AD)

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
Age of Empires	1997	8000 BC – 476 AD	A classic strategy game covering different ages, from the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Predynastic the Egypt	2016	5000 – 3150 BC	The game is set in Predynastic Egypt, from first settlements to unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
	2018	3500 – 2140 BC	A strategy game where players build Egypt's first empire, from tribal unification to the establishment of the Old Kingdom.
	2002	3200 – 3000 BC	The game is set during the First Dynasty of Egypt.
Chariots of War	2003	3100 – 1200 BC	A strategy game set in the ancient Near East, covering the historical period from early Mesopotamian civilizations.
Builders of Egypt	2021	3100 – 30 BC	A city-building strategy game that spans from the foundation of the Old Kingdom of Egypt to its annexation by Rome.
	2004	3100 – 30 BC	A city-building game set in ancient Egypt, focusing on the cultural and economic development of the Nile civilizations.
Pharaoh	1999	3000 – 30 BC	A city-building game where players oversee the development of cities in ancient Egypt from the Old Kingdom to Roman times.
Old World	2021	3000 BC – 500 AD	A grand strategy game set during the Bronze and Iron Ages around the Mediterranean and beyond, mixing historical events and characters.
Egypt III	2004	1279 – 1213 BC	Another game in the Egypt series, this one set during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II.
	2003	2205 BC – 1234 AD	A city-building game set in ancient China, focusing on the rise and fall of dynasties from Xia to Jin.
	2000	2000 – 1000 BC	A city-building game centered on the ancient Greek civilization, with mythological elements.
Age of Mythology	2002	9000 – 1100 BC	Set during the mythological age, covering mythological events from Greece, Egypt, Scandinavia and Atlantis, it features major mythological events like the destruction of Atlantis located in Atlantic Ocean (9.000 BC according with Plato) and the Trojan War (1194–1184 BC). Mythological figures such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax the Great, Hippolyta, Odysseus, Heracles, Jason, Theseus, Brokkr, Eitri and Perseus are playable in the campaign.
(DLC)	2016	9000 – 1100 BC	An expansion to the remastered version, introducing a new Chinese mythology campaign.
	2024	9000 – 1100 BC	A complete remaster of Age of Mythology, with updated graphics and features.
Pharaonic	2016	1550 – 1525 BC	A sidescrolling RPG set in ancient Egypt during the reign of Ahmosis I, the Red Pharaoh.
Rise of the Argonauts	2008	1300s BC	Based on the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, this action RPG takes place during the Late Bronze Age.
	1999	1300s BC	A strategy game inspired by the mythological journey of Jason and the Argonauts.
Disney's Hercules	1997	1300s BC	A platform game based on Disney’s animated adaptation of the myth of Hercules.
Heracles Chariot Racing	2007	1300s BC	A racing game centered around the mythological hero Heracles, featuring chariots.
	2012	1300s BC	An action-adventure game based loosely on Greek mythology, including characters like Pit and Medusa.
	2018	1300s BC	A role-playing adventure game set in ancient Greece, following the journey of Theseus to Athens.
Mytheon	2011	1300s BC	An action RPG heavily influenced by ancient Greek mythology and mythological creatures.
	2000	1360 BC	An adventure game set in ancient Egypt, revolving around the construction of the city of Heliopolis.
Loki	2007	1200s BC – 1500s AD	An action RPG where players control heroes from various mythologies, including ancient Egypt, Greece, and Norse mythology.
	2023	1205 – 1155 BC	Set during the Late Bronze Age collapse, focusing on Egypt and surrounding civilizations. Historical characters like Ramses III, Merneptah, Seti II, Tausret, Amenmesse, Ninurta-apal-Ekur, Adad-shuma-usur and Suppiluliuma II appear in the game.
	2020	1200 - 1180 BC	A strategy game centered on the events of the Trojan War, blending myth and history.Mythological figures such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Paris, Hector, Ajax the Great, Penthesilea, Menelaus, Hippolyta, Diomedes, Rhesus of Thrace and Memnon are playable in the campaign.
	2011	1200 BC	An action game set during the Trojan War, based on Homer’s Iliad.
Battle for Troy	2004	1200 BC	A strategy game centered around the legendary Trojan War.
	2000	1200 BC	An adventure game based on Homer’s Odyssey, focusing on the journey of Ulysses.
Spartan	2004	1200 – 100 BC	A strategy game that covers ancient Greek city-states and their rise and fall, including Sparta.
Egypt 1156 B.C.	1997	1156 BC	An adventure game where the player investigates the theft of a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
Invictus	2000	1000s BC	A strategy game where players control legendary Greek heroes during ancient times.
	2006	756 – 27 BC	A city-building strategy game set in the Roman Republic, with an emphasis on city planning.
Caesar	1992	756 – 27 BC	The first in the Caesar series, pioneering the city-building genre with a focus on managing a Roman city.
Caesar II	1995	756 – 27 BC	A more refined version of the city-building formula with improved mechanics and graphics.
Caesar III	1998	756 – 27 BC	Widely regarded as a classic, known for its detailed city management and historical setting in ancient Rome.
Caesar IV	2006	756 – 27 BC	The first 3D entry in the series, bringing new visual depth and strategic complexity to Roman city-building.
Apotheon	2015	500s BC	A 2D action RPG based on ancient Greek mythology. Players control Nikandreos, a mortal warrior who battles gods and mythological creatures to overthrow Zeus.
Hades	2020	500s BC	An action roguelike game set in the world of Greek mythology. Players take on the role of Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the underworld. The game features characters from Greek mythology like Zeus, Poseidon, and Persephone, blending mythological storytelling with fast-paced combat.
Immortals Fenyx Rising	2020	500s BC	An open-world action-adventure game set in a stylized version of ancient Greece, where players control Fenyx, a demigod on a quest to rescue the Greek gods from the titan Typhon. The date is according to the dialogue between Zeus and Prometheus from the Immortals Fenyx Rising: Story Trailer, where Zeus is shocked to learn that video games will be invented in 2,500 years.
(DLC)	2021	500s BC	An expansion to the main game, which focuses on Fenyx’s trials to become a god.
(DLC)	2021	500s BC	An expansion to the main game, that focuses on separate story featuring Chinese mythology.
(DLC)	2021	500s BC	An expansion to the main game, that focuses on a top-down adventure featuring new characters.
	2002	500s BC	A third-person action-adventure game based loosely on Greek and Roman mythology. Players control Rygar, a warrior equipped with the Diskarmor, as he battles through mythological landscapes to defeat gods and restore peace.
Legion Arena	2005	509 – 27 BC	A tactical role-playing game where players take control of Roman legions, starting from the Roman Republic. The game progresses through various historical campaigns, allowing players to upgrade and manage their troops while fighting in battles inspired by ancient history.
0 A.D.	2018	500 BC – 1 AD, 1 – 500 AD	A free, open-source real-time strategy game that covers ancient civilizations from 500 BC to 500 AD. Players can control various factions such as the Romans, Greeks, and Persians, engaging in both economic development and military conquests.
Legion Gold	2002	500 BC – 16 AD	A remastered version of Legion, a turn-based strategy game that covers the rise of the Roman Empire and other ancient civilizations. The game allows players to control multiple factions, from the Romans to the Gauls, and manage both military campaigns and city development.
	2007	500 BC – 16 AD	A historical strategy game where players can relive the major battles of the Roman Republic and Empire.
	2015	500 – 300s BC	A strategy game set during the ancient Italian wars. The game focuses on the unification of Italy and features campaigns centered around Pyrrhus of Epirus and the struggles between early Roman and Italic states.
Builders of Greece	TBA	500 – 300 BC	An upcoming city-building game where players build and manage a city-state in ancient Greece. The game emphasizes historical accuracy in terms of architecture, politics, and economy, allowing players to shape the development of their city through various historical eras.
	2007	490 – 480 BC	A real-time strategy game set during the Greco-Persian Wars. Players control the armies of Sparta, Persia, and Egypt, recreating historical battles such as the Battle of Thermopylae and the Greco-Persian conflicts.
	2007	480 BC	An action game follows King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they defend Greece from the Persian invasion at the Battle of Thermopylae.
	2008	480 BC	In the beginning of the game, Kratos confront an Persian King who led the massive siege upon Attica to bring Greece down by the Persian Empire. Nameless, fictional King of Persia in Chains of Olympus is most likely based on King Xerxes I, famous for the war he fought against the Spartans in 480 B.C.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey	2018	480 – 420 BC,	The game is set in a vast, open-world recreation of ancient Greece, with locations including Athens, Sparta, and various islands across the Aegean Sea, during the Peloponnesian War.
(DLC)	2018	480 – 420 BC	An expansion to the main game, that focuses on the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood and introduces Darius, the first wielder of the hidden blade.
(DLC)	2019	480 – 420 BC	An expansion to the main game, that explores the mythological side of the Assassin’s Creed universe, taking players to the legendary city of Atlantis and introducing gods like Hades and Poseidon.
God of War	2005	404 BC	Ares, the god of war, besieges Athens, and Kratos is sent by Athena, the goddess of wisdom, to stop him. The historical Siege of Athens, the last battle in the Peloponnesian War, happened in 404 BC.
	2013	431 BC – 275 AD	From Peloponnesian War to Crisis of the Third Century of Roman Empire. Real historical figures such as Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Scipio Africanus, Vercingetorix, Octavian Augustus, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Pericles and Aurelian appear in the game.
	2012	400–300s BC	Ancient Greece - the campaigns of Philip II of Macedon and the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens
The Lost City of Atlantis	1995	400s BC
	2010	1600 BC	The game depicts the destruction of Atlantis, located in Crete. Kratos destroys the city with the help of a titan named Thera, named after the volcano that erupted in 1620 BC, destroying Akrotiri, the city that archaeologists believe inspired Plato to write the legend.
Fate of Hellas	2008	396–326 BC
	2020	359 BC
	2006	336–323 BC	The main campaign of Alexander centers around Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire.
The Great Battles of Alexander	1997	336–323 BC
	2004	336–323 BC
Age of Alexander	2009	336–323 BC
Alexander	2004	333–323 BC	Startegia
	2006	333–30 BC
	2004	333–323 BC
	2019	304–27 BC
	2005	300 BC
Titan Quest	2006	282 BC - after destruction of Colossus of Rhodes	After killing Typhon, the protagonist apparently explores the ruins of the Colossus of Rhodes, destroyed by an earthquake in 282 BC, in expansion pack.
God of War II	2007	282 BC	The Colossus of Rhodes which was destroyed in 282 BC by an earthquake in the historical reality, is brought back to life by Zeus and destroyed by Kratos in a battle. Zeus kills Kratos and annihilates Sparta. In historical reality, Sparta lost its independence as a military power in 192 BC.
God of War III	2010	389–426 AD	Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism presented as destruction of Greek pantheon and massacre of Greek gods by Kratos. City of Olympia, Greece appears in the game as being attacked by centaurs, cyclops, chimeras and titans. For each time Kratos killed a god, a disaster occurs. In real history, Olympia was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from 776 BC to 394 AD. In the 3rd century, Olympia the site suffer heavy damage from a series of earthquakes and from germanic invasion. The Temple of Zeus was destroyed around 426 AD.
	2008	280–27 BC	Set during the time of the Roman Republic.
	2018	280 BC–500 AD
	1990	275–27 BC
	2004	270 BC–14 AD	The rise and expansion of Roman Empire.
Nemesis of the Roman Empire	2003	264–146 BC
Walls of Rome	1993	264–146 BC
Legions of Death	1987	264–146 BC
Pax Romana	2003	264–50 BC
	2002	241–237 BC
The Great Battles of Hannibal	1997	218–201 BC
Rise of the Phoenix	1993	206–202 BC
	2005	200–30 BC
Gladius	2003	100s BC
	2011	100s BC
	2022	60s BC
	2010	60 BC–9 AD
Praetorians	2003	58–45 BC
The Great Battles of Caesar	1998	58–45 BC
Legionnaire	1982	58–45 BC
	2002	50 BC
	2014	50s BC	Ancient Rome - the gallic campaign of Jules Caesar.
Assassin's Creed Origins	2017	49–44 BC	The game is set in Ancient Egypt near the end of the Ptolemaic period and follows a Medjay named Bayek, and explores the origins of the centuries-long conflict between the Hidden Ones—forerunners to the Brotherhood of Assassins. Real historical figures like Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, Ptolemy XIII and Marcus Junius Brutus appear in the game.
Warrior of Rome	1991	48 BC
Warrior of Rome II	1992	48 BC
Shadow of Rome	2005	44 BC	The plot is a fictionalized version of the assassination of Julius Caesar.
	2000	44 BC
Teudogar and the Alliance with Rome	2003	27 BC–14 AD	RPG in the style of Ultima VII
Glory of the Roman Empire	2006	1–100 AD
Imperium Romanum	2008	1–100 AD
The Forgotten City	2021	1–100 AD
	2013	58–68 AD	Set in an alternate version of Ancient Rome, Ryse follows the 10 years of the life of the Roman centurion Marius Titus as he becomes one of the leaders in the Roman Legion during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. In the game, Tiberius and Commodus appear as Nero's sons. Marius participates in the expedition from Britain in AD 61 to defeat Queen Boudica's rebellion. The game ends with Nero's suicide, set in AD 68.
Nethergate	1998	60–61 AD
	2000	79 AD
	1992	92 AD
Catechumen	2000	100s AD
	2002	100s AD
The Gladiators of Rome	2002	100s AD
Age of Gladiators	2016	100s AD
	2018	100s AD
Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans	2009	101–106 AD
	2003	117 AD
	2005	177–192 AD	Set around the time of the Emperor Commodus
Gladiator Begins	2010	177–192 AD	Set around the time of the Emperor Commodus
	2001	184–220 AD
	1997	193–211 AD	point-and-click Myst-style game set in Ancient Rome
	2002	208–209 AD
Kessen II	2001	220–280 AD
Romance of the Three Kingdoms	1985	220–280 AD
	2019	220–280 AD	Set during the Three Kingdoms period.
	2005	363–476 AD	Decline of Roman Empire
Against Rome	2004	400s AD
Annals of Rome	1986	400s AD
King Arthur	2004	400s AD
	1990	400s AD
	2002	400s AD

Games set in the Post-classical Era (500–1500)

Post-classical history era refers to the period from about 500 CE to 1500 CE, roughly corresponding to the European Middle Ages.

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
Age of Empires II/	1999	394–1598	Sequel to the original Age of Empires, Age of Empires II covers a large period of time, from as early as Alaric I to as late as the Battle of Noryang.
	2015	395–814	From Final partition of the Roman Empire and Hunnic Invasion under Attila to rule of byzantine emperor Justinian I and coronation of Charlemagne
Requital	2006	500s
Stronghold Legends	2006	516–1477	Set in middle-age, gives the player a choice of different starting rulers with different troop types (including King Arthur and his knights of the round table, Count Vlad Dracul, and Siegfried of Xanten)
Silkroad Online	2004	600s
Quraish	2005	632–661
Crusader Kings 2	2012	769 – 1452	A grand strategy game with a heavy RPG flavor set in medieval Europe, northern Africa and the middle East. Through DLCs the map has also expanded to include India. The game is played from the perspective of a ruler in that time period, changing perspective to the primary heir once the ruler dies. The focus is on building up your house(family).
	2017	790
	1998	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Rune	2000	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Rune II	2019	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	2003	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	2008	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Valhalla Chronicles	2003	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Volgarr the Viking	2013	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
War of the Vikings	2014	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Jotun	2015	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Northgard	2017	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	2017	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
The Frostrune	2017	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Valheim	2021	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	1992	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Bad North	2018	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Dusk of the Gods	1991	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Hammer of the Gods	1994	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Heimdall	1991	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Heimdall 2	1994	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	2002	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
	1996	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Besieger	2004	793–1066	Set in the Viking Age
Ancestors Legacy	2018	793–1300s
	2003	800s	Set in Persia during the 9th century AD
	2010	800s	The game takes place in the seven-year gap between Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.
	2004	800s	Set in Persia during the 9th century AD
	2005	800s	Set in Persia during the 9th century AD
Persian Wars	2001	800s
Assassin's Creed Valhalla^[1]	2020	847–886	The game recounts a history of the Viking invasion of Britain, Norse colonization of North America, Viking Expansion in Ireland and Siege of Paris (885–886)
Assassin's Creed Mirage	2023	861	Set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Includes events from the Anarchy at Samarra.
Crusader Kings III	2020	867–1453	Crusader Kings III is a grand strategy game and dynasty simulator set in the Middle Ages. Players can choose a start date of either 867 or 1066 and play until 1453.
	2018	878–900s
Cosmology of Kyoto	1993	900s–1000s
Brave	2012	900s–1000s
Cultures	2000	986
	2002	986
For Honor	2017	1000–1200s	Players can play as a character from one of four different factions, namely the Iron Legion (Knights), the Warborn (Vikings), the Dawn Empire (Samurai), and the Wu Lin (Ancient Chinese).
Knights of Honor	2004	1000s–1300s
	2004	1000s–1300s
Rampart (video game)	1990	1000s–1300s
	1991	1028–1400s
	2010	1047	The setting of Lords of Shadow is during "the end of days" in the year 1047
Age of Empires IV	2021	1066–1453
	2006	1066–1530	From Norman Conquest and Crusades to Inquisition and Age of Discovery
Crusader Kings	2004	1066–1452
Maldita Castilla	2016	1081
Conqueror A.D. 1086	1995	1086
	2004	1096–1099
Knights of the Temple II	2005	1096–1099
Lords of the Rising Sun	1989	1100s
	2009	1100s
	2003	1100s
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves	1991	1100s–1200s
	2003	1100s–1200s
	1991	1100s–1200s
	2002	1100s–1200s
Empires Apart	2018	1100s–1300s
Lords of the Realm	1994	1100s–1300s
Lords of the Realm II	1996	1100s–1300s
Lords of the Realm III	2004	1100s–1300s
	2004	1111
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth	2017	1135–1162	The game begins with the option of an interactive tutorial inside a cathedral. It then transitions to the Prologue which is set in Shiring in 1135.
Defender of the Crown	1986	1149
	2007	1174–1521	From Third Crusade and Northern Crusades to First War of Scottish Independence and Spanish colonization of the Americas
	2005	1179–1189
	2006	1179–1189
	2005	1184–1189
	1992	1184–1274
	1998	1189–1370
The Kings' Crusade	2010	1189–1192
	2003	1189–1945
Dante's Inferno	2010	1189–1191	The story follows Dante, a Templar knight from the Crusade who (despite his faith) has committed numerous atrocities during the Third Crusade. At the city of Acre, Dante is entrusted to keep a group of Saracen prisoners safe so King Richard I could obtain a holy relic from Saladin.
Assassin's Creed	2007	1191	The plot is set in a fictional history of real-world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control. The game primarily takes place during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in 1191, with the plot revolving around the Secret Order of Assassins, based upon the Hashshashin sect.
	2009	1192	Beginning shortly after the events of the first game, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad learns of a plan of the remaining Templars to escape to Cyprus, and so infiltrates one of their strongholds in Acre to stop them from doing so.
The Cursed Crusade	2011	1198–1204	Fourth Crusade
	2002	1100s
Stronghold Crusader II	2014	1100s
Stronghold	2001	1200s
Stronghold 2	2005	1200s
	2021	1200s
Stronghold 3	2011	1200s
XIII Century	2007	1200s
	2011	1200s
Castles	1991	1200s
	1998	1200s
Mordhau	2019	1200s–1500s
Genghis Khan	1987	1206–1227
	1997	1208
The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin	2000	1208
The Golden Horde	2008	1237–1242
Ghost of Tsushima	2020	1274	Featuring an open world, it follows a samurai on a quest to protect Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan.
The First Templar	2011	1291–1307	From Siege of Acre (1291) to Trials of the Knights Templar
Braveheart	1999	1296–1305
The Legend of William Tell	1990	1300s
	1996	1300s
Castle Strike	2004	1300s–1400s
	2007	1300s–1400s
Murder in the Abbey	2008	1327
	2011	1337–1453
	2019	1348	In 1348, Amicia de Rune is a 15-year-old Frenchwoman of noble descent who lives in Aquitaine during the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
	2022	1348
Inquisition	2002	1348	The 3rd person game, is set in 1348 Paris, France, where the main character, a young thief named Matthew, has come to find his riches.
For the Glory	2009	1399–1819
	2002	1400s
The Guild 2	2006	1400s
The Patrician	1992	1400s
	2000	1400s
	2003	1400s
Patrician IV	2010	1400s
Theocracy	2000	1400s
	1999	1400s
	2000	1400s
Knights of the Cross	2002	1400s
American Conquest	2002	1400s–1800s
	2018	1403	It is set in the medieval Kingdom of Bohemia, an Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire, with a focus on historically accurate content.
Anno 1404	2009	1404
Europa Universalis II	2001	1419–1820
	2022	1428
	1989	1428–1431
	2004	1428–1431
Jeanne d'Arc	2006	1428–1431
Europa Universalis IV	2013	1444–1821	Being a grand strategy game, all nations represented in the game are playable with flavor events existing even for smaller nations. It is possible to continue playing a save from Crusader Kings 2 via a DLC that converts a save in the earlier set game.
Europa Universalis III	2007	1453–1821
War of the Roses	2012	1455–1487	Set during the Wars of the Roses.
Assassin's Creed II	2009	1459–1499	The main narrative takes place at the height of the Renaissance in Italy during the 15th and early 16th century.
Sengoku	2011	1467
Sid Meier's Colonization	1994	1492–1850
Europa Universalis	2000	1492
Exploration	1994	1492
Conquest of the New World	1996	1493
The Seven Cities of Gold	1984	1493

Games set in the Age of Discovery (1500–1800)

Age of Discovery refers to the period from about 1500 to 1800, roughly corresponding to the Early modern period.

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
	1999	1500s
Uncharted Waters	1990	1500s
	1990	1500s
	1989	1500s
Nioh 2	2020	1500s	Set in Japan during the late 1500s
Demon Chaos	2005	1500s
	2005	1500s
Samurai Warriors	2004	1500s
Devil Kings	2005	1500s
Sword of the Samurai	1989	1500s
	1998	1500s
	2003	1500s
	2002	1500s–1600s
Port Royale 2	2004	1500s–1600s
	2012	1500s–1600s
No Man's Land	2003	1500s–1700s
	2010	1500–1507	The main story takes place immediately after the plot of Assassin's Creed II, featuring Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 16th century Italy and his quest to restore the Assassin order, and destroy his enemies: the Borgia family.
Anno 1503	2002	1503
	2011	1511–1512, 1191–1257	Revelations features two other returning protagonists: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in 12th and 13th century Masyaf, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 16th century Constantinople.
Pentiment	2022	1518
	2013	1518–1520
	2006	1522
	2011	1540s–1600s
Kessen III	2004	1550–1590
	2002	1552
	2001	1560s
Nobunaga's Ambition	1986	1560s–1580s
	1995	1562
Age of Empires III/	2005	1565–1866
Kessen	2000	1570s–1603
	2003	1588
Astrologaster	2019	1590s	The game follows Simon Forman in Elizabethan England.
	2019	1600	The game takes place in a fictionalized Japan set during the Sengoku period, and makes strong references to Buddhist mythology and philosophy.
Assassin's Creed Shadows	2025	1579-1581	Set in 16th-century Japan towards the end of the Sengoku period, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, including Nobunaga's assault on the Iga province in 1581. The game feature as a central character Yasuke,a black from Portuguese Mozambique who served as a retainer to Oda Nobunaga and become an samurai.
Nioh	2017	1600–1615	Set during a fictionalized version of the year 1600, the plot follows the journeys of William Adams, an Irish sailor named after and inspired by the historic Englishman who became one of the only ever Western samurai.
	2016	1600s–1700s
Trek to Yomi	2022	1600s–1700s
	2001	1600s–1700s
Cossacks 3	2016	1600s–1700s
East India Company	2009	1600s–1700s
	2006	1600s
	2009	1600s
	1999	1600s
	1999	1600s
Pirate Hunter	2003	1600s
	2007	1600s
Sid Meier's Pirates!	2004	1600s
Betrayer	2014	1600s	Set in colonial Virginia.
Buccaneer	1997	1600s
Pirates of the Caribbean	2003	1600s
Raven's Cry	2015	1600s
Anno 1602	1998	1602
7 Blades	2000	1650
High Seas Trader	1995	1650
Sea Of Thieves	2018	1650–1750
An Eye for Optical Theory 1666^[2]	2023	1666
Versailles 1685	1997	1685
Cutthroat Island	1995	1688
	2024	1695	Set in colonial New England.
Card Shark	2022	1700s	Set in France.
Mir-Mahna	2011	1700s
Skull & Bones	2022	1700s
The Case of the Golden Idol	2022	1700s
	2009	1700
Anno 1701	2006	1701
Call to Arms	1982	1750–1942
Birth of America	2006	1755–1783
Rise of Prussia	2010	1756–1763
	2013	1715–1722	Golden Age of Piracy
Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry	2013	1735
Assassin's Creed Rogue	2014	1751–1776	Seven Years' War
Assassin's Creed III	2012	1754–1781	American War of Independence
	2012	1765–1777
Assassin's Creed Unity	2014	1776–1794	French Revolution
	1998	1775
Age of Sail	1996	1775–1820
Age of Sail II	2001	1775–1820
Liberty or Death	1993	1775–1783
	2009	1788
Imperial Glory	2005	1789–1815
Napoleon Senki	1988	1796–1802
	2002	1796–1815
	2010	1796–1815
Pirates of the Barbary Coast	1986	1798
	2005	1799–1815

Games set in the Modern period (1800–1945)

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
Anno 1800	2019	1800
Imperialism	1997	1800s
Alter Ego	2010	1800s
Black Book	2021	1800s	Set in Russia.
Outlaws	1997	1800s
Ravenous Devils	2022	1800s
Taipan!	1979	1800s
This Land Is My Land	2021	1800s
Wooden Ships and Iron Men	1996	1800–1815
Return of the Obra Dinn	2018	1807
March of the Eagles	2013	1805–1820
Guns of Fort Defiance	1981	1812
	2001	1821
	2008	1821–1830
Nightmare Creatures	1997	1834
	2003	1836–1936
Victoria II	2010	1836–1936
Victoria 3	2022	1836–1936
	2010	1839
Walden, a game	2017	1845-47	Re-enacts Henry David Thoreau's time living on Walden Pond
The Oregon Trail	1985	1848
Aviary Attorney	2015	1848
Gold Rush!	1988	1848
Square's Tom Sawyer	1989	1855
Red Dead Revolver	2004	1860s
Ultimate General: Civil War	2016	1861–1865
Ultimate General: Gettysburg	2014	1863
	2012	1864–1867
	2009	1864–1866	A prequel to Call of Juarez, the game follows the adventures of Confederate deserters Ray and Thomas McCall during the search of the legendary Gold of Juarez in Mexico.
	2005	1865
3 Skulls of the Toltecs	1996	1866
Fenimore Fillmore's Revenge	2008	1866
Inspector Schmidt - A Bavarian Tale	2023	1866
	2014	1866
The Westerner	2003	1866
Assassin's Creed Syndicate	2015	1868	Victorian London
1869	1992	1869
Desperados III	2020	1870s
Rails West!	1984	1870–1900
America	2000	1870–1900
	1992	1871
80 Days	2005	1873
Darkwatch	2005	1876
Way of the Samurai	2002	1878
ZuluWar!	1996	1879	Anglo-Zulu War
Gun	2005	1880
Chocolatier	2007	1880
Colonial Conquest	1985	1880
Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights	2011	1880s
The Gene Machine	1996	1880s
Kim	2016	1880s
	1995	1882
	2010	1884
Call of Juarez	2006	1884
	2015	1886
	2019	1888
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes	1992	1888
	1996	1889
Dead Man's Hand	2004	1890s
Heart of Africa	1985	1890s
A Vampyre Story	2008	1890s
	2003	1890
	2019	1895
	2019	1896
The Yukon Trail	1994	1897
Koudelka	1999	1898
Maid of Sker	2020	1898
	2013	1899
Red Dead Redemption 2	2018	1899–1907	The story is set in 1899 in a fictionalized representation of the West, Midwest, and Southern United States and follows outlaw Arthur Morgan.
Aggression – Reign over Europe	2008	1900s–1950s
Nostalgia 1907	1991	1907
	2013	1910
Shadow of the Comet	1993	1910
Red Dead Redemption	2010	1911–1914	The Sequel timeline wise to Red Dead Redemption 2
	1996	1912
Shadow Hearts	2001	1913
The Last Express	1997	1914, 24–27 July
Tannenberg	2019	1914	World War I
	1995	1914	World War I
	2014	1914–1917	World War I
World War One	2008	1914–1918	World War I
Warbirds	1991	1914–1918	World War I
	2023	1914–1918	World War I
	2003	1914–1918	World War I
Battlefield 1	2016	1915–1918	World War I
	2004	1915
Verdun	2015	1916	World War I
Vampyr	2018	1918
Command HQ	1990	1918–2023
Daughter of Serpents	1992	1920s
Draugen	2019	1920s
Gangbusters	1982	1920s
Gangster Town	1987	1920s
	1998	1920s
A Golden Wake	2014	1920s
The Hound of Shadow	1989	1920s
Layers of Fear	2016	1920s
Omerta – City of Gangsters	2013	1920s
Post Mortem	2002	1920s
The Ship	2006	1920s
The Sinking City	2019	1920s
Nocturne	1999	1920s–1930s
Empire of Sin	2020	1920–1933
SOS	1993	1921
	2005	1915–1922	Set mostly in the year 1922
Clive Barker's Undying	2001	1923
The Colonel's Bequest	1989	1925
Black Mirror	2017	1926
Codename Eagle	1999	1927
Cruise for a Corpse	1991	1927
	2000	1927
Gangsters 2	2001	1928–1929
Glass Rose	2003	1929
	2005	1929
Rule of Rose	2006	1930
	2005	1930
Total Eclipse	1988	1930
Blues and Bullets	2015	1930s
Borrowed Time	1985	1930s
Call of the Sea	2020	1930s
Calvino Noir	2015	1930s
Chicago 1930	2003	1930s
	2003	1930s
Heart of China	1991	1930s
Jack Orlando	2001	1930s
Mafia	2002	1930s
Mob Enforcer	2004	1930s
Prisoner of Ice	1995	1930s
	2006	1934
The Godfather	2006	1936
Lost Horizon	2010	1936
Murder on the Zinderneuf	1983	1936
	1995	1936
Hearts of Iron	2002	1936–1948	World War II
Hearts of Iron II	2005	1936–1948	World War II
Hearts of Iron III	2009	1936–1948	World War II
Hearts of Iron IV	2016	1936–1948	World War II
	2006	1937
	2020	1937
Crimson Skies	2000	1937
Spirit of Speed 1937	1999	1937
Deadfall Adventures	2013	1938
	2005	1939
	1996	1940
The Saboteur	2009	1940	World War II
Secret Weapons Over Normandy	2003	1940s	World War II
Company of Heroes 2	2013	1940s	World War II
Company of Heroes 3	2023	1940s	World War II
Battlefield V	2018	1940–1945	World War II
	2017	1940–1945
Enemy Front	2014	1940–1945
	2004	1940–1945	World War II
Faces of War	2006	1940–1945
Men of War	2009	1940–1945
Axis & Allies	2004	1940–1945
	2007	1941–1942
	2009	1941–1945
	2021	1941–1944
	2008	1942
Bomber Crew	2017	1942
	2008	1942
	2002	1942
Sniper Elite III	2014	1942
Battlefield 1943	2009	1943
Sniper Elite 4	2017	1943
Call of Duty 3	2006	1944
D-Day	2004	1944
Martha Is Dead	2022	1944	Set in Italy against the backdrop of World War II.
Order of War	2009	1944
Sniper Elite 5	2022	1944
	2017	1944
Steel Division 2	2019	1944
Company of Heroes	2006	1944
Fran Bow	2015	1944
Sniper Elite	2005	1945
Sniper Elite V2	2012	1945

Games set in the Contemporary Era (1945–2025)

The current period that corresponds to the Atomic Age, Space Age and the Information Age.

Title	Release date	Time period	Notes on setting
Mafia II	2010	1945–1951
L.A. Noire	2011	1947	Set in 1947 Los Angeles post-WW2, the game follows detective Cole Phelps's rise among the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department as he solves a range of cases across various bureaus.
	2010	1961-1968	Main Events: Bay of Pigs Invasion, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, Vietnam War - Tet Offensive, Laotian Civil War during the Cold War. The game's single-player campaign follows CIA operative Alex Mason as he attempts to recall specific memories in order to locate a numbers station set to instruct Soviet sleeper agents to deploy chemical weapons across the United States.
	2020	1981	Main Events: Iran hostage crisis, Fracture Jaw, MKUltra, Presidency of Ronald Reagan, Set in 1981, Black Ops Cold War's single-player story follows CIA operative Russell Adler and his team of agents as they hunt down a Soviet spy named Perseus, the code name of a hypothetical Soviet atomic spy that would have been instrumental for the Soviets in the development of nuclear weapons.
	2012	1986-2025	Main Events: Angolan Civil War, Soviet–Afghan War and United States invasion of Panama during the First Cold War; Rare earths trade dispute and Yemeni civil war (2014–present) during Second Cold War
	2024	1991	Dissolution of the Soviet Union and Gulf War
Mafia III	2016	1968
Medal of Honor	2010	2002	Takes place during the War in Afghanistan, loosely based on parts of Operation Anaconda; specifically, the events surrounding the Battle of Roberts Ridge.
Six Days in Fallujah	2023	2004	Set in the Second Battle of Fallujah of the Iraq War over the span of six days in November 2004,
	2002	1986	Set in 1986 within the fictional Vice City (based on Miami and Miami Beach), the single-player story follows mobster Tommy Vercetti's rise to power after being released from prison and becoming caught up in an ambushed drug deal. The game contains vehicles, picture of Ronald Reagan shooting a picture of Mikhail Gorbachev and radio channels with music from the 1980s (Michael Jackson, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Iron Maiden).
	2004	1992	The narrative is based on multiple real-life events in Los Angeles, including the Bloods and Crips street gang rivalry, 1990s crack epidemic, 1992 Los Angeles riots, and Rampart scandal.
Grand Theft Auto III	2001	2001	Set within the fictional Liberty City (loosely based on New York City), the story follows Claude, a silent protagonist who, after being left for dead by his girlfriend during a robbery, embarks on a quest for revenge leading him to become entangled in a world of crime, drugs, gang warfare, and corruption. The game was delayed following the September 11 attacks to allow the team to change references and gameplay deemed inappropriate. President Bush is featured in a report by the Liberty Tree titled 'The W' to Drop in on Liberty City on February 1st 2001
Grand Theft Auto IV	2008	2008	Grand Theft Auto IV takes place in 2008, within a redesigned version of Liberty City. Initially, bridges are locked down due to a terrorist threat, and police constantly pursue players if the bridges are crossed. Niko Bellic, a Serbian ex-soldier, arrives in Liberty City aboard a cargo ship to escape his criminal past, pursue the American Dream, and search for the man who betrayed his unit to an ambush during Yugoslav Wars (ten years prior).
Grand Theft Auto V	2013	2013	Grand Theft Auto V follows three protagonists—retired bank robber, street gangster and drug dealer and gunrunner, and their attempts to commit heists while under pressure from a corrupt government agency and powerful criminals. Players freely roam San Andreas's open world countryside and fictional city of Los Santos, based on post-modernist Los Angeles after Great Recession.
Grand Theft Auto VI	2025	2025	Grand Theft Auto VI is set within the fictional open world state of Leonida—based on Florida—and its Miami-inspired Vice City, the story is expected to follow the criminal duo of Lucia and her male partner. The game world parodies contemporary American culture, with satirical depictions of social media and influencer culture, and references to Internet memes such as Florida Man.

Notes and References

Web site: Assassin's Creed Valhalla reshapes the series' RPG storytelling by giving you a Viking settlement. Eurogamer. 30 April 2020.
Web site: An Eye for Optical Theory 1666 on Steam . 2024-02-28 . store.steampowered.com . en.