Real-world history has influenced video games since their very inception, especially in the strategy genre, where tabletop wargames based on historical battles were used as the basis of the genre. One of the earliest history-based strategy games to become a mainstream hit was 1991’sCivilization, an incredibly ambitious title that saw players assume the role of a historical leader and lead their real-world nation to victory. ButCivilizationwas just the first drop in an ever-deepening ocean.
TheAge of Empiresseries,Anno,Crusader Kings,Assassin’s Creed, andGhost of Tsushimaall show the continued popularity of history-based video games, and 2025 is about to bring a handful more to the table. Two of these games are releasing within a week of one another, and both should offer slightly different ways to engage with history.
February 2025 Will Give History Fans Two Different Gaming Experiences
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Offers Painstaking Historical Accuracy
Before its 2018 launch, one of the core selling points shown in much ofKingdom Come: Deliverance’s marketing was the game’s incredibly high level of historical accuracy. In its attempt to recreate the mosthistorically accurate 15th Century Kingdom of Bohemiaas possible, developer Warhorse Studios hired a full team of historians. These historians not only advised the developers on what kind of weapons, armor, and architecture they’d find during the era, but even what type of food would be grown and sold at the time in that specific region.
Based on pre-release interviews (like the one Game Rant conducted back in August), it seems as thoughKingdom Come: Deliverance 2is going all-in on historical accuracy once again. Warhorse Studios PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling has mentioned how whileKingdom Come: Deliverance 2doesn’t “aspire to be 100% correct,” the way in which the studio has crafted the world is as accurate as possible, with the game’s locations, NPCs, and main storyline all being taken from real historical records.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2releases on July 01, 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
In mostmedieval-themed RPGs, the player is often the infallible hero of the story, and the only one who can stop a great evil. InKingdom Come: Deliverance, however, the player is very much just a citizen of the world, with real motivations, qualities, and flaws.Kingdom Come: Deliveranceimmerses players in a world that’s bigger than them and their actions.
Civilization 7 Offers a More Speculative Approach to History
Releasing just seven days afterKingdom Come: Deliverance 2(on June 12, 2025),Civilization 7is still a game steeped in real-world history, but it gives the player a bit more agency in how they interact with it. Assuming the role of awell-known historical leader, players will lead their chosen nation to prosperity, but they’re given a variety of ways to do so.
Civilization 7will allow players to achieve victory through military, scientific, cultural, or economic means, regardless of how the real-world nations rose to prominence, and regardless of what approach the leader is historically known for. For instance,Civilizationlets players assume the role of famous pacifist Gandhi, and turn him into the world’s most fearsome military tactician.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
WHERE TO PLAY
The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter.Sid Meier’s Civilization® VIIempowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!InCivilization VII, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement.Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.Whether you choose to follow a path rooted in history or reimagine possibilities to chart your own way forward, build something you believe in and create a legacy that echoes through the Ages inCivilization VII.
