When video games become medium for learning history

Adults have a preconceived notion that children playing video games is just a waste of their time and they could do more useful things than it. But nowadays, this stigma has been greatly reduced, as historical events-based games are becoming popular, and they provide valuable lessons and insights while still retaining the addictiveness of playing video games. Some of these games are:

Assassin's Creed

This video game series is considered the most popular third-person historical action-adventure game series. From the ancient Greek civilization to the First World War, this series covers some important times of human history while balancing fact and fiction. 

Since the release of the first Assassin's Creed in 2007, Ubisoft has released 13 main video games and several spin-offs of this series so far, and the last one is Assassin's Creed Mirage, which takes place in Baghdad during Abbasid Caliphate's rule in the 9th century.

Players take on various protagonist roles in every game; the most popular one is Ezio Auditore da Firenze from his trilogy Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations. Players can adapt their protagonists into various skills, upgrade weapons and tools, perform missions or roam around the realistic depictions of historical cities, and learn about history, culture and important events of that time.

Hearts of Iron

This video game series is where history and strategy shake hands together. Paradox Development Studio developed the Hearts of Iron series, and their most successful one is Hearts of Iron IV, released in 2016. 

This game is primarily based on the Second World War, and the players must devise realistic strategies to win for their selected countries. There are two most exciting parts of this game: playing as the United States, Japan, Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union in a historical approach to taste the real-time war strategies of WW2. 

Another one is to create an alternative history deviating from the historical approach, such as fascist Russia or democratic Germany. These games promote critical thinking and teach players about cause-and-effect relationships in historical contexts.

Age of Empires

Microsoft Studios first developed the Age of Empires in 1997, where players can play various civilizations, building colonies through the ages. The latest edition, Age of Empires III, showcases different nations and tribes that can be chosen to manage civilizations, economies, and diplomatic relations and defeat enemy nations to ace the game. 

Both Hearts of Iron and Age of Empires have multiplayer options, enabling teamwork, communication, and collaboration with players from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural understanding and empathy.

Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption series is based on the American Wild West of the 19th century. Players can learn about the prejudices of the people of that time, men's view of women, the life of the outlaws, the oppression of the native Americans and the brutality of Detective Pinkerton's agency. 

First-person shooter game series such as Call of Duty and Battlefield mainly focus on the two world wars, where players can relive the historical moments and the harrows of war.

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