Best Open-World Games That Feel Like a Living History Book

There’s nothing more immersive than jumping into a richly detailed open world and getting lost in all its sights and sounds. But crafting these sumptuous experiences is no easy task, especially when starting from scratch.

Related

The Best Immersive & Historical JRPGs

These entertaining JRPGs combine history with fantasy to create experiences that players won’t forget anytime soon.

That’s why it makes sense to look to the past for inspiration, though that doesn’t make it any less difficult. In fact, ensuring that the world being built is historically accurate is a herculean task in itself. Developers could take the Tarantino route and just make things up for the sake of the plot, or they could roll up their sleeves and dive into stacks and stacks of history books. It’s a risky endeavor, as no one wants to find themselves in the crosshairs of a disgruntled history buff. But it’s definitely worth the risk; video games offer the perfect vehicle for exploring the vast tomes of history. And we sure as hell want to see more and more developers take on the challenge.

6

Ryse: Son of Rome

Historical Cocktail That Tastes Exquisite

Systems

Released

November 22, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

Ryse: Son of Rome was a somewhat controversial Xbox One launch title. While it was lauded for its incredible visuals and immersive storytelling, some felt the gameplay loop left much to be desired. And for an open-world game with this type of budget, it’s refreshingly short. There’s no busy work, grinding, or superfluous side quests—AKA, all killer, no filler.

Yes, the game presents an alternative version of Ancient Rome. But, as Crytek themselves put it, the game is a lovingly crafted “historical mash-up” that takes the team’s favorite parts of Roman history and blends them into one authentic tableau.

5

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

A History of the Blade

Released

October 25, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Even though Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is set on the fictional continent of Calradia, it’s essentially a recreation of the fall of the Roman Empire during the Early Middle Ages. What the game truly excels at, however, is reenacting the thrills and chills of medieval-style combat. The arms and armor featured are surprisingly authentic to the history that inspired them. Even the tactics behind using them are all mined from real history.

Related

10 Best RPGs That Mix History And Fantasy

These games combine elements of real-world history with fantastical flavor, to create compelling experiences.

For players seeking the closest emulation of combat from this formative period in world history, this action-strategy RPG series is as close as it gets.

4

Red Dead Redemption 2

American Frontier Simulator

Released

October 26, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The first Red Dead did get some heat for stretching its use of the Wild West setting, which was pretty much over by the game’s start in 1911. If we were to be pedantic, the era as we know it from film and TV roughly took place between 1865 and 1895. However, to throw the first game a bone, the last western territories were admitted as states in 1912.

With all that in mind, the sequel had no other choice but to turn itself into a prequel if it wanted to escape that criticism. While the events and even the places featured are all fictional, everything else about this game is as close as it gets to the real American frontier experience.

3

Ghost of Tsushima

Experience 13th-Century Japan

Systems

Released

July 17, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Gamers looking for the definitive Japanese history experience should set their sights on Ghost of Tsushima. This PlayStation exclusive is built on a staggering amount of research and love for Japanese culture and traditions. The game takes place during the real-world Mongolian invasion of Japan in 1274.

Related

6 Best JRPGs For Learning About Japanese History

Fans of JRPGs who also enjoy a dash of historical context will love what these games have to offer.

However, some liberties are taken, as the developers at Sucker Punch prioritized gameplay over historical accuracy. For example, the samurai armor and weapons seen in the game are transplanted from the Sengoku period, which occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries. But with the incredible attention to detail paid to everything else in the game, we’re going to let that slide.

2

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Good Enough for the Classroom

Released

October 15, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

We could have cheated and just filled this list with Assassin’s Creed titles. As much as any of those games deserve a spot, we thought it only fair to give the one spot to Odyssey, especially since it was recently used by a middle school teacher to get his class interested in Ancient Greek history.

Odyssey takes players back to the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta during 431–422 BC. Throughout the game, players can meet the likes of Hippocrates, Socrates, and Herodotus. If it weren’t for the increasingly convoluted Assassin’s Creed lore that acts as the series’ connective tissue, this would have no doubt topped the list.

1

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Doesn’t Get More Authentic Than This

RPG

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Released

February 4, 2025

Developer(s)

Warhorse Studios

Both Kingdom Come: Deliverance games have set a new bar for video game historical accuracy. The series’ developer, Warhorse Studios, didn’t just strive for authenticity; they made it a guiding principle. They even have an in-house historian dedicated to making sure that every outfit, weapon, and event isn’t just there to look cool, but to respect the time and setting of late-medieval Bohemia.

But for the latest outing, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the Warhorse team really outdid themselves. In this outing, players can experience the closest possible recreation of landscapes and cities torn from the pages of 15th-century history books.

More

9 Best Open-World Games With A Focus On Historical Authenticity, Ranked

Video games are all about having fun, but they can be informative too. These open-world games aren’t just fun; they value historical authenticity.