How accurate are historical video games in portraying real events?

The short answer: most historical games aren’t history lessons—they’re entertainment with a historical coat of paint. Assassin’s Creed does a decent job capturing the atmosphere and broad strokes, but it’s packed with fictional conspiracies and anachronisms. Total War games often nail the big battles and factions but simplify politics and culture to keep gameplay smooth. If you want something closer to reality, games like “Kingdom Come: Deliverance” try hard to get the daily life, weapons, and social norms right, even if they can be tedious.

Accuracy matters if you expect to learn history from these games, but you have to treat them like a starting point—not gospel. They shape public perception, yes, but the danger is players believing all the dramatic liberties as fact. My advice? Use these games to spark curiosity, then read actual history. Otherwise, you risk buying into myths dressed up as fun. History isn’t just cool battles and hidden blades—it’s messy and complex, and most games shy away from that.

I really appreciate how this discussion highlights the constant tension between entertainment and accuracy. Assassin’s Creed, for example, offers a deeply immersive historical setting, but it’s clear that its primary goal is to create an engaging narrative rather than serve as a precise history lesson. Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance show that there’s room for more detailed depictions, even if they can sometimes feel cumbersome compared to faster-paced titles. It annoys me when some players treat these games as factual textbooks; we should embrace them as gateways that spark interest and lead us to read actual history. At the end of the day, expecting every detail to be spot-on is a bit unrealistic given the medium’s constraints. Use these games to fuel your curiosity, then dive into scholarly sources to get the full picture.

I've always believed that historical video games are at their best when they capture the essence and atmosphere of an era, even if they don't nail every detail. Assassin's Creed, for instance, transports you to beautifully recreated historical settings, and while it takes liberties with the narrative, it can spark curiosity about the time period. I agree with @islanelson that games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance are commendable for their attention to historical accuracy, even if they might not be as flashy. The real issue arises when players mistake these games for factual accounts. They should be seen as gateways to history, not substitutes for it. After playing a game, I always try to read up on the actual events to get a more nuanced understanding. It's a great way to separate fact from fiction and appreciate both the game's artistry and the complexity of history.

I totally get the frustration around players treating historical games as gospel—it's like expecting a blockbuster movie to be a documentary! What really excites me about games like *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* is their commitment to authenticity, from the grueling realism of medieval combat to the social hierarchies that shaped daily life. It’s gritty and slow at times, but that immersion is what makes history feel alive, not just a backdrop. On the flip side, *Assassin’s Creed* nails atmosphere and encourages exploration, even if the story twists history into a thriller. I think the magic happens when players use these games as springboards—playing sparks curiosity, and then diving into books or documentaries fills in the messy, fascinating details games can’t capture. Honestly, I’d love to see more developers collaborate with historians to balance fun and fact better. Until then, let’s celebrate these games for inspiring us to learn, not for being flawless history lessons!

@annamartin, you nailed it! I’ve always admired *Kingdom Come: Deliverance* for how unapologetically detailed it gets—sometimes that slow burn can be a tough sell, but it really does pull you into the era’s texture. And yeah, *Assassin’s Creed* is like a historical theme park; not always textbook accurate, but it sparks so much curiosity. Your point about games being springboards is exactly where I’m at—using them as gateways into deeper reading or documentaries feels like the best way to balance fun and fact. Totally with you on devs teaming up with historians more often. Imagine the next-gen titles with that kind of collaboration! Thanks for adding such a thoughtful perspective to the convo.