Why Historical Video Games Belong in the Classroom

Written By Ryan Hayden

Introduction

Video games have increasingly become valuable tools for historical engagement, offering immersive environments that allow players to explore past societies with a level of interactivity traditional media cannot match. Scholars argue that digital games can enhance historical thinking by enabling learners to engage with environments, artifacts, and cultural contexts in ways that textbooks alone cannot provide (McCall, 2016; Squire, 2008). Historically grounded titles such as Assassin’s Creed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and other historically themed games demonstrate how commercial games can support historical literacy through visual accuracy, narrative framing, and experiential learning.

This article examines the educational potential of historical video games, focusing on how Assassin’s Creed reconstructs ancient and early modern cities, how Kingdom Come: Deliverance emphasizes realism in medieval Bohemia, and how broader research in historical game studies supports the use of games in classrooms. By analyzing these examples, the article argues that, when used critically and alongside traditional instruction, video games offer meaningful opportunities for students to experience history rather than simply memorize it.

Historical Immersion in Assassin’s Creed

The Assassin’s Creed franchise is widely recognized for its detailed reconstructions of historical cities, including Renaissance Italy, Ancient Egypt, and Revolutionary Paris. Ubisoft’s development teams collaborate with historians, archaeologists, and cultural consultants to ensure architectural and environmental accuracy (Chapman, 2016). Although the series blends fiction with historical events, its environments provide players with a spatial understanding of past societies.

Discovery Tour Mode

Ubisoft’s “Discovery Tour” mode transforms the game world into an interactive museum, removing combat and guiding players through curated historical tours. Research shows that Discovery Tour can support historical empathy, contextual learning, and student engagement (McCall, 2016). Teachers have incorporated it into lessons on ancient civilizations, demonstrating its value as a supplemental educational tool.

Realism and Historical Accuracy in Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Kingdom Come: Deliverance emphasizes strict realism, avoiding fantasy elements and focusing on authentic social structures, political conflicts, and daily life in 15th‑century Bohemia. Scholars note that the game’s commitment to historical authenticity, such as accurate clothing, weapons, and dialects, can help players develop a nuanced understanding of medieval Europe (Rutter, 2021).

The game’s mechanics reinforce historical learning through systems rather than exposition. Combat difficulty reflects the challenges of medieval warfare, and social interactions mirror the rigid hierarchies of the period. These design choices encourage players to engage with historical context through experiential learning, aligning with research on problem-based historical learning (McCall, 2016).

Additional Games That Support Historical Learning

While Assassin’s Creed and Kingdom Come are prominent examples, many other games contribute meaningfully to historical education.

1. Valiant Hearts: The Great War

A narrative-driven game set during World War I, Valiant Hearts integrates archival photographs, historical documents, and contextual explanations. Its emotional storytelling supports historical empathy and helps players understand the human cost of war.

2. Crusader Kings III

This grand‑strategy game simulates medieval politics, dynastic succession, religion, and diplomacy. Its systems encourage players to think critically about cause‑and‑effect relationships in history, aligning with research on system-based learning (Squire, 2008).

3. The Oregon Trail

One of the earliest educational games, The Oregon Trail, teaches students about westward expansion, resource management, and survival. Despite its simplicity, it remains a foundational example of experiential historical learning.

4. Total War Series

Games like Rome: Total War and Shogun 2 combine turn-based empire management with real-time battles. They help players understand military strategy, political structures, and cultural differences across historical periods.

5. Never Alone (Kisima Inŋitchuŋa)

Developed in collaboration with Iñupiat Alaska Native storytellers, Never Alone teaches players about Indigenous culture, oral history, and traditional knowledge. It demonstrates how games can preserve and communicate cultural heritage (Rutter, 2021).

Educational Applications: How Schools Can Use Historical Games

Educators have increasingly explored the use of video games as teaching tools. Research indicates that games can enhance student motivation, support inquiry-based learning, and provide contextualized experiences that deepen historical understanding (McCall, 2016; Squire, 2008).

Benefits for Classrooms

  • Engagement: Interactive environments increase student motivation.

  • Contextualization: Games provide visual and spatial context that textbooks cannot.

  • Experiential Learning: Players “live” historical scenarios, improving retention.

  • Critical Thinking: Students can analyze differences between game representations and historical records.

  • Cultural Understanding: Games like Never Alone introduce students to underrepresented histories.

Examples of Classroom Use

  • Teachers using Assassin’s Creed Discovery Tour to teach ancient Egypt and Greece (McCall, 2016).

  • Students exploring medieval life through Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Rutter, 2021).

  • Using Valiant Hearts to teach World War I through narrative and primary sources.

  • Crusader Kings III for lessons on feudalism, religion, and political systems.

  • Minecraft recreation of ancient civilizations is used in project-based learning.

  • VR field trips enabling immersive exploration of historical sites.

These examples illustrate how games can complement, not replace, traditional instruction.

Conclusion

Video games have emerged as powerful tools for historical engagement, offering immersive environments that allow learners to explore past societies in ways that traditional media cannot replicate. Titles such as Assassin’s Creed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Valiant Hearts, and Crusader Kings III demonstrate the educational potential of commercial games, while classroom applications show how interactive media can enhance student motivation and deepen historical understanding. As educational institutions continue to explore innovative teaching methods, historical video games offer a promising avenue for enriching historical literacy and providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

References

 

Ryan Hayden
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