Video gamesand history have been a pairing that goes back decades at this point. Depending on the experience developers have managed to deliver both historical and fantasy fiction from various periods that offer a glimpse at humans in the past at both theindie gameand AAA level.
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The15th century seems like a long time ago, but there are more than a handful of games that present this place in history in a way that’s both entertaining and engaging. These games also come in a variety of genres as players will take on enemies with a sword, their wits, or simply their platforming, as they aim to take on whatever the 15th century has to throw at them.
8Eternal Darkness
Eternal Darknessis acritically-acclaimed horror gamethat approached its storytelling in a clever and unique way. The game takes place over hundreds of years, which each chapter happening at a different point in time. It’s unlike any other game Nintendo has ever published and this M-rated title is considered a must-play for both horror fans and Nintendo GameCube owners alike.
One of the chapters inEternal Darknessrevolves around a 15th-century Venetian architect who encounters a spirit while imprisoned, who gifts him with a mysterious artifact that ends up resurfacing later in the game at a date hundreds of years in the future.
7Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
WhenCastlevania III: Dracula’s Curselaunched on the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States in 1990 fans couldn’t care less about what time period the game took place in. They were simply eager to get their hands on the next installment in Konami’s beloved vampire killing platforming series.
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Set in 1476, players take on the role of Trevor Belmont as he’s tasked with taking down Count Dracula and saving Europe from an army of monsters. Fans of the series consider it to be one of the best in the collection, with its only major criticism from review outlets pertaining to its excessive difficulty that can sneak up on the player.
6Witchfire
Witchfireis an upcoming first-person shooter from developer The Astronauts that feels as though someone combined the gameplay of titles likeDoomwith the world and aesthetic of something likeDark Souls. It looks as though players will take on the role of a person tasked with removing demonic entities from a 15th-century world.
Trailers for the game, set to release in 2023 via early access, showcase portals, and fluid gunplay, making it unclear if the player-controlled character is also native to this time and location.
5Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Now, it should come as no surprise that a game calledCrash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timewould feature a set of levels set in the 15th century. The name of the fourth entry in the beloved platformer is brilliant as it both refers to the themes explored in the game but also happens to be a meta-commentary about how long fans have waited for a new mainline entry in the series.
It’s not for the faint of heart, though, because as welcoming and fun as its colorful art style may make it seem,Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timeis just as difficult and challenging as its nostalgic-infused predecessors.
4Kingdom Come: Deliverance
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntfrom CD Projekt Red was a critically-acclaimed Western role-playing game set in a fantastical medieval period. Players who dug their heels into that experience but craved something a bit more realistic got their wish via Warhorse Studio’s 2018 releaseKingdom Come: Deliverance.
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The game takes place in the Kingdom of Bohemia during the 15th century. This first-person experience is meant to deliver a more historically accurate gaming experience, with some of the simulation systems and mechanics in the game drawing criticism for their commitment to something more realistic.
3Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhoodis a direct sequel toAssassin’s Creed IIand is the continuation ofEzio Auditore da Firenze’s story. It starts at the very end of the 15th century, in 1499, and continues into the 16th century. As with most games in the series, it takes a lot of factual historical records, accounts, and individuals and weaves an entertaining story filled with mystery, chaos, and fantastical elements.
It shifts between both the historical setting of 15th-century Rome and the modern day, providing perspectives from individuals living their lives in completely different situations and periods.
2Crusader Kings III
The interesting thing aboutCrusader Kings IIIfrom Paradox Interactive is that the game lets players start their adventure in either 867 or 1066, but it will always end in the 15th century. More specifically, the final date players can reach is June 03, 2025.
The game is a strategy role-playing game that puts a focus on familial lineage and decision-making, striking a clear idea of the complexities rulers have to navigate on their journey of building and maintaining a generational legacy. Most games in the genre add fantastical or magical elements, butCrusader Kings IIIprovides a pretty historical and somewhat authentic peak at what it meant to be a ruler in the Middle Ages.
1Assassin’s Creed II
Despite the giant roster ofAssassin’s Creedtitlesin existence in the modern era, many gamers still considerAssassin’s Creed IIto be one of, if not the best, entries in the series. The game introduces players to an assassin named Ezio Auditore da Firenze, hailing from Florence and is the primary protagonist of the entire trilogy.
The game takes place in the 15th century during what we now know as a period referred to as the Renaissance. This period is historically interesting for a myriad of reasons and is a large part of why fans became so invested in its story, characters, and the world ofAssassin’s Creed.
