Strategy about ancient people. Primitive world with the Stoneies. Separate category: Dune series
Games that show the story in the most authentic way, but that focus primarily on fun gameplay and combat.
Video games constantly feature mystical artifacts from ancient civilizations, Nazis riding dinosaurs, and even Gandhi starting a nuclear war. Historical accuracy has never been a priority, and those games that try to live up to the story still make a number of pretty serious assumptions to make the story and the gameplay itself as diverse as possible. And they can be divided into two groups: games that use certain historical events (or cultural stereotypes) to start the plot, and games whose developers really study historical facts in order to recreate them as accurately as possible in the virtual world.
A variable like "historicity" is very difficult to evaluate in games - and yes, it's a real word. Usually games that are okay with recreating the story are pretty boring, so this list includes games where the emphasis is on interesting gameplay. I tried to include in this selection games that most accurately and reliably reflect those periods of history that are often distorted or shown incorrectly in pseudo-historical games.
So here are the most historically accurate PC games, listed chronologically (based on their setting).
Attila took the slightly outdated Total War formula and diluted it with a living world, where we saw all the cultural, political and economic difficulties that Rome faced in its decline. Instead of showing us a stereotypical horde of evil barbarians who appeared out of nowhere, the game shows us the reason for the appearance of these invaders - climate change led to the fact that in the northern regions it became increasingly difficult to feed the population, and in parallel with this there was a migration of the Huns to the territory of Eastern Europe .
In addition, it was the first, which showed that not every society has permanent cities, and demonstrated their complex relationships, which were built as opposed to open war.
The plot of any part of Assassin's Creed is poorly correlated with real historical events (nevertheless, it affects them from time to time - take at least the siege of Masyaf from the first part of the series). However, it is these games that allow us to walk around Renaissance Florence or medieval Jerusalem. Crowds of local residents, architectural features, a lot of small details - all this is recreated as close as possible to the era shown.
Personally, I like Constantinople from Revelations, which was captured by the Ottoman Empire - perhaps one of the most interesting cities in history is shown in one of the most interesting periods.
With expansions featuring satanic cults and sudden Aztec invasions, CK2 is increasingly out of touch with real history. But initially the game did a pretty good job of recreating the politics of Western Europe between the 11th and 15th centuries AD. In our time, we are used to the concept of the state, but if we lived, say, in any of the French regions in 1150, then we would swear allegiance to a specific person, and not to a flag or constitution. And it is between such feudal lords that the main interactions and conflicts unfold in CK2.
A powerful kingdom can fall apart under a weak ruler, just as an initially weak state can become great under a wise king. The hierarchical system of feudalism shown in the game is disputed by many historians, but thanks to great additions like the Conclave, the game manages to show the connection between nobility and power, which was of great importance at that time.
I was very impressed that the developers of Expeditions: Viking were clearly inspired not by stereotypes, but by real historical facts. For me personally, the Viking Age is of the greatest interest, and therefore I become especially picky when evaluating games on this topic. In the same game, we see everything that a real Viking ruler would do.
Here we have to settle the blood feud of several clans. At the same time, it is necessary to show oneself as a strong and fair ruler, because people will not follow just one big name. The game even reflects the effect of the infamous attacks on Scandinavia, after which the region managed to recover, build infrastructure and eventually create three influential European kingdoms.
Banished is a fairly simple game. Some will even say that it is too simple, but the mechanics that come to the fore here are directly related to all the things that, for example, British settlers in the Virginia colony in the 17th century would encounter. Your main goal is to make sure that people live in warmth, while remaining full and healthy. You need to use the available resources and trade to support the growing population. A harsh winter or the spread of a disease can wipe out your entire colony - and that's exactly what happens sometimes, as it does with most real European settlements in the New World.
In the game Pirates! there are enough pirate stereotypes, but its creators quite plausibly reflect all the realities that ship captains faced in the heyday of piracy. Your team is a bunch of criminals gathered from all over the Caribbean, and they will work for you exactly until they find a more profitable occupation. Separately, it is worth mentioning the political games between Spain, England, France and Holland, since you will always work for at least one of these parties. And, of course, there are excellent naval battles in the game, taking into account the direction of the wind, as well as the size of the ships and their guns, which allows you to understand what it was like for real naval officers of those times.
Vicktoria 2 is perhaps the most difficult and serious game on the list with a fairly high barrier to entry, but it deserves attention if only because it highlights aspects of the story that are usually ignored in other games. The level of education of the population is important here. The more educated it is, the more productive it becomes ... and the faster it can lead to the emergence of phenomena such as communism, demands for the abolition of slavery, the introduction of voting and labor rights.
That is, to standard modern conditions. It also focuses on industrialization, war speculation, and the pros and cons of free markets versus a single economic system. If you are willing to spend a few days learning, then the game is definitely worth your time.
Old but good game. Various variations of the project have been published since 1971 (also a kind of historical project), and all of them were noted for their educational value. This is a well-deserved achievement. If modern man tried to imagine all the difficulties that American pioneers faced when traveling from the town of Independence to the Willamette Valley in the middle of the 19th century, it would not even occur to him to count the number of spare wagon trailers that needed to be taken on the road.
But in The Oregon Trail, even such trifles are taken into account. It is highly likely that after this game you will begin to seriously fear dysentery, and this is in our age of advanced medicine - the conditions of that time are so well conveyed.
I understand that this was supposed to be some kind of deep and thoughtful war game that takes into account the weight and height of every real soldier who took part in the battles, but Ultimate General strikes the perfect balance between attention to history and interesting gameplay. The recently released campaign mode even tells us how the generals of the time had to enlist the support of the government in order to receive the necessary support and have a say in important decisions.
This should impress all history buffs: every map from Steel Division is modeled after real aerial photographs taken during the Normandy invasion, right down to the location of villages and even hedgerows. It also presents realistic shot distances and damage inflicted by military equipment and weapons. The same applies to the speed and maneuverability of vehicles shown in the game. Heavier vehicles appear in battle later, and this is due to the fact that it takes more time to get to the desired point.
However, the most notable thing about the game is that it emphasizes the importance of reconnaissance of the battlefield and develops the idea that battles are won not by those who have more military power, but by those who have the right intelligence.
Series "IL-2 Sturmovik" - The most reliable military flight simulator
I think many fans of flight simulators remember the first time they tried to roll over in the IL-2 and, seeing how the screen darkened, decided that something was wrong with the monitor. The fact is that the game shows not only the most authentic controls, but also the most realistic gravitational effects that pilots experience at high speeds. You can faint both from a lack of blood in the head, and from its overabundance. The pluses of the game include the fact that the IL-2 attack aircraft itself was recreated in great detail, and the battles unfold according to the most plausible scenarios.
Battlefield 1, move over. Verdun meticulously recreates the military operations that took place on the Western Front, and at the same time remains an excellent multiplayer shooter. All inaccuracies of the game are forgivable, since they are more related to the scale of events, and not to their details. After all, it would be impossible to wait for the required number of players on one server in order to plausibly recreate the biggest battles of the First World War - and this expectation would definitely not be liked by everyone who decided to devote a couple of hours to the game before going to bed. But the game pleases with such details as the uniform of the soldiers, in which everything - from the material to the buttons - was copied from historical photographs.
The careful modeling of orbital mechanics, motion and aerodynamics used in the Kerbal Space Program makes it a true textbook on space programs. Developers from the Squad studio understand this themselves, and therefore are working on the Making History add-on. But if you don't want to wait, there are a number of fan-made extensions at your disposal. Several dozen mods, the most striking of which is the Historical Missions Pack, will allow you to participate in the launch of the first German V2 rockets, as well as in the development of the modern SpaceX program.
This has almost nothing to do with real history, only my own guesses based on observation of modern society. I've always been impressed with how thoughtfully the authors of Deus Ex show us the possible future of humanity. Interfaces for the interaction of the brain with computers, high-tech prostheses and artificial intelligence are becoming the cornerstone, while interplanetary flights and lightsabers still remain only in fantasies. If I were a gambler, I would bet a large amount on the fact that in the future we are waiting for the world of Adam Jensen, and not Captain Picard.
There is an opinion that the "Golden Age" of strategies is far in the past - they say, games used to be released that brought something new to the genre, and now the developers, mired in self-copying, cannot please us with anything special. We fundamentally disagree with this statement and believe that modern projects are no less interesting and diverse than classic ones, but at the same time we also love old strategy games with all our hearts. Therefore, we dedicated a separate selection to them, which we invite you to familiarize yourself with.
Let's be honest: it was very difficult to distribute the games by positions. Many of us have played thousands of hours of old strategies on the PC, and are ready to defend our favorite games and series to the last. It is also impossible to dispute the contribution of many classical projects to the development of the genre - the vast majority of modern strategies are based on the principles and mechanics laid down in the imperishable past years. Please take the positions nominally: any game from the top ten deserves to be at the top of the top of the old strategies. So let's get started.
1. Warcraft series
Opening our list of the best old strategy games on PC is the series that innovated the genre, fueled its popularity, and also influenced the development of the multiplayer component in PC games. In addition, two hugely successful games spun off from Warcraft - we are talking, of course, about DotA and World of Warcraft, with which the and genres are associated today.
The action of the WarCraft trilogy takes place in a fantasy universe where there are constant wars between people and mixed with conflicts with the undead and other races. All games in the trilogy are distinguished by fascinating missions, many of which deviate from the base familiar to the genre, an exciting plot, as well as interesting characters, among which even negative ones have understandable motivation and can cause sympathy (you don’t have to look far for examples - who didn’t empathize with the fate of Arthas? ). Not without a dynamic multiplayer and an advanced map editor (which at one time served as a tool for creating DotA). To this day, Warcraft is deservedly considered the standard of the RTS genre, for which it gets the first place in our selection.
2. StarCraft
The famous space saga from the company, which tells the story of the confrontation (and sometimes cooperation) of three factions - terrans (descendants of earthlings), zergs (space insects) and protoss (a race highly developed in terms of technology). The parties to the conflict are radically different from each other, but at the same time, the developers have brought the balance to perfection, without giving any of them significant advantages.
StarCraft is the perfect strategy in every way. Here is a plot full of pathos and epic with memorable characters, a variety of missions and the opportunity to play for each of the parties to the conflict. There is a fascinating multiplayer, thanks to which the game has become popular. Finally, the project encourages creative people by allowing them to create their own maps and scenarios in a local editor. Today, StarCraft exists in two editions: the original game, which is distributed free of charge, and which received improved graphics, sound, and advanced features.
3. "Tiberium" series Command & Conquer
The original cycle of the C&C series. The general plot outline is built around tiberium - an alien substance that once appeared on Earth and began to spread around the planet. It heavily pollutes the territory, making it almost uninhabitable, but at the same time it is a very valuable resource, as a result of which it becomes the cause of wars between the military-religious brotherhood of Nod, headed by the charismatic leader Kane, and the international troops of the UN, united in the Global Security Council.
In addition to the compelling storyline, Command & Conquer also features well-researched gameplay that has influenced the genre for years to come. Alas, not all games in the series turned out to be of the same quality: a successful trilogy is followed by not the most outstanding fourth part, after which there were no new releases of the franchise. But, as always, it's the fans who save the day: if the original C&C games are not enough for you, you can always pay attention to custom mods, among which Twisted Insurrection for Tiberian Sun stands out in particular.
4 Command & Conquer: Generals
A game that has nothing in common other than its name with the Command & Conquer series, for which it has been criticized by C&C fans. But, if you don't pay attention to this, we got a good strategy with an interesting plot about the confrontation between China and Middle Eastern terrorists, good balance and a "generals" system, thanks to which players, by accumulating points during a mission, can unlock access to powerful abilities like summon orbital strike or nuclear missile launch.
Strategy Command & Conquer: Generals received only one addition, and the sequel, which was developed as a shareware project, was canceled (maybe this is for the best). But fans have not forgotten the game, releasing a lot of mods for the "Generals", which add new campaigns and make changes to the gameplay.
5. Command & Conquer Series: Red Alert
A real-time strategy based on , where Hitler was killed before the start (because of which it did not take place), but gained immense power and proceeded to conquer Europe. Later, Yuri, a powerful telepath who strives for world domination, also joins this conflict. In Red Alert 3, players will have to join one of the factions (respectively, the USSR or the Allies, and in the third part of the series - also, which also has its own views on the planet) and go through a series of missions with different tasks, subject to a common plot.
The games in the Red Alert series tell a captivating satirical story, and story cutscenes delight with the participation of famous actors - Tim Curry, J.K. Simmons and others. As for the gameplay - it is built on the well-known principle of "rock-paper-scissors", but with a rather simplified balance, which often reduces the battles to the usual rush. However, this can be fixed: fans of the series have improved the balance (as well as added new story campaigns) with the help of mods, the best of which is Mental Omega for Red Alert 2.
6. Civilization Series
Who among us would not want to take the place of the ruler of a country and make it a world leader? Civilization makes it possible to do this: here you can choose one of the nations and lead it through several eras - from the Ancient World to the present. Throughout your reign, you will have to build cities and Wonders of the World, study technologies, discover new territories, conduct diplomacy and trade with foreign leaders, and, if necessary, fight with hostile countries. All this is available in single player campaign and multiplayer, including on one screen, in hot-seat mode.
The Civilization series has six numbered parts, several add-ons and spin-offs. Of these, the first four parts are suitable for weak computers, but Civilization III is considered the best.
7. Age of Empires series
A popular real-time strategy series in which you can take control of one of the nations and lead it through several eras to prosperity. If you are interested in the idea of developing a state over several centuries, but do not like the slow pace of Civilization, then Age of Empires may be the perfect option.
In accordance with the rules of the genre, AoE offers to build buildings, mine gold, stone and wood, produce food, train an army and fight against enemies. In addition, you need to research new technologies and accumulate the resources needed to move between eras - from agriculture, to the processing of bronze, iron, and so on. You can test your strength in single-player scenarios, where the enemy will be AI, and in competitive multiplayer with other players. The publisher of the series, Microsoft, does not forget about modern gamers, so it is preparing remasters of all parts, with updated graphics and new content.
8. Star Wars: Empire at War
9. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
Also space, but unlike the fabulous fantasy Star Wars, it is as gloomy and bloody as possible. To match the setting and the game, which is still considered by many to be the best in - cruel, furious and dynamic.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War offers players the gameplay of classic RTS, but at the same time pays attention to the tactical component. So, there is the usual building of a base and the collection of resources, but the battles take place with the participation of relatively small detachments of units, commanders and heroes who have powerful abilities. As for the plot, everything here is as epic and pretentious as possible, missions push people, space orcs, elves and followers of evil gods together (a number of factions join them in additions, each more amazing than the other), and events revolve around powerful artifacts and destructive weapons.
10. Total War Series
"Total War" from the British studio The Creative Assembly, which today includes more than 10 games and many additions to them. If you want to rule an entire country, participate in large-scale battles, destroy entire civilizations, and all this in different time periods, then Total War is exactly what you need.
11. Age of Mythology
12. Stronghold Series
13. Heroes of Might and Magic Series
A cult series of games that combine genres and RPGs. Here gamers have to explore the map, fight against numerous enemies, as well as extract resources and develop their cities. All this is subordinated either to certain goals, due to plot events, or to the desire to conquer the entire territory on the map in multiplayer.
Every fan of Heroes of Might and Magic has their own memories associated with the series. Sleepless nights trying to punish evil, epic online battles, developing trouble-free battle tactics, disputes (or even fights) about the superiority of your favorite faction, creating your own maps in the editor - many still play the old releases of the franchise, not paying attention to more modern ones. projects. By the way, about the quality of the games in the series: the third and fifth parts of HoMM are deservedly loved by the people, while the rest can be bypassed.
14. Series "Blitzkrieg"
Another series of games without building a base, but this time they can at least be captured, which can be very useful with initially a small number of units. Blitzkrieg tells the story of World War II, offering players a look at the conflict from the point of view of all parties involved, including Nazi Germany. At the same time, the campaigns are created in accordance with real events, so imagining yourself as a Fuhrer and taking over the world will not work here - the Reich always loses, and the USSR and the Allies win.
Given the lack of resources and buildings for the production of troops, the player must be able to properly manage what he has available. Therefore, an element of tactics comes to the fore: to circle all units with a frame and send them to the enemy - which means that it is guaranteed to end the mission with defeat. The Blitzkrieg series is still alive today: moreover, it introduces innovative mechanics into the RTS genre, like neural network AI that can learn and act unpredictably.
15.Ground Control
A strategy that lacks base development, resource gathering and research. All the player has to do is to fight, trying to destroy the often superior enemy forces with a given number of units. By the way, they move from mission to mission, becoming stronger with a set of experience, so it makes sense to save your troops.
16. Homeworld
17. Series "Cossacks"
The Ukrainian studio GSC Game World has worked on many franchises, but it is known all over the world for only two - the legendary and no less legendary Cossacks. Earlier, "" and games on it already appeared in our selections, while "Cossacks" we still ignored. Well, we're fixing it.
The Cossacks series is remembered by gamers for its large selection of factions, large-scale battles, careful attention to the historical background, as well as the gradual change of eras, in which participants open access to new buildings, technologies and units. Story-driven campaigns covered certain historical events, and multiplayer allowed countries to be pushed into battles that in reality had never fought among themselves.
18. "Perimeter"
An old strategy from the legendary Russian studio K-D LAB, which used environments when it was not yet mainstream. All the joys of terramorphing are available to players: the surrounding landscape can be rebuilt at will - level the site for the construction of buildings, dig an impenetrable moat, and so on.
In addition to the aforementioned change in terrain, "Perimeter" boasts a couple more interesting features. For example, nanomachines, with which you can flexibly transform units from one type to another. Or the Perimeter - a system of protective fields that cover the base with a reliable energy dome. Finally, the setting: the action of the game takes place in the so-called. Psychosphere - another dimension that gives earthlings almost inexhaustible energy, but at the same time materializes human fears and other negative emotions. In general, this game can be called one of the most unusual strategies for weak PCs.
19. Series Europa Universalis
History, as you know, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but the temptation to fantasize about “what would happen if certain events developed differently” is too great. The Europa Universalis series invites players to take control of one of the European countries and lead it through the years and entire eras - to prosperity or decline.
Europa Universalis gives room for creativity. Here you can turn some Liechtenstein into a huge empire, create an alliance between countries that have always been at enmity in reality, keep Napoleon from expanding to the east - or act strictly in accordance with the history textbook. Support for custom modifications increases the replayability of games in the series to infinity.
20. Supreme Commander Series
Game designer Chris Taylor, known for Total Annihilation strategy, approaches the gameplay of his projects on a grand scale: here, truly huge armies converge on the battlefield, and the camera soars into the stratosphere, opening up a view of a large-scale war in front of the player.
The dilogy (as well as an independent addition to the first part) Supreme Commander tells about the confrontation that unfolded between people and the descendants of earthly colonists, who formed a kind of symbiosis of the human race and AI. Battles are built on classic rock-paper-scissors mechanics, and the dynamics of events are so high that in the heat of battle you will hardly have time to switch between groups of units. Combined with the epic scale of warfare, this results in incredibly addictive gameplay.
21. Tropico Series
Would you like to become a dictator? The most real: with a thick beard, a high-profile title and its own island state. Games provide such an opportunity: here you need to bring the people entrusted to you to prosperity and at the same time not forget about your interests, setting aside part of the treasury to a separate bank account.
You have to plan city blocks, issue decrees, fulfill (or ignore) the wishes of citizens, resist rebels and foreign armies. It is not easy to please everyone, and even take care of your well-being, but the true El Presidente will not stop at any difficulties.
22. Rise of Nations
A real-time strategy game that offers to lead one of two dozen nations through a series of eras to a brighter future and world domination.
Rise of Nations will appeal to you if you wanted more action and combat from Civilization. Here, the construction of the wonders of the world and diplomacy are just a prelude to large-scale wars, during which you will capture your neighbors, leaving them without a chance to resist you.
23. World in Conflict
World in Conflict is a wonderful RTS with a "cranberry" plot: imagine that the Soviet Union did not collapse, but began to expand throughout the world, including the invasion of the United States. Actually, you have to repel the threat in several dozen missions, and in addition - to act as an aggressor.
The gameplay of the strategy is slightly different from competitors in the genre. Unlike the usual construction of a base, a system of reinforcement points is implemented here, for which you will purchase fighters and equipment. Thus, nothing will distract you from the main thing - exciting battles!
24.Black&White
A strategy game from the famous game designer Peter Molyneux and his studio Lionhead, made in an unusual sub-genre of "god simulator". Here you will find an exciting process of developing a personal tribe that simply cannot survive without your divine abilities.
Black & White is an indirect control strategy. You cannot direct people directly, but you can issue orders, and also influence them with the help of a creature that will become your stick or carrot - depending on what kind of deity you see yourself as.
The game is withdrawn from sale in official digital services
25. Earth Series
A line of strategies in the spirit of the unforgettable C&C from Polish developers. Classic gameplay with base building, resource extraction and tank production, and a dark futuristic setting - what else do you need for a good RTS?
Probably nothing but a compelling story that justifies what's happening on screen. Large-scale war, terraforming, exploration of the universe - the plot of the Earth trilogy is impressive, and at least for that it is worth reading this series.
Separate category: Dune series
Talking about old strategies, we cannot fail to mention, which had a huge impact on the formation and development of the RTS genre. What can I say - it is Dune II of 1992 that is considered the first real-time strategy (although some dispute this opinion, giving the palm to the game Herzog Zwei).
The Dune series is based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, and tells about the military conflicts of the distant future that unfold between the ruling Houses of the descendants of mankind. However, acquaintance with the original source is not necessary here: games have a self-sufficient history, no less interesting than in books. The gameplay will not be a discovery for a player familiar with strategies: building a base, extracting resources, building an army and ruthlessly destroying enemies. Today, these games can no longer compete with modern projects (and with other heroes of this collection too), but every fan of the RTS genre should know about them.
From the review you will learn about two projects dedicated to that ancient era. Read on and hurry to be transported back to the times when herds of mammoths roamed the vast plains, and savages dressed in skins waged an endless war with each other.
Far Cry Primal
This addictive prehistoric man game for PC is the latest in the shooter genre, which is expected to be released in a month. Imagine that you are an experienced hunter who survived the death of his fellow tribesmen. Survive the battle with nature and become the founder of a new powerful tribe.
Primitive people led a life full of hardships and dangers. Track and slaughter prey, but be vigilant: wolves and saber-toothed tigers lie in wait in the thickets. To increase your chances of survival, craft weapons such as bows and arrows, clubs, and stone-tipped spears. And be sure to learn how to make a fire - it will warm at night and drive away predators.
Playing FarCry Primal on PC, you will not avoid clashes with hostile tribes. In the confrontation with them, new tribesmen, whom you will find when completing game tasks, will help.
Also, the developers promise gamers a lot of other interesting features. Among them:
- domestication of animals and birds;
- realistically recreated ecosystem;
- different climatic zones;
- the unique language in which the characters communicate.
Escilon
The famous strategy is the only example of an online game about primitive people. Enter the role of a Neanderthal and go to the harsh era of the great glaciation.
In this online game, he does the same thing as his prototypes a hundred thousand years ago. Hunt, tame animals and conquer neighboring tribes. And during breaks, chat with other players, discussing upcoming attacks and completing quests.
