Gaming Through History: 5 Fan-Favorite Historical Video Game Characters

Historical games can be a lot of fun, as they let us explore settings and events we might have read about but not actually experienced ourselves. They also let us interact with key historical figures, and while the personalities of these video game characters probably differ significantly from their real-life personalities, there’s nothing quite like rubbing shoulders with the historic elite.

Whether you prefer your historical games rooted in realism or with a healthy twist of fantasy, these five representations of historical figures are some of the most popular – though not necessarily for the right reasons!

Gandhi Is a Nuclear Bully in Civilization

Mahatma Gandhi is best known as the leader of the Indian independence movement whose peaceful activism helped overthrow the British rule of India, but players of the Sid Meier’s Civilization series may have a slightly different take on the historical figure.

Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which players can take on the role of a historical figure and aim to raise their country to greatness against several other leaders. Each leader’s behavior is dictated by programming, including their proclivity to nuclear attacks. In the original game, Gandhi’s was set at the lowest setting, but a glitch meant that lowering his rating even further sent him into a nuclear rage.

It’s a glitch that the series of historical games has embraced, making Gandhi far more prone to nuclear attack than other leaders in the game, and fans love it, gleefully screencapping his threats to share with others.

Oda Nobunaga Becomes a Demon-Ruling Warlord in Historical Games

Japanese history may not be familiar to all gamers, but 16th-century samurai warlord Oda Nobunaga is a common figure in many historical games. Whether he’s encroaching on your territory in Civilization, or terrorizing Sengoku period Japan with his army of demons in Onimusha, Nobunaga has an interesting characterization in video games.

To say Nobunaga was anything but a warlord would be false, since he certainly was, but many contemporary portrayals paint him as particularly bloodthirsty or even outright demonic. Speculation connects him with the suspicious deaths of his family members, but also implies that these accusations might be attempts to undermine his legacy. When you’re dealing with events almost 500 years in the past, it’s hard to find concrete evidence.

Despite his bloodthirsty reputation (or perhaps because of it), Nobunaga is an intriguing figure in historical games. What other historical figure has been immortalized for being killed, resurrected by demons, and then leading those demons as his eternal slaves in his quest for ultimate power?

Leonardo da Vinci’s Genius Translates Well to Assassin’s Creed Series

Few inventors are household names, but Leonardo da Vinci is an exception to that rule. He’s one of the most famous visionaries in history, not only because of his marvelous inventions, but also because of his paintings, and his many contributions to the fields of mathematics, anatomy, and science. Like many historical figures, he’s also been immortalized in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, and, unlike many historical figures, that immortalization was largely positive.

It’s hard not to like the portrayal of da Vinci in Assassin’s Creed – he’s both imaginative and brilliant, and his sense of humor perfectly complements the charismatic Ezio Auditore in his first appearance in Assassin’s Creed II. Da Vinci is the genius behind the repairs to Altaïr’s hidden blade, and also invents the hidden pistol that becomes a staple amongst the series’ weapons.

Da Vinci’s portrayal is certainly more favorable than that of Gandhi or Nobunaga, likely because we still view him as a creative genius in our own culture. While it’s hard to say whether that portrayal is accurate, da Vinci’s appearances in the Assassin’s Creed series are a fun and positive representation of this important historical figure.

Eternal Sonata Immortalizes Frédéric Chopin

Despite da Vinci’s appearance above, artists aren’t usually the protagonists of video games—while everybody loves art, it isn’t always the most interesting process to play through. But Eternal Sonata did it anyway, making Frédéric François Chopin one of its main protagonists.

Though Eternal Sonata’s Chopin differs from the real-world Chopin in many ways, it pays loving homage to the power, beauty, and magic of music. Chopin is on his deathbed in the game, and his journey through the world of Ritardando reflects much of his real life, complete with characters named after musical instruments, styles, and terms.

While Eternal Sonata may not fit in with many other historical games, it took a lot of risks in immortalizing a real historical figure in a fantastical setting, particularly since classical music is something most people experience only through film soundtracks and piano lessons.

Sir Francis Drake’s Real Secrets Provide Solid Foundation for Uncharted Historical Games

While you may never encounter the actual Sir Francis Drake in the Uncharted series, you’re always on his tail. As Nathan Drake, a possible descendant of the fabled explorer, players track down legendary treasures and thwart the plans of fellow treasure hunters out to gain power through magical means.

Much of Sir Francis Drake’s real life is shrouded in mystery thanks to a pledge he made to not reveal the details of his journeys on pain of death, lest England’s then-rival Spain were to intercept the information. Drake’s real legacy is tainted by piracy and slavery, but his adventures are still a huge draw for history buffs.

As Nathan Drake tracks down his ancestor’s exploits, he uncovers increasingly strange information. Drake’s appearances in Uncharted are tied together with magic, superstition, and secret societies, making him arguably more intriguing than he was in life.

Historical Games Bend the Truth to Create Lovable (Or Love-to-Hate) New Characters

Historical games often build upon factual foundations, but mix in excitement or fantasy to spice up the truth. These games take fantastic liberties with history, leading to new, intriguing stories that can incite curiosity even in players who’ve never taken an interest in history before.

Like historical games? Check out Alekhine’s Gun, now available for PC or console. As KGB counterintelligence agent turned CIA spy Agent Alekhine, you’ll play a vital role in the Cold War, learning conspiratorial secrets behind the Kennedy assassination and other world-famous plots.