10 Video Games That Secretly Teach Us History

Paradox Interactive is well known for their historical simulation games, from Europa Universalis’ portrayal of early modern Europe to Hearts of Iron’s WW2 battles. But none have been as impactful as Crusader Kings 2.

The game is a medieval simulator, where you control a medieval dynasty from the year 1066–1337. Your overall goal is to survive this period of time and perhaps even grow in power. This can be achieved through wars, marriages or even tactical assassination. Will your dynasty be powerful keepers of the peace or an underhanded group of thieves and murderers?

The real joy of this game comes from the lack of any real goal. Players must decide if they wish to become a powerful emperor or simply try to maintain a small dukedom during a time of great strife. Because of this, the game has no true end, only coming to a close when the final year is finished or your dynasty falls apart because of a lack of heirs.

There are many expansions that add to the base game, giving earlier start dates and the ability to create your own ruler. The base game, however, offers more than enough to keep players going, and you may just learn something about the feudal system while you’re playing.