10 Video Games That Secretly Teach Us History

There are many games that use WW2 as a subject matter, but WW1 is often overlooked. In recent years some have taken on the task and done it well, Battlefield 1 and Valiant Hearts being two examples, but none give quite the realism that Verdun does.

Heavily inspired by the battle of Verdun in 1916, this game is a historically accurate representation of WW1 battles, with the correct guns, uniforms, and equipment. The game even has a realistic gore and injury system and maps based on the real-life trench systems. Few games take historical realism as seriously as this one.

Players are organised into squads in which everyone has a role, from the NCOs to the rifleman. NCOs can call in artillery barrages, smoke screens, and the dreaded phosphorous attacks. This, combined with the previously mentioned realistic injuries and gore, can cause some harrowing experiences.

The most impactful part of this game though comes from the moments when you aren’t fighting. Unlike most combat games where you are constantly shooting, this isn’t always the case in Verdun. You’re often waiting for that order to advance, taking potshots at the enemy. These are the times when you think about the real soldiers who had to spend time in these terrible places.