In the past three months, I have been playing Steam’s The Modern History Bundle which features six history games that show different sides of World War I and II.
The featured games have unique ways of captivating their audience and interesting takes on history. I recommend this bundle to any history fans interested in learning what happened during the early 1910s to late 1940s.
Let’s look at each game on the list and what made them stand out from the others.
Svoboda 1945: Liberation
A “reimagining” of real stories from World War II, Svoboda 1945: Liberation lets us explore civilian lives during the war. The story puts you as a journalist seeking information on an incident in the town of Svoboda, only to find more than what you expected.
Svoboda 1945: Liberation is framed like a documentary (e.g., camera work, narration, progression, etc.) mixed with 2D motion comic book sequences and minigames to immerse you more.
It also borrows different game mechanics from different genres like management simulation, Casino card games, and old-school point-and-click adventure to get you more involved in each little story of Svoboda’s citizens.
While I personally place this below Brukel in its entertainment value, its use of mixed media to educate us about the effects of war on civilian lives of both warring nations; the Czech and German, were far better.
Attentat 1942
An older title by the same creators of Svoboda 1945: Liberation is Attentat 1942. It explores the early years of World War 2 in the Czech Republic — also known in those times as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
There is not much to say since it is very similar to Svoboda 1945: Liberation but in another time.
Instead, I think I want to share a more personal realization when I played Attentat 1942: I hate reading in video games, and my parents are getting old.
In the first “chapter” of the game, you are introduced to your grandmother and her antique radio. These show how much history and value certain items old people hold on to have.
I still have this old lamp and a creaky wooden framed bed my parents told me to use even after our house got renovated. I want to replace them so much but after playing Attentat 1942, maybe I’ll stick around with them for a little while longer.
On another note, I can’t help but think of how frail my mother has become with age. She’s still not as weak and vulnerable as the grandmother in the game, but one day she will, and I should be there for her.
Brukel
Brukel is an unpolished gem in the multitude of uninspired or dull Indie games currently on Steam.
It gives a unique gaming experience by taking the jumpscare mechanic of mainstream horror games and using it as a tool to push the game’s storytelling.
It is imperfect, but an excellent example of how graphics are not necessary for good storytelling or exceptional game concepts.
Yet despite these, the game still perfectly drives home the retelling of a harrowing tale from 1941’s World War I.
The photo-taking, audio recordings, pacing, and backstory fit the game all so well.
Brukel is more than just a horror experience, it is more than just a house. It is a creative yet faithful story of the innocent in war.
Radio General
The game that got me hooked the most was Radio General for its unique real-time strategy gameplay that aims to reflect the realism of a war general giving commands to his troops in battle.
Each campaign is based on real and documented encounters. Usually, these campaigns are grouped by the specific locations and times they occurred.
The objective of the game varies with each campaign and is usually straightforward: capture a location, hold off against enemies, or eliminate all oppositions.
Constant communication through your radio is integral to locating and commanding your troops. Your troops also not be shown, and you will have to place pieces on their estimated locations.
There is also a co-op mode where your troops will be shared with your partner; needing you to communicate with them as well.
If you want to try out a different kind of RTS game, then Radio General could do that for you.
Walden, a game.
This was a boring game, but for the right reasons.
An adventure-exploration game that focuses on immersing you in the environment while urging you to rethink life. Walden, a game needs you to pay full attention to it or else you will miss the whole point of the game.
Your story is about a man named Henry David Thoreau who decides to live out in his cabin beside Walden Pond.
You will build your own little shelter, battle with nature, and meet cute animals and interesting people that help shape the game’s world.
You may watch the video below where the creators of Walden, a game along with other scholars talk about the game and its development.
Comrades and Barons: Solitaire of Bloody 1919
After playing all the other games in the bundle, Comrades and Barons: Solitaire of Bloody 1919 felt underwhelming but it could just be my overexposure to all the war history games in the list.
It literally plays the same way as Solitaire with the Face Cards replaced with real war characters from history.
Before each Solitaire match, a brief history and context on the characters and time period they existed are presented before you. The campaigns mainly happened between the years 1918 to 1921.
I was not a big fan of it, it was rather lackluster compared to the other games. However, do not let my opinion stop you from trying out this game for the heck of it.
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