Historical Consulting
Historical Consulting for Video Games: Bringing Authenticity to Virtual Worlds
Discover how historical consulting enhances video game storytelling, gameplay, and immersion. Learn why authenticity matters in game design and how experts shape historically accurate virtual worlds.
Introduction: Why History Matters in Video Games
Video games are more than just entertainment; they’re interactive stories that transport players into different worlds, times, and experiences. But when these games depict historical events, locations, or cultures, accuracy becomes essential. A single historical inaccuracy can break immersion and even spark controversy.
That’s where historical consulting for video games comes in. Game developers hire experts (historians, archaeologists, and cultural specialists) to ensure their games are as authentic as possible. From character clothing and architecture to battle strategies and political landscapes, historical consultants play a crucial role in game development.
In this article, we’ll explore how historical consultants contribute to video games, why their role is essential, and how their expertise enhances gaming experiences.
What Is Historical Consulting for Video Games?
Historical consulting involves hiring experts in history, culture, and related fields to advise on the accuracy of various game elements. These consultants work closely with game designers, writers, and developers to ensure that historical settings, characters, and narratives reflect reality as closely as possible.
Key Areas of Historical Consulting in Games
Storytelling & Narrative Accuracy
Visual & Environmental Design
Gameplay Mechanics & Combat Systems
Cultural Sensitivity & Ethical Considerations
Why Historical Accuracy in Video Games Matters
Many players seek an immersive experience when playing historically inspired games. But why does accuracy matter so much?
1. Enhancing Immersion and Player Experience
When details are accurate, players feel like they’ve truly stepped into another era. Authentic environments, clothing, and dialogue make the game world more believable providing a more immersive experience. Would The Witcher series or Balder Gate 3 feel so immersive if characters and environments didn't present a continuity within the medieval-inspired world in which they reside? Definitely not.
2. Educating Players Through Interactive History
Games from series like Assassin’s Creed, Crusader Kings, Call of Duty, and Total War have introduced players to real historical events. Many gamers appreciate learning about history through an engaging medium rather than textbooks. I learned a ton about Roman and Medieval cultures from the Total War and Crusader Kings series that prepared me to study them at university. And I certainly wouldn't know as much as I do about battlefield tactics if I hadn't played thousands of them over the years. From understanding mixed unit tactics to the use of topography and fortifications in battle, games can offer many insights into the historical past.
3. Avoiding Controversies and Backlash
Inaccurate portrayals of historical events, cultures, or figures can lead to criticism, damaging a game’s reputation. By consulting historians, developers can prevent misinformation and cultural misrepresentation. Plenty of games have experienced player backlash because they cut just a few too many corners, leaving the experience flawed or players outright offended.
4. Strengthening Narrative and Storytelling
A well-researched historical setting makes for a more compelling story. Historical accuracy helps writers craft plots that align with real-world events, adding depth and realism. Also, having detailed reference material for the art department to draw from makes their jod that much easier. However, continuity is key, so having high medieval architecture with Viking Age characters can feel jarring if a studio is just taking "medieval" as a general term without understanding the nuances.
Famous Games That Used Historical Consulting
Several popular games have relied on historical consultants to enhance their authenticity. Here are a few notable examples:
1. Assassin’s Creed Series (Ubisoft)
Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed series is renowned for its meticulous attention to historical detail, immersing players in various time periods and locations, including Renaissance Italy, Ancient Egypt, and Viking-era England, to name a few. To achieve this, the development team collaborates extensively with historians, archaeologists, and cultural experts who provide in-depth knowledge on architecture, social customs, and daily life.
For example, in Assassin’s Creed II, set in Renaissance Italy, the game faithfully recreates cities like Florence and Venice, incorporating historically accurate buildings, artwork, and even real historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Lorenzo de Medici. Similarly, Assassin’s Creed Origins brings Ancient Egypt to life, offering a vast open world filled with authentic temples, pyramids, and historically accurate hieroglyphs (though my Egyptologist wife might have her reservations about some of their choices). Ubisoft even developed the "Discovery Tour" mode, allowing players to explore these settings in an educational, combat-free environment.
The team’s dedication to authenticity extends beyond visuals and locations. Historians help shape the narratives, ensuring that political tensions, societal hierarchies, and cultural interactions remain true to the era. The result is a game series that not only entertains but also educates players about real historical events and figures.
2. Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Warhorse Studios)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is widely regarded as one of the most historically accurate medieval RPGs ever created. Developed by Warhorse Studios, the game is set in 15th-century Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) and places heavy emphasis on realism in every aspect, from combat mechanics to the feudal societal structure.
To ensure authenticity, Warhorse Studios worked with historians, medieval scholars, and reenactors who provided expertise on clothing, architecture, and medieval customs. Unlike most RPGs that feature fantasy elements, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers a much stricter adherence to historical facts. The game features period-accurate weapons and armor, with combat mechanics that mirror real-life medieval sword fighting, complete with stamina-based swings, realistic blocking, and armor penetration physics.
The developers also paid close attention to the daily life of the time period. Players interact with NPCs who follow realistic routines, dress in historically appropriate attire, and speak in a way that reflects the dialects and mannerisms of 15th-century Europe. Even the in-game maps are designed based on real locations, featuring castles, villages, and landscapes as they existed at the time.
This level of historical precision makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance a standout example of how historical consulting can enhance a video game, providing players with an immersive and educational experience unlike any other medieval RPG.
3. Total War Series (Creative Assembly)
The Total War franchise, developed by Creative Assembly, is a strategy game series that blends turn-based empire management with real-time tactical battles across different historical periods, from ancient Rome to feudal Japan. A key factor behind the series’ success is its commitment to historical accuracy, achieved through consultation with military historians, archaeologists, and academic researchers.
Each game in the series presents a meticulously reconstructed historical setting. For instance, Total War: Rome II captures the political intrigue, military strategies, and city layouts of the Roman Empire, while Total War: Shogun 2 offers a deep dive into 16th-century Japan, complete with accurately represented samurai warfare and feudal lords. The games feature historically accurate units, formations, and battlefield tactics, with military experts ensuring that different factions fight using the appropriate weapons and strategies of their respective eras.
In addition to military accuracy, the franchise also strives to portray the social and political landscapes of its chosen periods (I cannot stress how helpful it was in Roman History classes to know where Pannonia and Cilicia were before I ever stepped into a classroom). Government structures, diplomacy, and economic systems are modeled based on historical records, providing players with a strategic experience that closely mirrors real-world history.
The dedication to realism has made Total War a favorite among history enthusiasts, offering an engaging way to explore past civilizations and military conflicts with a high level of detail and strategic depth.
4. Call of Duty: WWII (Sledgehammer Games)
Call of Duty: WWII aimed to deliver one of the most historically immersive World War II experiences in the gaming industry. To achieve this, Sledgehammer Games collaborated with military historians, war veterans, and battlefield experts to recreate the intense and harrowing realities of the Second World War.
From the weapons and uniforms to the military tactics and key battle events, every aspect of the game was carefully researched to ensure historical authenticity. The developers referenced historical documents, combat footage, and firsthand accounts from World War II veterans to create a campaign that accurately portrays major events such as the D-Day landings at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Soldiers’ gear, including their helmets, rifles, and insignia, were meticulously recreated based on real wartime artifacts.
Beyond combat, Call of Duty: WWII also highlights the personal stories of soldiers, depicting the psychological and emotional toll of war. The game’s campaign follows a squad of American soldiers as they push through Nazi-occupied Europe, showcasing realistic interactions, camaraderie, and battlefield trauma.
The game's multiplayer mode also adheres to historical accuracy, with period-specific weapons, military ranks, and historically accurate battle locations. Even the voice acting and dialogue were carefully crafted to reflect the language, slang, and radio chatter used by soldiers during the war.
This attention to detail solidified Call of Duty: WWII as one of the most immersive World War II shooters, demonstrating the power of historical consulting in creating an authentic wartime experience.
How Game Developers Can Benefit from Historical Consultants
If you’re a game developer considering historical accuracy in your project, hiring a consultant can provide numerous advantages:
Authenticity: Ensures the game world is realistic and believable.
Credibility: Boosts the game’s reputation for accuracy.
Cultural Sensitivity: Avoids misrepresenting historical events or groups.
Marketing Advantage: Appeals to history buffs and gamers who value realism.
The Challenges of Implementing Historical Accuracy in Games
While historical consulting brings significant advantages to game development, ensuring complete accuracy is not always easy. Game developers must navigate various challenges when incorporating historical elements into their projects. From gameplay mechanics to financial limitations, several factors can make it difficult to maintain 100% historical fidelity. These are some of the most common obstacles faced when striving for historical accuracy in video games.
1. Balancing Accuracy with Gameplay
One of the biggest challenges in implementing historical accuracy is finding the right balance between realism and engaging gameplay. While historical facts provide depth and authenticity, they don’t always translate well into fun or intuitive mechanics.
For example, in reality, medieval combat was often slow and methodical, involving prolonged standoffs rather than fast-paced sword fights. If a game were to replicate this exactly, it might feel sluggish and frustrating for players accustomed to more fluid and dynamic combat. Similarly, historical figures and armies often made decisions based on complex political and social contexts, which might not fit neatly into a game’s narrative structure.
Developers often have to make compromises. They may adjust battle mechanics to make fights feel more engaging or slightly tweak historical events to create a more compelling story. In doing so, they walk a fine line between staying true to history and ensuring the game remains enjoyable.
A prime example is Assassin’s Creed, which takes creative liberties with historical events to weave an engaging story around its fictional Assassin-Brotherhood conflict. While the game remains faithful to many aspects of history, certain details are understandably altered to enhance the gaming experience.
2. Gaps in Historical Records
Not all historical events, figures, and cultures are well-documented, leaving gaps that require speculation or creative interpretation. This is particularly true for ancient civilizations and lesser-documented historical periods where limited sources exist.
For instance, many details about Viking daily life, battle tactics, and even language variations remain unknown. When creating Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft had to rely on archaeological findings, folklore, and educated guesses to fill in missing details. Similarly, medieval Japan and feudal China have vast gaps in recorded history, leading developers to use historical fiction to make educated assumptions.
The issue becomes even more complicated when different historical sources contradict each other. Conflicting records about a particular event or leader’s decisions force developers to choose a version of history that best suits their narrative. While some players may accept this, others might criticize the game for historical inaccuracies, even if there is no single definitive account.
To address this, developers often include disclaimers stating that their game is inspired by historical events but includes fictionalized elements where records are incomplete. This helps set player expectations while preserving creative storytelling.
3. Budget and Time Constraints
Creating historically accurate video games requires extensive research, which can be expensive and time-consuming for narrative teams. Smaller studios, in particular, may struggle to allocate the necessary resources for hiring historical consultants, conducting field research, and meticulously recreating historical environments.
For large-scale games like Total War or Red Dead Redemption 2, teams spend years researching historical settings, hiring experts, and ensuring the accuracy of everything from architecture to clothing. However, not all studios have the financial backing to invest in such detailed authenticity.
Additionally, game development operates on tight deadlines. Even when developers want to fact-check every detail, time constraints often force them to make educated guesses or take shortcuts. This can result in minor inaccuracies, such as a misrepresented cultural tradition or a slightly anachronistic piece of clothing.
A practical solution for smaller studios is to hire an agency, like Pergamon Narrative, to prioritize the most critical aspects of historical accuracy while allowing for some creative liberties in less noticeable areas. This way, they can still deliver an immersive historical experience without exceeding their budget or timeline.
4. Creative Freedom vs. Historical Fidelity
While historical accuracy is important, game developers also need the freedom to craft compelling narratives, dynamic gameplay, and engaging worlds. Sometimes, strict adherence to history can limit creativity and prevent developers from telling the stories they want to tell.
For example, in historical RPGs, players expect choices and freedom of action. However, real-world historical figures often had limited options due to societal norms, laws, and personal circumstances. If a game were to enforce these strict limitations, it might make the gameplay feel restrictive. To enhance player agency, developers often modify historical events, allow for alternative storylines, or introduce fictional characters who interact with real historical figures.
A well-known example is L.A. Noire, which is set in 1940s Los Angeles and revolves around real-life crime cases. While many aspects of the game are historically accurate, developers took creative liberties in reconstructing certain crime scenes and police procedures to enhance the detective gameplay.
Similarly, Call of Duty: WWII prioritizes historical realism but also introduces Hollywood-style cinematic moments and dramatic set pieces, reminiscent of Dunkirk or Saving Private Ryan, that might not be entirely true to history. This helps maintain excitement and engagement while still respecting the core historical context.
Ultimately, game developers must decide how much historical accuracy they are willing to sacrifice for the sake of storytelling and player experience. The key is to strike a balance where the historical setting enhances the game rather than restricting its potential.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Challenge of Historical Accuracy in Games
Ensuring historical accuracy in video games is a complex task that requires extensive research, expert consultation, and careful decision-making. While some games aim for near-total authenticity, others prioritize player engagement, sometimes making adjustments to history for the sake of entertainment.
Despite these challenges, historical consulting continues to play a crucial role in game development. For developers, investing in historical consulting is not just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about creating richer, more immersive worlds that captivate players and stand the test of time.
Whether you’re a gamer who loves history or a developer seeking to build an authentic experience, one thing is clear: history in video games is more important than ever. Developers who successfully balance accuracy with engaging gameplay will create memorable, educational, and captivating historical video games for players worldwide.
FAQs
1. How do historical consultants help video game developers?
Historical consultants ensure accuracy in game narratives, environments, character designs, and cultural representations, making the gaming experience more immersive and believable.
2. What happens when a game ignores historical accuracy?
Ignoring historical accuracy can lead to player criticism, controversies, and potential misinformation, affecting the game’s reputation and credibility.
3. Are all historical video games 100% accurate?
No. While some games strive for full accuracy, others take creative liberties for storytelling and gameplay purposes. However, historical consultants help minimize major inaccuracies.
4. How can I become a historical consultant for video games?
A background in history, archaeology, or cultural studies, along with experience in research and consulting, can help you enter the industry. Networking with game developers is also crucial.
5. What is the most historically accurate video game?
Games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Total War series are praised for their high level of historical accuracy, but no game is perfect.
Keywords:
historical consulting for video games, video game authenticity, historical accuracy in games, game development research, history in gaming, consulting for game developers
