Best games
Best historical games
The 158 best historical games, ranked from 44,048 critic and player ratings.
The best historical game right now is God of War, with a critic score of 96/100. Updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 44,048 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 7 September 2026.
Top 50
01
S
God of War
God of War is the sequel to God of War III as well as a continuation of the canon God of War chronology. Unlike previous installments, this game focuses on Norse mythology and follows an older and more seasoned Kratos and his son Atreus in the years since the third game. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same.
96
/100
02
God of War III
Set in the realm of brutal Greek mythology, God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus. Utilizing a new game engine built from the ground up and state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team behind God of War III has made standard-setting strides in giving players the realistic feel of actually being on the battlegrounds. With texture resolutions quadrupling since God of War II on PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, God of War III, in its debut on the PS3 system, will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos' fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale that is four times larger than its predecessor.
96
/100
03
S
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the sequel to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and a prequel to the original Metal Gear. The game has a complex story with long cut-scene sequences, but there are fewer and they are shorter compared to earlier Metal Gear Solid titles. Most of the gameplay mechanics introduced in Ground Zeroes are carried over: it is still an action game and stealth oriented but replaces the linear corridor design from most earlier titles with large open world environments that offer the player unrestricted freedom for the approach. The world has now a real-time day and night cycle and various weather effects that influence enemy behaviour, visibility and sound. Sabotaging or destroying certain structures can also influence other parts of the map.
96
/100
S
God of War
God of War is the sequel to God of War III as well as a continuation of the canon God of War chronology. Unlike previous installments, this game focuses on Norse mythology and follows an older and more seasoned Kratos and his son Atreus in the years since the third game. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same.
96
/100
02
God of War III
Set in the realm of brutal Greek mythology, God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology's darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus. Utilizing a new game engine built from the ground up and state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team behind God of War III has made standard-setting strides in giving players the realistic feel of actually being on the battlegrounds. With texture resolutions quadrupling since God of War II on PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, God of War III, in its debut on the PS3 system, will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos' fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale that is four times larger than its predecessor.
96
/100
03
S
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the sequel to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and a prequel to the original Metal Gear. The game has a complex story with long cut-scene sequences, but there are fewer and they are shorter compared to earlier Metal Gear Solid titles. Most of the gameplay mechanics introduced in Ground Zeroes are carried over: it is still an action game and stealth oriented but replaces the linear corridor design from most earlier titles with large open world environments that offer the player unrestricted freedom for the approach. The world has now a real-time day and night cycle and various weather effects that influence enemy behaviour, visibility and sound. Sabotaging or destroying certain structures can also influence other parts of the map.
96
/100
04
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
05
Company of Heroes
Command the company that changed the face of history! Battle your way across Europe as your troops make intuitive use of the terrain and buildings for cover and mount attacks on an equally intelligent enemy. Your Mission. Your Men. Your Decisions.
95
/100
06
SoulCalibur II
SoulCalibur II is the third installment in the Soul series and continues the tradition of his predecessors with improved graphics, new characters and new levels. A majority of the action takes place in Weapon Master mode where you have to choose a character and travel a set map to fight the many other warriors through different levels and challenges. Console ports were released, including guest characters from other franchises. The Arcade version has a unique mode called "Conquest Mode". This mode, which uses a name and password system to save data, allows the player to select one army among four. The player then fights against enemies in a series of eight 1-round battles, win or lose (the first seven are based on the player's rank, and the eighth is chosen by the player – this can only be interrupted by a Versus challenger.) After each round, the player earns EXP and can be promoted, and the game also rates the player in four categories: Soul, Power, Wisdom and Skill. The game also keeps track of which moves the player knows and uses most often. After the eight battles, territory control is updated and the player has the option to fight a bonus round against their character played by the AI.
95
/100
07
Return of the Obra Dinn
In this 1-bit first-person mystery game, a merchant ship called the Obra Dinn has appeared at a London harbor, years after being declared lost at sea. As an insurance adjuster, the player must examine the ship for clues.
95
/100
08
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the final canonical Metal Gear game to feature Solid Snake as the main character. The gameplay of the previous games have been kept along with some new features, such as the ability to roll on your back and also to hide in bins scattered around the environment. Most of the story and the relationship between the characters are explained through cut-scenes with a considerable length, so knowledge of the prior games is recommended to fully understand the story. The game also features a complex multiplayer mode entitled Metal Gear Online with some original missions based on the stealth aspects of the single-player games.
94
/100
09
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
A search for the fabled "Atlantis of the Sands" propels fortune hunter Nathan Drake on a trek into the heart of the Arabian Desert. When the terrible secrets of this lost city are unearthed, Drake's quest descends into a desperate bid for survival that strains the limits of his endurance and forces him to confront his deepest fears.
93
/100
10
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is an action-adventure stealth video game and is the third action-based Metal Gear title made specifically for the PSP. The gameplay consists of two primary modes: Mission and Mother Base. Mission are the actual action sequences of the game where the player must infiltrate an enemy territory or fight a boss, whereas Mother Base is an army management. Some changes have been made to the standard Metal Gear formula: the player is now unable to move or shoot while laying down and while pinned to a wall, making Peace Walker the first game since Metal Gear to lack any crawling ability.
93
/100
11
S
BioShock Infinite
93
/100
12
S
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
93
/100
13
S
God of War II
93
/100
14
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
93
/100
15
A
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
92
/100
16
S
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
92
/100
17
Ghost of Tsushima
92
/100
18
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
92
/100
19
Crusader Kings III
91
/100
20
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
91
/100
21
S
Assassin's Creed II
90
/100
22
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
90
/100
23
Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete
90
/100
24
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
90
/100
25
Shenmue
90
/100
26
The Forgotten City
90
/100
27
B
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
90
/100
28
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
90
/100
29
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
89
/100
30
Day of the Tentacle
89
/100
31
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
88
/100
32
S
Battlefield 1
88
/100
33
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
88
/100
34
Total War: Shogun 2
88
/100
35
A
Dragon Age: Inquisition
88
/100
36
Call of Duty: United Offensive
87
/100
37
Call of Duty
87
/100
38
S
Sid Meier's Civilization V
87
/100
39
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
87
/100
40
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword
86
/100
41
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge
86
/100
42
Assassin's Creed Origins
86
/100
43
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
86
/100
44
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
85
/100
45
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
85
/100
46
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
85
/100
47
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
85
/100
48
Europa Universalis IV
85
/100
49
Assassin's Creed Shadows
85
/100
50
Pentiment
85
/100
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
In the sequel to Drake's Fortune, Nathan Drake comes across a map that showcases the location of Marco Polo's missing ships. It takes him on a journey to find the infamous Cintamani Stone, and uncover the truth behind it.
95
/100
05
Company of Heroes
Command the company that changed the face of history! Battle your way across Europe as your troops make intuitive use of the terrain and buildings for cover and mount attacks on an equally intelligent enemy. Your Mission. Your Men. Your Decisions.
95
/100
06
SoulCalibur II
SoulCalibur II is the third installment in the Soul series and continues the tradition of his predecessors with improved graphics, new characters and new levels. A majority of the action takes place in Weapon Master mode where you have to choose a character and travel a set map to fight the many other warriors through different levels and challenges. Console ports were released, including guest characters from other franchises. The Arcade version has a unique mode called "Conquest Mode". This mode, which uses a name and password system to save data, allows the player to select one army among four. The player then fights against enemies in a series of eight 1-round battles, win or lose (the first seven are based on the player's rank, and the eighth is chosen by the player – this can only be interrupted by a Versus challenger.) After each round, the player earns EXP and can be promoted, and the game also rates the player in four categories: Soul, Power, Wisdom and Skill. The game also keeps track of which moves the player knows and uses most often. After the eight battles, territory control is updated and the player has the option to fight a bonus round against their character played by the AI.
95
/100
07
Return of the Obra Dinn
In this 1-bit first-person mystery game, a merchant ship called the Obra Dinn has appeared at a London harbor, years after being declared lost at sea. As an insurance adjuster, the player must examine the ship for clues.
95
/100
08
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the final canonical Metal Gear game to feature Solid Snake as the main character. The gameplay of the previous games have been kept along with some new features, such as the ability to roll on your back and also to hide in bins scattered around the environment. Most of the story and the relationship between the characters are explained through cut-scenes with a considerable length, so knowledge of the prior games is recommended to fully understand the story. The game also features a complex multiplayer mode entitled Metal Gear Online with some original missions based on the stealth aspects of the single-player games.
94
/100
09
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
A search for the fabled "Atlantis of the Sands" propels fortune hunter Nathan Drake on a trek into the heart of the Arabian Desert. When the terrible secrets of this lost city are unearthed, Drake's quest descends into a desperate bid for survival that strains the limits of his endurance and forces him to confront his deepest fears.
93
/100
10
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is an action-adventure stealth video game and is the third action-based Metal Gear title made specifically for the PSP. The gameplay consists of two primary modes: Mission and Mother Base. Mission are the actual action sequences of the game where the player must infiltrate an enemy territory or fight a boss, whereas Mother Base is an army management. Some changes have been made to the standard Metal Gear formula: the player is now unable to move or shoot while laying down and while pinned to a wall, making Peace Walker the first game since Metal Gear to lack any crawling ability.
93
/100
11
S
BioShock Infinite
93
/100
12
S
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
93
/100
13
S
God of War II
93
/100
14
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
93
/100
15
A
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
92
/100
16
S
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
92
/100
17
Ghost of Tsushima
92
/100
18
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
92
/100
19
Crusader Kings III
91
/100
20
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
91
/100
21
S
Assassin's Creed II
90
/100
22
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
90
/100
23
Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete
90
/100
24
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
90
/100
25
Shenmue
90
/100
26
The Forgotten City
90
/100
27
B
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
90
/100
28
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
90
/100
29
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
89
/100
30
Day of the Tentacle
89
/100
31
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
88
/100
32
S
Battlefield 1
88
/100
33
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
88
/100
34
Total War: Shogun 2
88
/100
35
A
Dragon Age: Inquisition
88
/100
36
Call of Duty: United Offensive
87
/100
37
Call of Duty
87
/100
38
S
Sid Meier's Civilization V
87
/100
39
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
87
/100
40
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword
86
/100
41
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge
86
/100
42
Assassin's Creed Origins
86
/100
43
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
86
/100
44
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
85
/100
45
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
85
/100
46
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
85
/100
47
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
85
/100
48
Europa Universalis IV
85
/100
49
Assassin's Creed Shadows
85
/100
50
Pentiment
85
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best historical game?
God of War currently tops the ranking with a score of 96/100 across 3,380 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.