16 Video Games You Didn’t Know Were Based on True Stories

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and nowhere is that more evident than in video games. While we usually think of games as pure escapism, a surprising number are rooted in real-life events or stories. These games blend fact with fiction in ways that might just make you look at them in a whole new light. So, fire up your console or PC and get ready to discover the truth behind some of your favorite games.

1. The Oregon Trail (1971)

Yes, that pixelated journey across the American frontier was based on the very real—and very perilous—Oregon Trail. The game mirrors the hardships faced by pioneers as they ventured westward in the 19th century, dealing with everything from river crossings to, yes, the ever-dreaded dysentery. It’s more than just a lesson in survival; it’s a digital slice of American history.

2. L.A. Noire (2011)

Rockstar’s noir detective game isn’t just a stylish tribute to the 1940s—it’s also inspired by actual cases from the Los Angeles Police Department’s archives. The game’s detailed crime scenes, interrogations, and plot twists are based on real events, making your time in the city of angels feel eerily authentic. The stories may be fictionalized, but the inspiration is all too real.

3. Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014)

This touching puzzle-adventure game is set during World War I, and while the characters are fictional, their experiences are drawn from real wartime diaries, letters, and events. The game brings history to life, portraying the harsh realities of war while focusing on the human side of the conflict. It’s both educational and emotional, giving players a unique perspective on a world-changing event.

4. Assassin’s Creed III (2012)

While the Assassin’s Creed series is known for its historical settings, Assassin’s Creed III digs deep into the American Revolution. Many of the events and figures—like Paul Revere’s ride and the Boston Tea Party—are pulled straight from history books. Sure, there are a few liberties taken (no, George Washington wasn’t secretly an Assassin), but the game offers a surprisingly accurate tour of revolutionary America.

5. This War of Mine (2014)

Inspired by the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War, This War of Mine puts you in the shoes of civilians trying to survive in a war-torn city. The game’s grim scenarios are based on the real-life struggles of those trapped in conflict zones, focusing on the moral and ethical decisions people must make when their lives are on the line. It’s a sobering reminder that war isn’t just about soldiers—it’s about everyone caught in the crossfire.

6. Red Dead Redemption (2010)

Rockstar’s epic Western isn’t just a love letter to the Wild West—it’s steeped in the history of the American frontier. Characters like Dutch van der Linde and the Van der Linde gang are loosely based on real outlaws, and the game’s depiction of the fading Wild West reflects the real social and economic changes of the early 20th century. It’s a fictional story with a foundation of historical fact.

7. The Town of Light (2016)

This psychological horror game takes place in a real, abandoned mental asylum in Volterra, Italy, and is based on true accounts of patients who lived there. The game explores the harrowing conditions and treatments that were once common in such institutions. It’s an unsettling experience made even more haunting by the knowledge that much of what you see is grounded in reality.

8. Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (2005)

This World War II shooter is based on the real-life experiences of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Normandy invasion. The game’s missions are meticulously researched, with levels designed to reflect actual battles. The characters, while fictional, are inspired by real soldiers, making this a deeply personal and historically accurate depiction of war.

9. Medal of Honor (1999)

Another World War II game with roots in reality, the original Medal of Honor was actually developed with input from filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who wanted to create a game that reflected the real-life bravery and sacrifice of Allied soldiers. The game’s missions are based on actual events, and it helped set the standard for historically inspired shooters.

10. Age of Empires II (1999)

While Age of Empires II is a strategy game, its campaigns are based on real historical figures and events, from Joan of Arc to Genghis Khan. Each scenario is crafted around actual battles and historical contexts, making it both a fun and educational experience. The game brings history to life in a way that textbooks never could, letting you rewrite the past—or stick to the script.

11. The Saboteur (2009)

Set in Nazi-occupied France, The Saboteur follows the story of a resistance fighter based on the real-life exploits of William Grover-Williams, a British racing driver turned secret agent. The game’s blend of fact and fiction gives you a taste of the covert operations and guerrilla tactics that were part of the real resistance movement during World War II.

12. Empire: Total War (2009)

The Total War series is known for its historical accuracy, but Empire: Total War takes it a step further by focusing on the 18th century, a time of empires and revolutions. The game’s grand campaigns are grounded in real events like the American Revolution and the rise of European colonial powers. It’s a strategy game where you can replay—or rewrite—some of history’s most pivotal moments.

13. Silent Hill (1999)

While Silent Hill is known for its supernatural horrors, the town itself was inspired by a real place—Centralia, Pennsylvania, a nearly abandoned town that’s been burning from an underground coal fire since 1962. The eerie, fog-covered setting of the game draws from Centralia’s ghostly landscape, making the horrors of Silent Hill feel all the more real.

14. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

This entry in the Call of Duty series is based on real battles from World War II, particularly in the Pacific theater and the Eastern Front. The game’s missions are inspired by actual military operations, and the gritty, unflinching portrayal of war is a reminder of the real-life events that shaped the world. It’s a stark, often brutal depiction of one of history’s darkest times.

15. Kholat (2015)

This indie horror game is based on the Dyatlov Pass incident, a real-life mystery in which nine Russian hikers died under unexplained circumstances in the Ural Mountains in 1959. The game explores the eerie, unsettling atmosphere of the event, blending fact and fiction to create a chilling experience that leaves you questioning what really happened on that fateful night.

16. Battlefield 1 (2016)

Set during World War I, Battlefield 1 brings to life the Great War’s brutal trench warfare, massive battles, and the dawn of modern warfare. The game’s single-player campaign is divided into war stories, each based on real events and historical figures, providing a raw, unfiltered look at the conflict that reshaped the world. It’s a game that reminds us that even the most chaotic battles have a basis in reality.