Historical Games That Can Be Played on the PS5 Today
The ninth console generation is finally here with the launch of Sony’s PS5 and Microsft’s Xbox Series X/S. The PS5, specifically, has sold surprisingly well so far, with Sony themselves having trouble keeping up with supply demands. But before sinking a fair amount of money into the hardware, many gamers may be asking themselves what titles there are to play. To answer that, well, there’s quite a lot to play, actually.
Thanks to a great launch lineup and steady flow of new releases, there are already plenty of great games on the console, in addition to hundreds of PS4 games that are backward compatible. History buffs will also find that there is no shortage of historical games available on the system, including new PS5 releases and older PS4 titles.
Here are a few highlights you should keep an eye out for.
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
The most recent entry into the long-running Call of Duty franchise brings players back to the Cold War in Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War. Set during the early 1980’s and serving as a direct follow-up to the very first Black Ops title, the game throws the player into the role of Bell, a nameless CIA operative tasked with various missions inspired by real-world events. The game’s story features real-world locations such as East Berlin, Turkey, and even Soviet KGB Headquarters.
This entry feels more grounded in history than most other titles, thanks to the inclusion of real-world historical figures such as former United States President Ronald Regan. Unsurprisingly, the game plays very similar to other Call of Duty titles, but its historical setting helps elevate it above past installments. Fans of Cold War history should definitely give it a look.
Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
Longtime fans of Chivalry have undoubtedly had loads of fun with this first-person medieval combat game. Featuring online multiplayer matches somewhat reminiscent of Call of Duty or Halo but with medieval weaponry, Chivalry packs hours of mindless medieval warfare.
The game features a fun and deep combat system with over 60 different medieval weapons to choose from, from broad swords to battle axes and javelins. Players can live out their medieval fantasies in Chivalry by raiding castles, storming enemy bases, and ransacking villages in an immersive online war combat simulator. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare is truly a modern classic, and is best enjoyed on the PS5 with its upgraded visuals until its announced sequel, Chivalry 2, arrives sometime in the near future.
God of War
Sony’s God of War franchise first began on the PS2 and returned again in 2018’s God of War for the PS4. While it was released for PS4, it again looks and plays even better on the PS5 console. Unlike previous installments, which were rooted heavily in Greek mythology, this newest game covers Norse mythology and features various Norse monsters and gods that Kratos and his son Atreus must face, including, Freya, Baldur, Magni, and Modi. The game presents a beautiful world that seamlessly intertwines the God of War narrative with ancient Norse mythology and is worth a playthrough for any big fans of the mythos.
Additionally, any longtime series fans anxiously awaiting the upcoming sequel God of War Ragnarok should definitely give this game another go on the PlayStation 5.
The Order: 1886
The Order: 1886 was released in 2015 exclusively for the PlayStation 4 but feels at home on the PlayStation 5. One of the prettiest games released on any PlayStation console, the title benefits from the PS5’s faster load times and superior processing power. The Order: 1886 presents an alternate version of Victorian-Era London, in which supernatural creatures threaten humanity as we know it.
As a member of the Order of Knights, you must fend off various monsters known as Half-Breeds in order to keep peace and order. While the game received mixed reviews due to its short length and linear nature, The Order: 1886 features an interesting world and story and will definitely spark the interest of any fans of 19th-century European history. There’s even a clever historical nod to the “man who invented the 20th century.”
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima stands out as one of the very best exclusives for the PS4 and is made even better on the PS5 with shorter loading times and slightly better performance on the upgraded hardware. Set in 13th century Japan, Ghost of Tsushima tells the tale of Jin Sakai, a young samurai warrior from the Japanese island of Tsushima. The action game is heavily inspired by classic Japanese films, such as Seven Samurai, both in terms of its story-telling and visuals.
Released just earlier this year, the title clearly takes full advantage of the PS4’s graphical power and honestly feels more at home on the PS5. For any big fans of Japanese films or history, Ghost of Tsushima is an absolute must-buy for the PlayStation 5.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
It wouldn’t be a list about historical video games if an Assassin’s Creed game didn’t wind up on it. Though rooted more in fiction than history, Valhalla follows the Viking expansion from Norway to England, a real event that led to plenty of bloodshed. And Valhalla is not short on blood.
To best welcome the brutal warriors to the series, Ubisoft ramped up the gore for one of the most violent Assassin’s Creed games to date. Thankfully, it doesn’t overshadow the sought-after experience of being an assassin, however.
Like previous installments, Valhalla features historical figures that help ground the title in history and further immerse players in the overall experience.
There are just six historical games that can be experienced right now on the PlayStation 5. While there are plenty of others as well, these are just some of the titles that players can experience right now on the new platform, with tons of new experiences coming later in the console’s life.
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(This article is credited to Ben Price. For as long as he can remember, Ben has always loved playing, discussing, and writing about video games. Since receiving his B.A. in English, he now writes about them for a living.)
