Earlier today, we ran a story about video games that replicate historical moments — from OG educational hits like Oregon Trail to bloody, controversial reenactments like JFK: Reloaded. As we spoke to experts and scrolled through forums, we found that for every popular historical video game like Assassin’s Creed there exist a hundred obscure, offbeat, and at times totally messed-up games. Created by individuals and small studios that lack the funds and institutional support to get much attention, these games reimagine the most emotionally charged and violent moments in history — 9/11, for example, or the First Intifada. We came across so many, we thought we’d go ahead and share some of our favorites below.
Nine of the weirdest historical video games ever made
Assassinations, coups, cults, and riots
Freedom! (1993)
This game, created by MECC — the same company responsible for Oregon Trail — was released and pulled from the shelf within the space of the year. Intended as a side-scrolling adventure that would teach students about the slave trade, it was the subject of a lawsuit when parents sued over the racist way in which the black characters spoke.
Under Ash (2001)
This game can be interpreted as either heavy-handed propaganda or a critique of how Arabs are depicted in American video games. Created by the Syrian publisher Dar al-Fikr, the game follows a young Palestinian who joins the First Intifada and progresses from throwing stones to commanding high-level military vehicles. The first pressing of 10,000 reportedly sold out in a week.
State of Emergency (2002)
In this action-adventure first-person game produced by Rockstar Games, players rail against the shadowy "American Trade Organization" and join an underground crew to battle "the man." The game drew criticism from politicians for its similarity to the political unrest surrounding the 1999 World Trade Organization negotiations in Seattle.
9-11 Survivor (2003):
Just two years after 9/11, a group of artists made this simple, point-and-click game available online. Based on a basic 3D reconstruction of the burning World Trade Center towers, 9-11 Survivor allowed players to control a character as they chose between fleeing to safety, burning in a fire, or jumping from the building.
Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (2005)
SCMRPG! was created in by filmmaker Danny Ledonne using an RPG-making program. The game recreates the Columbine High School shootings, with players controlling gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold as they move throughout the school and speak about their frustrations, eventually shooting 19 of their classmates and themselves.
Peacemaker Game (2007)
In this turn-based strategy game created by Impact Games, players control either the Israeli prime minister or the Palestinian president, but the mission is the same either way: find a peaceful, two-state solution and keep the UN happy. With half an eye glued to their approval ratings, players provide aid, negotiate with neighbors, and increase military pressure in an effort to keep everyone satisfied.
Rendition: Guantanamo (2009)
Though it was never produced, this game gets an honorable mention. Produced by the Scottish T-Enterprise with input from a former Guantanamo detainee, its tagline was originally "It’s time to fight back." As the general gist was explained to one paper, players began the game alone in a cell with only an orange boiler suit, cuffs, and ear muffs. The game drew such intense reaction from the media — including speculation that al-Qaeda was somehow involved — that its creators shuttered the project the same year it was announced.
Gettysburg: Armored Warfare (2012)
This turbo-charged, super-alternate history created by Radioactive Software features both top-level strategy and third-person shooting modes, outfitting both sides in the Battle of Gettysburg with modern weaponry. Boom.
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