The Routledge Companion to Video Games and History

The Routledge Companion to Video Games and History explores the dynamic intersection between video games and historical scholarship. An essential resource for historians, game designers, educators, and researchers seeking to understand the evolving relationship between video games and history.

The Routledge Companion to Video Games and History explores the dynamic intersection between video games and historical scholarship. This comprehensive handbook delves into the ways video games present, interpret, and engage with history, moving beyond questions of accuracy to examine their potential as tools for education, research, and cultural critique. With contributions from international experts, this volume provides a rich, interdisciplinary perspective on how video games shape our understanding of the past. Divided into three sections, the book covers a wide range of topics. The first section, Making History, investigates how video games construct historical narratives, from counterfactual storytelling to the representation of indigenous and postcolonial histories. The second section, Analysing History, examines the portrayal of historical themes such as gender, race, religion, and economics, as well as the unique ways video games engage with cultural memory and historiography. The final section, Playing History, explores the experiential aspects of historical games, including their use in education, fandom, and reflective game design, while also addressing their role in shaping political and cultural myths. This companion is an essential resource for historians, game designers, educators, and researchers seeking to understand the evolving relationship between video games and history.