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Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of choices for gamers that want to immerse themselves into accurate or even fictional depictions of Roman history. There have been lots of games based on medieval history and World War 2, but after the hype for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator died down in the early 2000s, fans don’t have a great deal of choice out there for them. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some great games based on Roman history that fans shouldn’t seek out; here are ten of the best.
Updated November 8, 2021, by Michael Llewellyn:Even though the use of Roman history as a backdrop is a great setting for many genres from strategy to hack-and-slash it’s not utilized often enough. However, a look into the past to the current generation will prove that there is a significant list of games set in Rome in a variety of surprising genres.
Not every game needs to put the player in the shoes of an aspiring Caesar or a gladiator climbing slaughtering dozens of foes in the arena. Whether it’s Super Mario style platformers, serious strategy games, or time-traveling fantasy games there is something for the historian in all fans of the genre.
18 Age Of Empires: Definitive Edition
Released : 2018 Developer : Xbox Studios Platform : PC
Originally released in 1997, Age of Empires is a trip down memory lane for fans of the original and a great introduction to strategy games where newcomers are concerned. Despite its age, there is a lot of depth and content for players to get to grips with. The original version has been ported to several systems but this reworked version is the best and most accessible.
Fans of Roman history will also get the Rise of Rome expansion which brings the whole package to 10 campaigns altogether. In the Roman expansion, players will be tasked with fighting off legendary leaders like Spartacus and Hannibal to protect Rome and the Republic.
17 Civilization 6
Released : 2016 Developer : Firaxis Platform : PC, PS4, Xbox One, Android, Switch, iOS, Linux, and MAC OS
Civilization 6 is a huge strategy game with a scope that starts with building an early settlement to creating and becoming a modern-day world superpower. The player will encounter other civilizations and enemies throughout their time and one of these includes Rome.
This is where players will meet Trajan a Roman Emperor that ruled from 98AD until he died in 117AD. This is where players will work to expand the empire and create more trade routes.
16 The Forgotten City
Released : 2021 Developer : Modern Storyteller Platform : PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, and Xbox One, and Xbox Series X
Starting life as a mod from The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, The Forgotten City is a mystery RPG that was remade in the Unreal Engine. Many fans argued that the storytelling surpassed that of Skyrim and its popularity led to a full-blown video game adaptation.
The game’s story begins with the player’s protagonist exploring ancient ruins and getting sent back in time to a cursed city in Ancient Rome. To say too much about the fantasy-based setting would spoil it but the outstanding script, atmosphere, and the fantastic conclusion to one of the most intriguing stories in gaming make it a must-have RPG this generation.
15 Asterix - Sega Master System
Released : 1991 Developer : Sega Platform : Sega Master System
Released in 1991, the Sega Master System version of the Asterix videogame was better than the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version. The 2D platformer pushed the 8-Bit Master System to its limits and featured some excellent cartoon-perfect visuals and animations.
The game lets gamers play Asterix, Obelix, and their faithful hound Dogmatix as they attempt to rescue a captive Getafix from Julius Ceasar in Rome. Unlike many other games in the genre at the time Asterix was far more forgiving with its infinite-continues feature which came in handy for the difficult later stages.
14 Spartan: Total Warrior
Released : 2005 Developer : Creative Assembly Platform : PS2, Xbox, and the GameCube
Released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube, Spartan: Total Warrior is a hack-and-slash fighting game developed by Rome: Total War developers Creative Assembly. Spartan: Total Warrior’s story is set in Greek and Roman mythology as players take on the role of a Spartan Warrior defending Greece against the invading Roman army.
Even though the game lacks the strategy that is found in the Total War series by being an action game in a similar vein as the Dynasty Warrior series, Spartan’s battles are huge in scale and exciting.
13 Colosseum: Road To Freedom
Released : 2005 Developer : Ertain Platform : PS2
Released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Colosseum: Road to Freedom is a gladiatorial action-RPG set during the reign of Emperor Commodus. The game’s narrative is pure historical fiction that was inspired by the popularity of the film Gladiator starring Russel Crowe.
However, the game still does a great job of nailing the atmosphere and will more than satisfy gamers with a passing interest in Ancient Rome and its setting as a video game world. The gameplay is open-ended and offers its players a lot of freedom to live out their Spartacus fantasies.
12 Grand Ages: Rome
Released : 2009 Developer : Haemimont Games Platform : PC
Released in 2009 for the PC Grand Ages: Rome is a real-time strategy and an empire-building game that is set during the final years of the Roman Republic. Players are tasked with completing missions and building a reputation as a leader and a statesman for real-life historical figures like Mark Anthony, Pompey Magnus, Marcus Tullius Cicero, and Marcus Crassus.
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The game covers real historical events like the slave uprising led by the former gladiator Spartacus and is given the choice of siding with either Julius Caesar or Pompey Magnus.
11 Gladiator Begins
Released : 2010 Developer : GOSHOW Platform : PSP
Released on the PSP in 2010, Gladiator Begins is a prequel to Colosseum: Road to Freedom and is based on the end of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus’ final years as a ruler before Commodus succeeds him.
Once again, Gladiator Begins is pure historical fiction and even follows a similar plotline to the film that inspired it, Gladiator, by casting Commodus as the main antagonist and the player as the gladiator. Despite being on the smaller system, Gladiator Begins is a much larger game than its predecessor with a far more grandiose plot and even more freedom to develop one’s fighter in the arena.
10 Rygar: The Legendary Adventure
Released : 2003 Developer : Tecmo Platform : PS2
Released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Rygar: The Legendary Adventure is a 3D remake of the 1986 Rygar that was released on the NES. Just like the original, Rygar features a story that is steeped in Greek and Roman mythology.
The titular Rygar is armed with the Diskarmor and functions similarly to the whip from the Castlevania and the Blades of Chaos from God of War. As something of an overlooked classic, Rygar’s setting is a must for fans of a Roman setting, with excellent gameplay, and epic boss fights.
9 Centurion: Defender Of Rome
Released : 1990 Developer : Bits Of Magic Platform : Amiga, PC, Sega Megadrive/Genesis
Released in 1990 for the PC and 1991 for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive and the Amiga, Centurion: Defender of Rome is one of the first turn-based strategy games that worked very well on consoles at the time.
Centurion: Defender of Rome takes place in the year 275 BC and players are tasked with rising through the ranks of the Roman army to become Caesar. Despite the limited hardware, Defender of Rome remained one of the most faithful and historically accurate depictions of Ancient Rome on consoles for many years to come.
8 Praetorians
Released : 2003 Developer : Pyro Studios and Kalypso Platform : PC, PS4, Xbox One
Released in 2003 for the PC Praetorians is a real-time strategy and tactics game originally developed by Pyro Studios the creators of the Commandos series. The game was recently remastered by Kalypso Media as Praetorians HD Remaster and was released in early 2020 with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions to follow.
Praetorians allow its players to take on the role of Julius Caesar and do battle with barbarian hordes. In terms of its gameplay and mechanics, the single-player campaign plays very similarly to the classic RTS Warcraft series and Command & Conquer.
7 Age Of Decadence
Released : 2015 Developer : Iron Tower Studio Platform : PC
Released in 2015, Age of Decadence is an isometric RPG made with classics like Baldur’s Gate in mind. The game is set during the fall of the Roman Empire and sets up an almost post-apocalyptic scenario for players to dive into.
Players get to create their character as they participate in Roman politics and backstabbing. Age of Decadence has a strategic turn-based combat system and deep dialogue and choice system that has huge implications in how the world develops around them.
6 Rome: Total War
Released : 2004 Developer : Creative Assembly Platform : PC, MAC OS, iPad, Phone, and Android
Released in 2004 for the PC, Rome: Total War may be starting to show its age compared to its successors but that takes nothing away from the sheer amount of depth and gameplay it offers. Even after the release of its sequel Total War: Rome many fans of the genre consider the original to be the best.
The game is still being modded by fans to this day but even without that, the lengthy single-player campaign is one of the best historically-set videogames of all time. The game also comes with the expansions Barbarian Invasion and Alexander which added more complexities to negotiations, religions, timelines, and locations.
5 Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Released : 2010 Developer : Ubisoft Platform : PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
First released in 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is the direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed 2. It was remastered and released again for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One in 2016 as part of the Ezio Collection. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is set during the 16th Century Rome and is the most modern game on this list.
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However, despite not being set in Ancient Rome, it was still an important era for fans of history, and players will encounter real-life historical figures like the Borgias and Leonardo Da Vinci. Furthermore, fans can also freely explore and climb the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel, the Castel Sant Angelo, and more.
4 Shadow Of Rome
Released : 2005 Developer : Capcom Platform : PS2
Shadow of Rome is a gladiatorial combat game with elements of stealth set in 48 B.C. and after Julius Caesar’s assassination. The player takes on the role of Agrippa the soldier-turned Gladiator wrongfully accused of the assassination of Caesar and Octavianus a statesman who sets about trying to prove Agrippa’s innocence in stealth missions.
The stealth missions are Shadow of Rome’s weakest element but the brutal combat in the arena more than makes up for this and plays into Capcom’s strengths. The fighting system is easy to pick up with weighty and satisfying attacks and finishers.
3 Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Released : 2017 Developer : Ubisoft Platform : PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One
Released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC Assassin’s Creed: Origins is both a prequel and a reboot for the series that incorporates a larger open world, a brand new combat system, and RPG mechanics reminiscent of The Witcher 3.
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While the game is set in Ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic period, players will still interact with several important figures from Rome’s history like Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Pompey Magnus, Brutus, Lucius Septimus, and others.
2 Ryse: Son Of Rome
Released : 2013 Developer : Crytek Platform : PC and Xbox One
Released exclusively as a launch title for the Xbox One, Ryse: Son of Rome is an action-adventure hack-and-slash game developed by Crytek. It was one of the first true next-gen games with high production values and visuals which still hold up seven years after its release.
Like many other games on this list, Ryse: Son of Rome is pure historical fiction but the authentic Roman setting and real-life characters like Emperor Nero and Boudica will appeal to history buffs. Players will take part in large-scale battles and gladiatorial fights in the arena with a surprisingly deep combat system.
1 Total War: Rome 2
Released : 2013 Developer : Creative Assembly Platform : PC and MAC OS
Released in 2013 for the PC, Total War: Rome 2 is the successor to what many consider to be one of the greatest strategy games ever released Rome: Total War. Rome 2 initially launched with lots of bugs and technical issues that hurt its scores.
However, these were fixed in updates and patches thanks to fan feedback and now Rome 2 is a more than worthy successor with great visuals and incredible depth. Just like its predecessor, the game features real-time tactical combat, turn-based grand strategy, and a massive single-player campaign.
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