Svoboda 1945: Liberation
Svoboda 1945: Liberation was created by Charles Games in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences. It blends fiction and historical accuracy and uses a diverse range of gameplay and storytelling techniques to recount experiences in Svoboda, a village near the Czech-German border during and after WWII.
The game includes historical documents, photographs, video footage and an encyclopedia that ground the stories in reality making the often harrowing accounts all the more emotive. In addition to the various real elements and factual information, the game also uses a mix of fictional aspects such as FMV video clips and conversations, explorable scenes, animated comic strips and mini-games to deliver the narratives.
– Real player with 5.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Historical Visual Novel Games.
Svoboda 1945: Liberation is the newest game to come from Czech developers, Charles Games. Following the critical success of Attentat 1942, the developers continue to convey history in innovative and engaging methods. Integrating FMV interviews, minigames, comic-style scenes and an abundance of factual documents to read, the game was fascinating from start to finish.
Pros
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Varied gameplay and minigames throughout.
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Immense collection of factual documents to read (optional).
– Real player with 3.8 hrs in game
Belle-de-Nuit
I was hooked from the start. Never have I ever had such a delightful experience reading interactive fiction, and I feel more open to trying similar games in the future. Sebastian, with his heart of gold and noble soul, stole my heart. The writing is so good. My only complaint is that I don’t feel there was enough build-up in Amaryllis' and Lou’s routes, they didn’t draw my attention to start with haha I’m happy I got to share sweet moments with Sebastian. He’s my definition of husband-material ❤
– Real player with 12.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Historical Drama Games.
i think this is the first time ive ever actually struggled to just pick 1 love intrest i wish i could be poly with amryllis, lou and sebastian, i seriously cannot pick! theyre all so precious, and i love them all so much i just want to make them all happy T.T
– Real player with 10.4 hrs in game
My Child Lebensborn
Ok, I love story-driven games. I love historical games. I love resource/time management games. I love gritty, realistic games. But WHAT was is the point of this? Most of the time, there was nothing I could do for Klaus. It was incredibly frustrating to just listen about teachers and other kids bullying him, and all I could do was tell Klaus to shut up and take it. I couldn’t confront any of the perpetrators or do anything to change the events.
Halfway through, I thought, “ok, so maybe it’s not about confronting issues, but rather it’s about how he responds to things he can’t change…and the point is to develop his character traits so that he’ll eventually turn out as a resilient adult.”
– Real player with 7.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Historical Atmospheric Games.
Ich liebe dich, mein Kleiner
This game…tugged at my heartstrings. Before playing it, I was watching Michaela Laws play it up to a certain point. Even then…my heart hurt and I kept crying when Karin was sad or upset and putting herself down. I purchased this game yesterday and could not help but play it for at least 3 hours as I did not want to spoil anything for myself; I wanted to experience in my own time. I took in Klaus and he was an absolutely wonderful child. As before…my heart near broke everytime he was distraught or sad. There were moments where I have gotten angry, worried sick…at one point I think I even felt depersonalization despite it being a game. It just felt that powerful. I wanted to do more. Despite all the horrible things that have happened, seeing Klaus smile and be happy made it all worth it. I wanted to hug him so badly as I sympathize with what he went through…being bullied…feeling alone.
– Real player with 7.1 hrs in game
HumanOrigin : Liu Lanzhi
CHEAP and FUNNY tiny game about Chinese culture.
Good value for money.
– Real player with 0.8 hrs in game
Attentat 1942
I am certainly partial to games that tell a story. However, games that pass down important and historical information are even better. A game that can entertain and teach possesses a special power. Not only can the game effectively deliver important information that the player is more likely to retain than they would sitting in a history class, but it also engages them in such a way that the information becomes relevant and memorable. I know I’ll never forget how my hands sweat when the gestapo knocked on the door and I had to quickly find a way to nervously delay them. I was impressed with the mechanics during that mini game, and I think that games like this should be made available, and perhaps even replace, outdated teaching techniques in school.
– Real player with 6.3 hrs in game
Attentat 1942 is a FMV game, where you want to know, what happened with your father and mother in Prague at the Second World War.
What I really liked in the game, is how it looks. Now, the videos has all right quality, however the older cutscenes are made with comic styled, but more like newspaper version of that, and those cutscenes looked amazing. Everything is understandable from them and looked really nice.
About the story, I liked it really much. Reminds me of older stories from the same time, which I heard from my grandparents. It showed the war from a different perspective, which is not cover in history books or in TV properly. Most of the choices you can do in the game makes sense and bring the story forward. Characters have their motives and own story is really nice, however I need to mention, that these stories happened and that gives a whole new depth to it.
– Real player with 6.0 hrs in game
The Book of Distance
What can I say that hasn’t been said already?
About 30 minutes, not much to “do” but so much to read & feel.
You’ll need a solid 1.5m x 1.5m space to get the full effect.
Ok, enough with the technical stuff…
Such a wonderful VR experience!!! Just wow.
It resonated with me so much, (lens got foggy, something in my eye…both eyes, weird) as I am first generation after my father immigrated to the United States.
He worked very hard & for almost nothing for decades to provide for our family. We were very poor, no Nike’s or name brand stuff but always had food.
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game
This game is a great way to introduce VR to beginners.
Truth be told I did not believe the other review when they said it will make u cry.
The first 3 minutes when i played this the atmosphere just captured my attention and It made me teared up because of the ambient. From the tone of the narrator to his father’s point of view. It got me on edge. Granted there are a few flaws in the game. But from the way The game was made and told You know that the developers wanted to capture the story telling. Making an immersive experience. Keep in mind that this story is a sad one.
– Real player with 1.1 hrs in game
Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™
One of the best all around adventure story games released in the last few years. A mix of a beautifully composed musical score, stellar artwork, great story, impressive puzzles, and real life historical content. This game actually made me think about the collectibles and ponder the historical facts as much as I did the story at times.
Set during World War I (The Great War), Valiant Hearts gives you a look at individuals in war and how this particular group of individuals finds themselves connected. A German man married to a French woman who is forced to go back to Germany and fight. His father-in-law forced to fight for France. An American who befriends the Frenchman. A female doctor that finds herself crossing paths with all of them. Then there is Walt, the war dog, who becomes their ally, friend, and savior at times. While they all may battle for different reasons, countries, or leaders, they all care for one another. They all find ways to help one another overcome struggles, support one another in troubles, and connect to one another as humans rather than enemies.
– Real player with 26.6 hrs in game
It seems only natural that since we are in the midst of the centennial anniversary of the war that was to end all wars, a game should be released. In the gaming world, it seems that almost every war has been covered. Sadly, little to no recognition has been given to the war that launched the world into the modern age and changed how we live today. Valiant Hearts proves to be one of the first games to give a great picture of the struggles of World War I as well as a satisfying gaming experience.
In Valiant Hearts, we follow the stories of five heroes: Emile, a Frenchman; Hans, Emile’s son-in-law who is deported from France because of his German origins; Freddie, an American who volunteers and fights alongside the French in his quest for revenge; Anna, a nurse searching for her father in Belgium; and Walt, a German first aid dog that comes across the path of each of these heroes and helps any way he can. While it may seem highly coincidential how these five individuals continually come across each other’s paths, their backgrounds and motivations are very believable. The friendships that they build are genuine and felt by the players, without dialogue. Most conversations in this game are done by comic book bubbles and short distinct phrases that are spoken by the characters.
– Real player with 15.1 hrs in game
Veil of Dust: A Homesteading Game
Veil of Dust: A Homesteading Game is a historically-grounded fantasy homesteading game about finding your way after loss. Accompany the Callahan Siblings, Shane and Áine, as they learn to cope in the wake of the complete upset of their lives - journey through magic, intrigue and small-town politics to resolve the sudden appearance of dangerous, magical beasts.
Release plan : Beta test early development [✓] – 2-3 hour demo of game so far [✓] – Interactions on feedback from the demo [] – Early Access version [] – Full Game []
Farm, Forage, & Hunt to Survive
Living in the desert isn’t easy, but the magical abilities that force the protagonists to isolate themselves also helps them make the most of the environment. Farm, forage, and hunt to scrape by in the sparse desert of Eastern Oregon.
Unravel a Mystery
Guide Shane and Áine through the twists and turns of their search for answers about the monster attacks that threaten their fragile livelihood. Where will this undertaking lead these unlikely adventurers?
Forge Relationships
Survival isn’t just about finding food and shelter. It’s also about making life worth living. The support and attention of loved ones, romantic and otherwise, will bolster your spirit and give you strength.
Fight & Prevail
A homesteader isn’t usually well-equipped for armed struggle, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with your sibling to defend your homestead against magical monsters.
Cook & Craft
Frontier cuisine is more about filling bellies than making an impression - scrape together what you can to conquer scarcity. Overcome challenges with tools and handicrafts that you create.
Cassius
Cassius is a first-person story-driven puzzle game exploring the mysteries of Blackhaven Hall, a sprawling historically accurate colonial estate evacuated at the height of the American Revolution. Journey back to the 1781 and decode the dark secrets lurking behind America’s founding.
A Secret Mission and A Hidden Mystery
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Explore a massive historically accurate 18th century estate including an opulent mansion, manicured garden, and the sprawling surrounding farms.
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Solve puzzles involving period correct scientific instruments, furnishing, art, sculpture, tools, toys, and rare books.
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Uncover the most closely held secrets of Blackhaven Hall, and confront the lives touched by a tragic history.
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Take part in a forbidden conspiracy that will decide your fate.
About Cassius
Cassius is a continuation of the story from Historiated’s first title, Blackhaven It was developed in cooperation with a diverse set of scholars and experts.
Scarlet and Blank
PROS
-Great writing
-Nice soundtrack
-The melancholic vibe
-Art style
-It’s FREE
CONS
-A bit too short (characters don’t really get fleshed out).
-A few bugs.
I really enjoyed this short visual novel.
8/10
– Real player with 2.3 hrs in game
I enjoyed this beautifully tragic tale, the narration and music set the atmosphere nicely for the read
– Real player with 1.2 hrs in game