Exploring the Potential and Challenges of Historical Video Games
Published 15 April 2024; revised 18 June 2024
Historical video games represent a unique convergence of digital entertainment and educational media, blending immersive experiences with history education. These games have achieved considerable commercial success and captivated millions globally by offering richly detailed and historically accurate environments. However, the extent to which they enhance players’ understanding of history is a subject of ongoing scholarly debate. This article examines the potential of video games to illuminate and obscure knowledge about the past. It explores the broader potential benefits, and drawbacks, of using video games as tools for history education (Kapell & Elliott, 2013; Squire, 2002; UK Government, 2023).