History Games for School

Regular readers of my blog will tell you we are BIG fans of history lessons here as well as gameschooling.  I love finding new and unique ways to teach history lessons, and games often fills this challenge.  Though many history games are not intended for young kids.

Why to play history games:

• Often times your kids will remember the game better than the lesson from the textbook.
• It lets them think through the possibilities if the outcome had been different.  What if we hadn’t all ganged up on Germany after World War 1?  How would things have changed.
• As with other games, it’s another hook into their brain to get them interested.

Similar to my math games post, I’m going to group these by subject, but I am not planning on splitting out the homemade games this time.

Future Ticia 2022 here, I was writing the Chronology post and came over to link here and realized I desperately need to update this, DESPERATELY, so I’m adding in a few links, deleting some bad links, and adding in some new pictures.

WHEEEEE!!!!!

So much fun.

{some of these links are affiliate links}

Tell me what games I need to add in!

I can only add the games I’ve heard of or played. I know there are so many more games than that. Tell me about them so I can add them to the list.

Generic History games

A few of these are time travel games, and then some of these are good history review games

• Chronology (Chronology game review)- can you build your timeline of 10 events before anyone else? Can be easily played with anyone who can read
• Timeline– Similar game, but it comes with fewer cards, there are also expansions focusing on specific types of events
• File Folder Games– Homeschool in the Woods has printable file folder games and I shared several of my favorites there)

Creation to Christ History Games

• Carcassonne: Hunters And Gatherers – This is a variation on Carcassone, it lets you think about the different ways food was gathered as we were learning to farm.
• Tigris and Euphrates– Help create and build civilization as you build out your empire.  Will you build Babylon, or the city of Ur?  I’ve played this a couple of times with Jeff, and it’s a good strategy game to figure out what will best advance your culture.  I’d put this at a junior high level, though I might try it with the kids this coming year when we cycle back to this time………..
• Bible Challenge– This is Trivial Pursuit for the Bible, and because of that I’m not a huge fan, but it’s a good way to test your Bible trivia knowledge……  Though it can drag after awhile.
• Soul of the Empire– can you take over the Roman empire, it’s an asymmetrical game with up to 5 players possible.

Rome to Reformation History Games

• Viking Voyages– learn about where the Vikings sailed while playing games
• Conquest of the Empire– Can you take over the Roman Empire?  This is a game Jeff owned when we started dating, that he’s want to play for years, but it’s a 2-hour game, and it’s high intense strategy, so not one to play with your young kids.  Jeff is still waiting to play it with me……..

Renaissance to Age of Reason History Games

• Age of Exploration Dice Game– This is a quick game I made to review and simulate what the Age of Exploraiton was like
• Shogun– This is another of Jeff’s strategy games.  You are a Daimyo in feudal Japan and are trying to secure the most land/power.  From what I’m reading it’s similar to Puerto Rico in play.
• Nine Men’s Morris– This was a popular game during the Elizabethan era, and it helps to learn about the culture and time period if you know what they did during their free time.
• Inuit blanket game– What better way to learn about a people group than to learn how they entertain themselves, and any young active child will love this game.
• Rio Grande Games Princes of Florence– You’re a prince (young nobleman) in Florence, Italy during the Renaissance.  You want to be shown as the best patron of the arts, so you’re building out your villa to get the best and brightest artists to join you.  Another strategy game for junior high/high school.  Maybe upper elementary.
• Fresco Board Game– You are an Italian painter and you’re trying to get the best patrons and make the best paintings.  To do that you need to mix the best paints, be seen in the right places, and finish your painting at the right time.  It’s a lot of fun, and I look forward to playing this with my kids in a few years (read junior high).
• Privateers and Spanish Galleons– Learn about pirates, sea tides, and more using this game created by Phyllis over at All Things Beautiful, this is designed for upper elementary.
• The Voyage of the Mayflower board game– discover the dangers that came with crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower.
• Carcassone– This is a great game to play as you work on what is needed for a thriving city, there are several different expansions and variations you can play with this game, and I’d highly recommend this game once your kids are about 5 years old.
• Settlers of Catan– A great game to teach the principles of exploration, and how to manage your resources as you explore.

Revolutions to Rising Times History Games

• Made for Trade– I learned about this from Phyllis over at All Things Beautiful.  This is a great game to learn about life during colonial times and what you had to do during that time.  I very much like that it has different levels of difficulty, so there was a very easy version we played with our kids, but there is a more difficult version you can play with older kids or adults.
• Lewis and Clark expedition– We loved learning about them, and I think next time around my kids will enjoy playing this game.
• Empire in Arms-You are striving to take over Europe during the Age of Napoleon.  Will you use diplomacy, war, or subterfuge to gain your ends?  This game is out of print, so it will be hard to find, but it’s a great game to look at the “Age of Empires,” as battles are fought and waged.  I’d say you need to be junior high or high school to play this.  It takes  a lot of strategy and thinking through.
• Battle of the Alamo Simulation– This is not a traditional game, but a war game, and my kids really learned what it was like in battles when their figures “died.”  It made a big impact.
• Transamerica-If you’ve ever ridden on a train for a long distance you’ve wondered why I have to go to from Austin Chicago, AND then Denver.  This game will make it perfectly clear to you.  It’s because the owner of the train had certain points they were hooking up, and they didn’t build a single track they didn’t have to.
• Civil War card game– Play the traditional game of war with Civil War weapons
• First Battle of Bull Run-Another battle simulation, I have found these to be very effective to teach my kids what really happened in war.
• Axis and Allies: 1941 – This game is a great one for an in-depth study of World War 2, there are several different versions of this (1941, 1942, D-Day), all of which will give you a very solid understanding of World War 2.  This is a long term game, and not intended to be played in a single night.  Not for young kids, you want a high schooler or very focused middle schooler playing this game.
• Which is bigger?- Learn about the sizes of different army groupings (squadron, platoon, etc) with this fun card game.
• Vintage 1968 ACQUIRE- Greed is good said the movie, and that’s the idea behind this game.  I haven’t played it yet, but it’s been on our game shelf for years (it’s one of Jeff’s super strategy games, that intimidated me when we were first dating).

American History Games

{most of the American history games I put in their chonrological order, but I had a few that did not fit properly}

• Presidents Guess Who– What a great way to review your presidents without overwhelming the kids.
• Democrazy Board Game Don’t Break the Rules Make Them– If you’ve ever thought the laws Congress passes are insane, well you just need to play this game, and it will all make sense to you.  I love this game, it’s a blast, but you need to be a strong reader to play this.  You have to read the laws and understand it.  I’d say upper elementary.  I can’t wait to play this with my games.
• Oregon Trail Dice Game
• Great Depression Dice Game

For more game ideas to play with your family, check out my pinterest board:

• Day 1:  benefits of using games in school, and links of other reasons to play
• Day 2: Active Games/Outdoor Games
• Day 3: Preschool Games
• Day 4: Reading Games
• Day 5: Math Games
• Day 6: Geography Games
• Day 7: History Games (you are here)
• Day 8: Science Games
• Day 9: Travel Games
• Day 10: Solo or Two-Player Games
• Cooperative Games (clearly I need to write this)