eSports Matches for Games Set in Historical Times

Historical video games, set in times long ago, have become increasingly popular among gamers who have developed their own fanbases, driven by a healthy love of both history and gaming.

This phenomenon has gone mainstream and expanded to other mediums. Historical themes are by far the most prevalent in mobile online casino gaming, where the games span from ancient Egypt on The Wings of Ra, to the Aztecs via Aztec Spins, all the way to the gold rush by swinging by The Last Chance Saloon. Historical board games come in at a close second, with titles like Castles of Burgundy, Parlov's House, and The Republic of Rome gathering a niche following.

Perhaps you're into these kinds of games and now want to watch them played competitively - or even take part. With this in mind, we've reviewed the best historical games that are regularly played in eSports matches. Here are our picks.

1. League of Legends

League of Legends (LoL) is one of, if not the single most popular eSports game out there. Although the 2009 game is set in a fantasy land, it is thought to take place in the 14th century, and includes ancient champion characters like Bard and Aurelion Sol. In addition, the vast majority of LoL weapons are historical, including the bow and arrow and gun powder.

Players form teams of five, and two of these teams play against one other in this epic free-to-play computer game. LoL eSports matches have been taking place for 10 years now, and as of 2016, over 4000 players took part each time. There's a wide variety of different tournaments, all taking place in different countries and/or regions.

2. Dota 2

Dota began as a spin-off mod for the game Warcraft III. Since then, its popularity has enabled the franchise to rapidly expand. Ironically, League of Legends, now far more popular, was inspired by Dota 2. Dota 2 is similarly set in a fantasy, historically inspired universe that has medieval towers, runes, and also includes historical weapons like swords and axes.

The game is a team vs. team game, just like LoL. Dota 2 has, however, slowly become the most lucrative eSports game thanks to its crowdfunded aspect, which sees jackpots sometimes rising to more than $40 million. Players can also become very famous in the Dota 2 world, giving them a significant amount of influence.

3. Age of Empires II

This classic game from the Age of Empires franchise, which started in 1997, is set over the course of several different "ages", from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age. Unlike LoL and Dota 2, AoE II can be played player vs. player, but also in a team vs. team mode. As a player, or a team, moves through the various ages, they use evolving building materials and structures.

These range from wood to stone, and from farms to lumber camps, with the latter being relatively more modern as the years in the game quickly progress. Although not as popular as the other games, AoE II still attracts players from around the world. Due to the format of the game itself, games can go on for a long time. In fact, two streamers, Rubenstock and Andre_2i, playing in February 2022 managed to make their game last for a total of 97 hours.

So, if you'd like to expand your historical gaming horizons, we hope this article helps you do that and that you find your new favorite game.

What century will you wind up in?