5 Games to Celebrate This Independence Day in Style

America is currently ringing in its 250th anniversary of independence, and you have likely noticed the wave of red, white, and blue sweeping through everything from local store shelves to limited-edition branding. It is a monumental milestone, and it feels as though the patriotic spirit is at an all-time high.

For gamers, this milestone serves as the perfect excuse to revisit titles that capture the grit, conflict, and fervor of the nation’s journey. While it is surprising how few games have tackled the American Revolution directly, there are some standout experiences that perfectly complement the spirit of the holiday. Here are five essential titles to help you celebrate the anniversary in style.

1
Liberty or Death (1993)

Image: Koei Tecmo

Long before the Dynasty Warriors series turned historical figures into action icons, Koei was already a titan in the strategy genre. While they are most famous for their epics centered on Genghis Khan or Nobunaga, they occasionally veered into Western history, most notably with the tactical gem Liberty or Death.

Helmed by Stieg Hedlund and his team at Koei’s North American branch, this title offers a deep dive into the Revolutionary War. Players take control of either George Washington or Thomas Gage to manage the thirteen colonies, balancing the complex web of political intrigue and battlefield logistics. It is a numbers-heavy experience that demands patience and focus.

The game even features a single-controller multiplayer mode, though you will need a patient friend willing to navigate through dense menus. If you prefer to go it alone, the AI provides a formidable challenge for the dozens of hours required to see history through to its conclusion. To experience it today, you will need to seek out a copy for the SNES, Genesis, or MS-DOS, or rely on emulation.

2
Assassin’s Creed 3 (2012)

Before Assassin’s Creed 3, the series stayed firmly in the Old World. The transition to the American Colonies was a bold shift, introducing us to Connor—a stoic assassin caught between his heritage and the looming threat of the Templars. The game presents a massive, immersive frontier filled with dense forests, winding rivers, and bustling settlements.

This title effectively functions as an interactive history lesson. Between navigating the streets of Boston and New York City and engaging in early naval warfare, the game captures the tension of the era while weaving in the modern-day mystery surrounding Desmond Miles. Don’t miss the Tyranny of King Washington expansion, a fascinating alternate-history scenario where a corrupted George Washington seizes the throne. It serves as a stark, gripping reminder of the fragile ideals that defined the nation’s birth.

3
Empire: Total War (2009)

Creative Assembly’s Total War: Empire is widely regarded as a pinnacle of 18th-century warfare strategy. It allows players to command massive armies across both land and sea, marking the first time the franchise successfully integrated complex naval combat into its real-time engine.

The campaign focusing on the Americas is particularly engrossing, covering the struggle for independence from the early days at Jamestown to pivotal clashes like the Battle of Brandywine Creek. Beyond the battlefield, you must master the art of diplomacy, economic management, and espionage to secure victory. Available as a definitive edition on Steam, the title remains a must-play for anyone who wants to orchestrate the grand strategic maneuvers of the American Revolution from their desktop.

4
Saints Row 4 (2013)

While most entries on this list aim for historical accuracy, Saints Row 4 celebrates independence in the most absurd, irreverent way possible: by putting the President of the United States in the middle of an alien invasion. This game is pure, unadulterated satire.

If you want to experience the “freedom” of a sandbox where you can fight extraterrestrials with superpowers while occupying the Oval Office, this is your best bet. It is over-the-top, chaotic, and entirely unapologetic. Thanks to the updated Re-Elected version, you can still easily jump into this frantic ride on modern hardware like the Nintendo Switch or PC, making it a delightfully strange way to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

5
Fireworks Mania (2020)

Image: Laumania

What is an American celebration without the thunderous roar of fireworks? Since the country’s inception, we’ve enjoyed lighting up the night sky, much to the chagrin of local pets and the delight of everyone else. Fireworks Mania is a physics-based simulator that turns this pastime into a hilarious, explosive sandbox.

Whether you are meticulously planning a professional-grade display or accidentally setting a suburban garage on fire, the game is pure fun. With community-created content available through the Steam Workshop, there is endless potential to customize your celebration. It’s the perfect, low-stakes way to cap off the 250th-anniversary festivities from the safety of your own living room.

Source: Polygon