Independence Day video games: 5 perfect games for July 4th weekend

America celebrates 250 years of independence this year, and you’ve probably already noticed. The milestone is a sufficiently big deal that currently, you can even buy themed American Dew at the local grocery store. Red, white, and blue have rarely felt so special.

Gamers don’t have to miss out on the celebration. Although the number of patriotic games released over the years is surprisingly low given how much exciting stuff (including combat!) happened during the nation’s struggle for independence, there are some terrific titles we can play from now through July 4 and beyond to really get into the spirit of things. Here are five games to turn to first as you make the most of the anniversary celebration.

1 Liberty or Death (1993)

In a text box overlaying a map of districts in the colonies, a general asks for directions on where to transport regiments.

Image: Koei Tecmo

Before the Dynasty Warriors games proved history makes great fodder for action games, Koei spent years building a name for itself as a leading strategy developer. Although best known for games featuring the likes of Genghis Khan and Nobunaga, sometimes the publisher explored less common fare, including the American Revolution with Liberty or Death.

Developed at the company’s North American subsidiary by Stieg Hedlund and team, Liberty or Death dives into the American Revolutionary War. Players choose between George Washington or Thomas Gage and work to secure the thirteen colonies. Gameplay explores the conflict’s political and military aspects, requiring one to closely monitor a whole pile of numbers.

The game even supports multiplayer with a single controller. You’ll want to find a friend who doesn’t mind spending a lot of time on menus, though. If such an individual proves elusive, the computer is ready and willing to put up a fight for the dozens of hours you may need to commit to see events through to their conclusion.

To play Liberty or Death now, you must either emulate or track down an old copy for the SNES, Genesis, or MS-DOS. The game also was released in Japan only for the PC-98.

2 Assassin's Creed 3 (2012)

assassin-s-creed-3-4.jpg

Until Assassin’s Creed 3, the franchise didn’t venture across the Pacific Ocean. By then, players had come to love Ezio Auditore. It was a bit of a shock for players to step into the shoes of Connor, a noble Assassin born in the Colonies who works against the Templar forces that are trying to control the New World he calls home.

Assassin’s Creed 3 explores expansive environments, including the frontier with its forests, cliffs, rivers, and settlements. There’s a lot of wildlife to live alongside, and to hunt, and combat even takes to the sea, a new gameplay element that Ubisoft would revisit in the decidedly naval Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

Because the game lets players romp through historical locations such as Boston and New York City, Assassin’s Creed 3 does double duty as a virtual tour of the American Revolution. It covers both the war for independence as well as the tumultuous times immediately surrounding it, along with memorable events in the modern era as recurring protagonist Desmond Miles.

In a twist, Assassin’s Creed 3 received an expansion, called The Tyranny of King Washington, which examines an alternate history wherein a corrupted George Washington names himself king. He then must be overthrown by the heroic Connor. It’s an interesting reminder of how much is at stake when leaders abandon the ideals that led to their power.

3 Empire: Total War (2009)

Developed by Creative Assembly, Empire: Total War is the fifth installment in the overall Total War franchise. It has since been rebranded to Total War: Empire. Whatever you call it, the game lets players lead armies in different parts of the world in the 18th century, both at land and at sea (with naval combat appearing in RTS glory for the first time in the franchise).

Numerous countries enjoy detailed depiction, with a special campaign devoted to the Americas. It focuses on Jamestown and events that followed in the American Revolutionary War. In particular, look forward to the Battle of Brandywine Creek, an important battle fought by George Washington and the American Continental Army against British forces. As with Liberty or Death, the game offers more than just combat. Turn-based play outside of battles allows players to rely on diplomacy, espionage, and even economics to help turn the tide of the war.

Available now in a definitive edition on Steam, the game also has an expansion pack called The Elite Units of America, which presents 15 new units spread across the relevant factions of the war (American, British, and French) that are perfect for the game’s popular multiplayer modes. But even without that additional content, players should have no trouble directing history’s heroes from the comfort of their gaming chairs.

4 Saints Row 4 (2013)

Most of the games on this list focus on the history of the American Revolution, largely as the history books tell us it occurred. But independence is also the freedom to imagine threats that may never come to be. Video games sometimes picture such possibilities, and one of the wildest of those is Saints Row 4.

Imagine a world where aliens have invaded and the President of the United States is the one in charge of leading the resistance. Or, don’t imagine it and just start playing, because Saints Row 4 is that game. As the final proper installment in the series, it went off the rails at every opportunity, providing satire with teeth. The ESRB warns users to expect blood and gore, intense violence, partial nudity, strong language, and even drug use, most of which you wouldn’t find anywhere near the office. But the Boss of the Saints isn’t your typical politician.

Saints Row 4 originally released on hardware that most people no longer keep hooked up to their television sets. But before Embracer shut down developer Volition, the team released updated versions of some of its past hits. Saints Row 4: Re-Elected is currently available for Switch and PC. Given its relatively low MSRP, the game just might be the perfect way to celebrate 250 years of freedom.

5 Fireworks Mania (2020)

Fireworks light up a city skyline as a character watches from the ground.

Image: Laumania

Nothing says “patriotism” like explosions in the sky. Bright lights and the faint smell of smoke, shortly followed by the wail of fire engine sirens, have been alarming pets and delighting children almost since the nation was founded. In 2020, they became the subject of Laumania’s delightful ode to frayed nerves, Fireworks Mania.

The Steam listing for Fireworks Mania describes it as “an explosive simulator game where you can play around with fireworks.” It boasts community-hosted games, as well as a workshop with community items comprising maps, props, characters, and more fireworks.

Fireworks Mania employs a physics-based system that allows your fireworks to go a bit sideways. In theory, the goal is to set up an amazing display in the night sky, and that’s certainly possible. It’s also possible you’ll send a shell into your garage door, or cause a suburban eyesore to go up in flames.

The 250th anniversary of the United States of America is a good time for somber reflection on everything the nation has meant for so many years, but it’s also an opportunity to cut loose and have a little fun, especially when you can do it virtually and without harm to health or personal property. With five great games at your disposal, most of them quite large, you can start playing now and keep going through the last dregs of the celebration.

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