Games That Add Fun to World History
Are you studying world history this year? Or doing a unit study on ancient Egypt, Rome, or WWII? I’ve got a big list of history board games to add hands-on, fun learning in your homeschool.
Choose a regular game day to incorporate weekly or monthly games as part of your history curriculum, or play these on family game night.
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Ancient History Board Games
In this category, I include everything up to the middle ages, using the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. as the general cutoff.
7 Wonders: Players lead a great city of the ancient world and work to build an architectural wonder
Concordia: Expand your Roman dynasty to remote realms
Imhotep Builder of Egypt: Players become architects of Egypts ancient monuments
Fall of Rome: Attempt to stop the invading horde seeking to destroy the Roman Empire
Professor Noggin’s Ancient Civiliations: Trivia card game
Tigris and Euphrates: Players build civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia. (Your best bet for this one is Ebay)
Medieval History Board Games
The games in this category cover from 476 A.D. to about 1400 A.D. and the beginning of the renaissance era.
Carcassonne: A strategy game in which players develop a medieval fortress city.
Castles of Burgundy: Detailed strategy game set in medieval France
Orléans: Players seek to gain supremacy through trade, construction, and science in medieval France
Outmatched: Medieval History: Card game useful for reinforcing detailed historical information
Pax Renaissance: Players are European bankers who seek to build their business and exert influence over the course of history
Voyages of Marco Polo: Players begin in Venice and embark on one of many journey options based on the adventures of the famous explorer (check ebay for stock)
Early Modern & Modern History Board Games
This group includes everything after the middle ages or medieval times.
Brass: Birmingham: Set in the Industrial Revolution, players must build and develop their industry
Friedrich: Players maneuver their generals from city to city just before the Seven Years War
Newton: Players seek to become the most eminent scientist in the world
Pax Pamir: Players become Afghan tribal leaders after the collapse of the Durrani Empire
Twilight Struggle: 2-player game recreating the Cold War conflict
WWI and WWII Board Games
Axis & Allies 1942: Strategy game where players take command of WWII forces
Conflict of Heroes: (Awakening the Bear – Operation Barbarossa 1941, Storms of Steel – Kursk 1943, Guadalcanal – Pacific Theater
Diplomacy: Players seek to expand their empires in pre-WWI Europe
Memoir ’44: Command WWII armies seeking to achieve victory
General History Board Games
There are a number of games that span world history across these arbitrary categories. Those board games are listed here.
Age of Civilization: Civilization-building card game with many different scenarios to allow for replayability
BrainBox World History: Trivia & memory card game covering historical figures and inventions
Chronology: Compete to build the correct timeline of events
Historical Conquest – A Journey Through Time: Card game to learn history while having fun. Add-on decks for additional time periods
Journey Through Time Eye Found It: Find hidden objects throughout time
History of the World: Create an empire across the history of the world
Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization: Begin with a small tribe and expand to construct a great civilization
Trekking Through History: Travel through history to see as much as possible before time runs out
History Games for Homeschool Fun
Whether you want to supplement your world history curriculum with hands-on activities, or your kids just love board games, games are a fantastic way to create deeper connections with the material.
Many libraries offer board games to check out to anyone with a library card. Check to see if your local library system has a game you’re interested in as a way to “try before you buy!”
If your family enjoys games as a way to enhance learning, you may want to look for Facebook groups dedicated to gameschooling also.
Your kids may prefer strategy games over trivia games, or vice versa. Give some of these history games a try and make history engaging and entertaining rather than dry and dull.
Visit my homeschool resources page for monthly unit study ideas, projects, and homeschool planning help!
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World History Board Games for Homeschoolers
