5 Best Video Games To Play During The Fourth Of July

Independence Day is one of those distinctly American holidays with its own set of clear aesthetics and pastimes. These patriotic summertime tropes have carried over to numerous video games over the years. Whether revisiting key moments in American history or satirically poking fun at overt jingoism, these games heavily revolve around Americana in their own way. You don't have to be patriotic to enjoy games that visibly incorporate those tropes but nevertheless, they excel at reflecting the spirit and atmosphere of the Fourth of July.

From first-person shooters to strategy games, there are plenty of titles thematically linked to Independence Day. These games celebrate and/or skewer American archetypes while providing thrilling gameplay experiences to fans of all nationalities. No matter the imagery, these games are an enormous amount of fun in their own right, with the Americana just helping set the scene. Here are the best video games to play that'll get you some digital patriotism.

When it comes to subverting and satirizing common tropes, including classic Americana, few franchises do it better than "Fallout." Evoking 1950s iconography within a post-apocalyptic vision of the United States, the entire "Fallout" story mixes sci-fi action with a dark sense of humor. The series 2008 installment, "Fallout 3," is set in and around the ruins of Washington, D.C., centuries after the world was devastated by nuclear war. The player character emerges from a fallout shelter in the region, searching for their missing father while contending with mutants, roving raiders, and other wasteland threats.

With its national capital setting, "Fallout 3" is the entry that evokes the series' tongue-in-cheek jingoism most saliently. The game even goes as far as to include a communist-crushing super robot named Liberty Prime, though Bethesda did remove the White House from its vision of D.C. The shift to a first-person perspective for a mainline installment is a welcome one, providing a much more immersive experience than its predecessors. A thorough revival of the series, "Fallout 3" leans into the national imagery of its setting, albeit through the franchise's signature post-apocalyptic lens.

Sega's "Total War" series has highlighted conflicts throughout history and iconic pop culture settings since 2000. For the franchise's 2009 entry, "Empire: Total War," the series focused on dueling factions throughout the 18th century. This includes the Revolutionary War between the British Empire and its North American colonies in real-time strategy skirmishes. The game's story campaign chronicles the creation of the United States, from English settlers in the early 17th century to the Seven Years' War culminating in the American Revolution.

To be clear, players have many more options in "Empire: Total War" than reliving the conflict between the Continental Army and British military. However, this particular war is handled especially well and with the engaging strategic gameplay the series is known for. The game's scope is increased considerably while DLC expands the North American theater, especially in regard to the continent's various indigenous communities. An ambitious translation of the series to global conflicts spanning from the 17th to 19th centuries, "Empire: Total War" is the franchise title best suited for Independence Day.

The most iconic American archetype is the Wild West cowboy, representing the hardscrabble frontier spirit that the country still prides itself on. When it comes to the Western genre, it doesn't get any better than Rockstar Games' "Red Dead Redemption" titles. While the record-breaking "Red Dead Redemption 2" may be the series' high point, we recommend going back to play the 2010 original. Set primarily in 1911, the game follows former outlaw John Marston as he's coerced into hunting down the surviving members of his old gang.

"Red Dead Redemption" has always been a celebration of the Western genre, even as the series has undergone a stunning transformation. The 2010 original game wears its influences on its sleeve, providing an immersive open-world depiction of the last days of the Old West to explore. We recommend playing the original game first because, even though "Red Dead Redemption 2" is a prequel, it feels weird to start out the gameplay experience with the 2018 title. A sweeping saga and requiem to an archetypal American era, "Red Dead Redemption" remains Rockstar's masterpiece.

The original main "Assassin's Creed" storyline and the saga of Desmond Miles came to an end with "Assassin's Creed 3." Set primarily during the American Revolution in the 18th century, the game follows Miles' ancestor Connor during the conflict. Connor faces his evil father Haytham Kenway, who tries establishing a dominant Templar presence in North America. This leads the young man to brush shoulders with many pivotal historical figures during the era, including George Washington, Sam Adams, and Ben Franklin.

With its richly realized Revolutionary War setting, including period-accurate depictions of New York City and Boston, "Assassin's Creed 3" is as Independence Day-coded as the series gets. The game refines all the expected gameplay mechanics from the preceding titles, while making Connor his own distinct character, drawing from his indigenous heritage for his combat and tracking skills. The title feels like the natural conclusion to the story that began in 2007 while remaining a fantastic entry in the wider series. Rife with colonial Americana during the events that inspired Independence Day, "Assassin's Creed 3" is an overlooked entry nowadays.

Really, any number of "Civilization" games could go here, but "Civilization 6" goes the extra mile. The 2016 title continues the turn-based action that the franchise is known for, with different nations growing and developing technology while competing for global domination. One of the factions in the game are the Americans, led by either Theodore Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln, each with their own bonuses. There are different ways to beat "Civilization 6," including military conquest and political influence.

If you're looking to celebrate America, especially in direct competition with the rest of the world, "Civilization 6" offers its own fun twist. This isn't done in an overly jingoistic way, at least no more than any other rival nation. "Civilization" always had a bit of rah-rah energy to it, and "Civilization 6" offers some of the most feature-rich gameplay of the series. Conquering the world for the red, white, and blue, playing as the Americans in "Civilization 6" is the way to go.