Part of what makes video games such an exciting form of media is that they have the ability to explore any kind of story that’s imaginable. Sometimes these ideas involve a completely original fantasy world, but there are other titles that set themselves far within the future or make science fiction their priority.
Video games continue to explore the unknown, but there are now also many titles that are just as interested in digging into storied time periods from history. There’s value to be found in a game that can accurately recreate events from the past. The 1970s is a popular decade that’s still featured a lot in media, but there are also a number of video games that use this retro time period for inspiration.
10 The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter takes a unique approach to the horror genre with how it mixes the standard tropes with a huge open world environment and adventure game mechanics. Set in 1973, the game follows a paranormal investigator on his mission to solve the mystery of the death of the Carter family, but the title gives the player lots of freedom with how they go about this. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter includes smart puzzles and stealth elements as well as paranormal components to better dig into the mystery. It's an adventure that will quickly consume the player.
9 Starsky & Hutch
Video games have a long history with adaptations of popular TV series and movies, many of which turn out to be a mixed bag. Starsky & Hutch is a little surprising as a PlayStation 2 title, but it's not the worst idea. The series translates well into a vehicular combat title that's set within the series' '70s-based universe. Starsky & Hutch isn't going to beat something like Grand Theft Auto, but it incorporates steering wheel and lightgun peripherals in a smart way that actually adds a lot to the experience.
8 Battlefield Vietnam
The Battlefield series has been going strong for decades and for many PC gamers they're some of the best first-person shooters that turn towards historical accuracy. Battlefield Vietnam is only the second title in the series, but it already establishes many of the staples of the series.
Battlefield Vietnam features a wealth of different maps that explore the different terrains of the Vietnam War and the game adds in many contrasting weapons, too. The game is even full of extra touches like how the radios in vehicles will play period-appropriate music.
7 Evil Genius
There are plenty of video games that have found creative approaches for the real-time strategy and simulation genres, but Evil Genius finds an idea that's genuinely unique and fun. The title draws its inspiration from the spy thriller genre of cinema and the player controls a villainous organization whose ultimate goal is global domination. Evil Genius has a fantastic sense of humor, but it's a great change of pace to be in control of the villains. The title is set within a heightened alternate version of the 1960s and '70s, which allows Evil Genius to fully embrace its parodies.
6 Team Fortress 2
The Team Fortress series has seen a fascinating life, initially beginning as a mod for Quake before Valve capitalized on its success and turned it into its own series. Team Fortress 2 is over a decade old, but it still gets a lot of acclaim for how it helped multiplayer first-person shooters. Consistent mods and updates allowed Team Fortress 2 to evolve and remain relevant. Players love Team Fortress 2 because of its community, mechanics, and characters, but the game's vision of the 1970s is also a fun aspect of the title.
5 70's Robot Anime Geppy-X
70's Robot Anime Geppy-X is a more obscure title for the original PlayStation, but it’s an absolute delight and features the kind of reflexive premise that’s a lot more popular now. The title is a sidescrolling shooter that’s set in an alternate version of the 1970s where mecha reign supreme.
70's Robot Anime Geppy-X isn’t just a loving tribute to anime and the mecha genre, but it’s also a wild and entertaining game. The title’s electric sense of energy, smooth gameplay, and exaggerated bosses all make 70's Robot Anime Geppy-X stand out.
4 Steel Panthers II: Modern Battles
What can currently be achieved in video games that are set during wars is truly amazing and there have still been ways to innovate the formula and bring more to the genre. War games were restricted to tactical and simulation games back during the ‘90s, but the Steel Panthers series are some of the most impressive of their kind. Steel Panthers II: Modern Battles improves upon its predecessor and is one of the most acclaimed war titles of its generation. It helped examine many ways from the ’70s with a more strategic and tactical perspective than how games currently operate.
3 Remothered: Tormented Fathers
Remothered: Tormented Fathers is the first title in a trilogy of survival horror games that are some of the most unnerving and thought provoking titles of their genre. The psychological horror game centers around Rosemary Reed, a woman who's in search of her missing daughter and enters into a mysterious mansion. Tormented Fathers isn't just set back in the '70s, but it draws many of its inspirations from horror films of this genre, especially the works of Dario Argento. Remothered: Tormented Fathers is filled with eerie tension and surprising plot twists that will keep the player entertained.
2 Leading Company
There are a number of fascinating games for the original Nintendo console that just didn't seem to have enough mainstream appeal to make it over to America. Leading Company is a strategy title from Koei that's like a blend between Sim City and an economics class. Players have to create a dominant business empire in Japan during the advent of VCR and VHS technology. Players can set the game in the 1970s or the 1980s and deal with the changes in technology that have happened as a result. It's a very creative take on the strategy and sim genres.
1 Rising Storm 2: Vietnam
There are plenty of shooters that have made the Vietnam War their settings, but Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, manages to stand out among its competitors. Rising Storm 2 tries to create a tense experience that's as authentic as possible and details like bombs going off will keep players on their toes more than the standard shooter. The Rising Storm series are also first-person shooters that put a focus on tactical gameplay. It's not enough to just be a good shot, but the game pushes players to outsmart their opponents and work harder to get their victories.