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Published Jul 4, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
Dive into one of these five games to get the fireworks started.
5 games to celebrate this Independence Day in style
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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
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.
2 Assassin's Creed 3 (2012)
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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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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