In case you missed it, last year Ade and Jim ran a successful crowdfunding campaign for their first book, Playing With History, based on the popular feature series we’ve been hosting on TSA for nearly a decade now, putting historical video games under the spotlight.
From cinematic samurai epics like Ghost of Yōtei to world-conquering strategy games such as the Total War series, they explore a wide spectrum of titles, including AAA blockbusters, indie gems and everything in between. Playing With History is set to feature over 200 pages and will be available both physically and digitally.
If you haven’t reserved a copy of the book already, you have just a few days left to make a late pledge via Kickstarter, whether you want a digital, paperback, or hardcover edition. Playing With History will start shipping worldwide in late May 2026.
Since the crowdfunding campaign, the project has grown in its scope and ambition. Instead of adapting a collection of existing articles for print, Ade and Jim have filled the book’s pages with new, original deep dive features and interviews. You can preview some of those interviews here:
- Nioh 3 Interview – Exploring the hit series’ historical fantasy fusion
- From Sports Sims to Strategy Kings: The Total War Story
- Skull and Bones – How Ubisoft found fun in the Golden Age of Piracy
We also have a Playing With History preview that is free to download and read here.
Playing With History Archive
- The Mad Mythology Behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is steeped in Persian mythology
- Wo Long and why games love The Yellow Turban Rebellion
- Battlefield V And The Women Soldiers Of WW2
- Why are Viking video games so popular right now?
- Asssassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC – what was The Siege of Paris?
- The missing history of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Ghost of Tsushima and the real world history behind Sony’s latest PS4 exclusive
- Ubisoft on history and creating new heroes in For Honor
- Kratos vs. Norse Mythology
- Wolfenstein And The Third Reich’s Paranormal Activity
- What’s Next for God of War?
- Dissecting The Setting Of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Just How Accurate Was Far Cry Primal?
- Dissecting Assassin’s Creed Origins’ Historical Background
- Fossil Hunting With Reptoid Games
- Investigating Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Seeking the Shinobi secrets of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Jurassic World Evolution And Tyrannosaurus Rex
- The Impressionist Art Of 11-11: Memories Retold
- The Unbelievable Weapons Missing From Battlefield 1
- 11-11 Memories Retold And The Human Cost Of WWI
- Playing With History – Days Gone And Zombie History
- Radio Commander and the challenges of historical authenticity
- Cutting into Story of a Gladiator
- Illuminating the insane game world of Inkulinati
- How HOOD: Outlaws and Legends is playing with history and fantasy
- Dealing With The Burden Of Command
- The forbidden gay love of Sundown: A Dunkirk Story
- How the past helped build Lamplight City
