‘Today we celebrate our Independence Day!’ Well, if you’re a resident of the United States, you might be. It’s coming up to the 4th of July, or, depending on when you read this list, it might have been and gone. Who knows? But what follows for now is the ultimate list of the most patriotic games you can play this July 4th.
If you’re willing to explore some satirical takes, dystopian parodies, and over-the-top machismo in the name of the United States of America’s 250th birthday, the ‘semiquincentennial’, then the following list of games is exactly what you need.
Read on to scope out the most patriotic games you can play this 4th of July.
Best Games to Play to Feel Patriotic
Here’s the all-important list!
1. Fallout 76 (MMORPG)
Fallout 76 is arguably one of the most patriotic games ever made, but you might not realize it at first blush. In this game, you assume control of a Wastelander exploring the post-apocalyptic mess that is America after the bombs have fallen, but it’s all themed around the tricentennial, which is the USA’s 300th birthday (2076, right?)
It’s all based around rebuilding America after the end has come, leaning on do-gooder survivors who grew up in a vault underground to do the heavy lifting, cleansing the wasteland of nasty mutants and raiders. It’s steeped in Americana, has plenty of politics at play, and even has cannons, fireworks, and outfits you can wear to actively celebrate the 4th of July!
2. Assassin’s Creed 3 (Open-World Action)
Assassin’s Creed 3 is, for some, the best entry in the legendary open-world action series that debuted more than twenty years ago. It’s set in the American Revolution, and you assume control of Connor, a half-Native young man who stumbles upon an ancient assassin order after his life is dashed to pieces.
While Connor doesn’t fully fall in with George Washington’s Continental Army, he does spend a fair portion of the game supporting them, and the setting and events that players experience take them to the heart of the foundation of these great United States of America.
3. The Division 2 (MMO)
The Division 2 is technically another post-apocalyptic shooter, this one based on the concept of a biological weapon being unleashed in the United States to bring the country to its knees. You play as a Division agent, a sleeper agent hidden amongst the populace to rise and fight back in a situation like this.
As an MMO, The Division 2 is built on a multiplayer-focused platform, which means you’ll bump into others trying to restore order in Washington DC as you explore the game. It’s lengthy, challenging, and boasts high levels of customization, multiple ways to play, and it’s still being updated by Ubisoft today, almost seven years after launch.
4. Homefront: The Revolution (FPS)
Homefront: The Revolution isn’t the most critically-acclaimed game to make this list, but it has that patriotic vibe front and centre through the entire gameplay loop. In this game, you find yourself amid a resistance group trying to reclaim American independence from an invading and occupying Korean military force.
If you’ve ever liked anything like Red Dawn or Freedom Fighters back in the day, or if you were a fan of the original Homefront game from 2011, you’ll probably enjoy The Revolution. It’s a rough-and-ready guerrilla title where you play the scrappy underdog trying to liberate your people and your country, and it’s super cheap to buy right now.
5. Red Dead Redemption (and 2) (Open-World Action)
The frontier, the Old West, the Pioneer era, whatever you call it, you’ll find it best in Red Dead Redemption, and the iconic sequel that was released in 2017. In this game, you can ride a horse across the open plains, take on bandits with a slew of legendary weapons, and hunt, fish, rob, and fight your guts out. It’s freedom personified.
It might not be that patriotic, given that the people you play as are fighting back against the establishment and The Man, but the birth of the US identity is rooted in this period, and a cowboy tale is as American as apple pie, as they say!
6. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (FPS)
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus might not be the best place to start the series, but it’s the best game for those looking for a dash of patriotism in their gaming habits this 4th of July. In The New Colossus, you assume control of the notorious B.J. Blazkowicz, fighting on home turf against the fascist occupation of the United States.
It’s brutal, alternate history at its finest, and it’s a scary picture of what might have been if things had worked out differently some eighty years ago. It’s riddled with Americana and gives you a sense of fighting for what’s right, and that’s the liberation of your once-great nation.
7. Broforce (Run and Gun)
Broforce is no-holds-barred action that sees players control a ‘bro’ out to save other ‘bros’ and wreak absolute havoc on the world around them. It’s a side-scrolling, run-and-gun title with high-octane energy and destruction aplenty, and it’s the best parody going that’s a self-declared ‘ode to freedom’.
It has even been dubbed ‘the most patriotic game’, and in Broforce, you’ll eviscerate anyone who dares threaten freedom and democracy, all while using rippling muscles to wield impressive weaponry and special abilities.
That’s my pick for the most patriotic games you can play this 4th of July. Let me know if you’ve got better picks on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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