The beauty of video games is that they can be set in different genres or time periods and can deliver an unending amount of experiences. There are plenty of popular science fiction games taking place in the future and high fantasy titles taking players to new worlds.
In addition to that, indie game and AAA blockbuster developers and creators have delivered historical fiction and non-fiction taking place during time periods people are familiar with to some extent. The 17th century may not sound like an interesting time to the uninformed, but this part of human history was full of exploration, discovery, evolution, and conflict.
7 Age of Empires III
Now, Age of Empires III doesn't begin in the 17th century, but throughout the player's journey, they will exist throughout that period as their civilization evolves and progresses through the years. Specifically speaking players start at the end of the 15th century, with the timeline ending near the end of the 19th century.
The game provides the player with a choice of fourteen different unique starting civilizations to choose from, offering plenty of replayability. A definitive version of Age of Empires III was released in 2020 by Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios in an attempt to provide a more modern experience for fans of the series.
6 Soul Calibur V
Outside of the Soul Calibur fandom, most people view the legendary fighting game series as an entity that exists outside of time. Funny enough, the fifth installment in the Soul Calibur series takes place during the early years of the 17th century. In some ways, the initial plot of the series was similar to that of Mortal Kombat in that dozens of characters were competing for a singular goal.
Soul Calibur V is much more of a family affair with the two main characters being the children of the classic Soul Calibur series character Sophitia. Since the release of Soul Calibur V, the series has seen a soft reboot that focused on introducing new players to the story and history of the series in an accessible manner.
5 New World
New World is a game released by Amazon Games in late 2021 that happened to be a massively multiplayer online game set in an alternate history 17th century. Players are tasked with taking their future into their own hands and must work toward building a life filled with victory and reward.
It takes place on an island called Aternum, which from a technological standpoint is pretty similar to historic 17th century, but is filled with mysterious living creatures more closely related to high fantasy worlds. As with most MMO games, it's constantly evolving and changing over time. Despite a strong player base at launch it's seen dwindling numbers since launch but has retained a good amount of returning players looking to build their legacy during the 17th century.
4 Dandara
Dandara is an indie game developed by Long Hat House and is a 2D platformer described as a Metroidvania-type experience. The game's title is a reference to an Afro-Brazilian warrior of the same name who existed in Brazil during the colonial period which took place in the 17th century. Dandara was nominated for "Portable Game of the Year" at the 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and is considered a must-play for mobile device gamers.
This positively praised indie title isn't the only game featuring this historical figure as Dandara is a Great General in one of the downloadable content packs players can get in addition to their copy of Civilization VI. There are plenty of historical figures worth learning about, and Dandara happens to be one that deserves the time and attention of audiences. It also doesn't hurt that the games featuring the warrior are critically well-received and rather entertaining as well.
3 Disney's Pocahontas
Disney's Pocahontas animated movie, which took place during the 17th century, is rooted in a lot of mixed feelings from audiences based on the subject matter, character choices, and overall perspective. Despite all of these problematic issues, it still offered audiences a glimpse at Native American/Indigenous culture, with a generation of kids becoming endeared to Pocahontas, her people, and her animal companions.
It's also considered to have one of the best Disney animated soundtracks of all time. To no one's surprise, a licensed game for the movie was made for the Sega Genesis and Game Boy, based on the movie. The 2D platformer was released back in 1996 and received mostly positive reviews from critics.
2 Nioh
Nioh, developed by Team Ninja, is a stylistic action role-playing game that's similar to titles like Dark Souls but has its unique take on the subgenre. Taking place in the 17th century, the atmosphere and environments in the game are aspects critics applauded Team Ninja for. The antagonistic forces in the game are mostly spiritual and/or demonic and offer a mesmerizing visual feast for players.
Nioh currently sits at an 88 on Metacritic and is considered a must-play for anyone interested in Souls-like games. It's rather difficult, though, so players should be prepared for the challenge they're taking up when deciding to hop into the world of Nioh. It also has a sequel for those looking to get invested in a new captivating series.
1 Monkey Island
The entire Monkey Island series takes place in the Caribbean during the 17th century. This period is perfect for telling pirate stories and fits the type of vibe Ron Gilbert wanted in his comedic point-and-click adventure games. Return to Monkey Island, the newest game in the series, was released in 2022.
Despite the game featuring a brand new art style, Ron Gilbert delivers a story following the events of the previous games, featuring new and returning characters. It's available on all major modern gaming platforms and still takes place during the 17th century.