Games That Let You Overthrow Governments in Real Time

Video games frequently let players fulfill the exciting fantasy of taking down unfair governments and freeing people who are suffering. Many games challenge you to lead rebellions, either through careful planning and fighting, or by causing widespread chaos. You get to be the hero who starts a revolution against oppressive dictators and armies. Here are fifteen games where you can directly participate in overthrowing governments.

‘Just Cause 3’ (2015)

In this action-packed game, you play as Rico Rodriguez, who returns to Medici, his home country, to overthrow a cruel dictator. Developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix, the game lets you explore a huge open world using a grappling hook and wingsuit to take down military bases and structures. Your goal is to free the island nation of Medici from the control of General Di Ravello by liberating towns and outposts.

‘Red Faction: Guerrilla’ (2009)

In the game Volition and THQ’s Red Faction, players can realistically demolish buildings on Mars thanks to impressive physics. You take on the role of Alec Mason, fighting with the Red Faction to defeat the controlling Earth Defense Force. The game’s Geo-Mod 2.0 engine lets you destroy almost anything, disrupting the enemy’s supply lines. By completing missions and weakening the EDF’s control, you inspire the population to revolt and liberate different areas.

‘Far Cry 6’ (2021)

In this action-packed shooter from Ubisoft Toronto, you’re dropped into the vibrant but troubled Caribbean island of Yara. You play as Dani Rojas, joining the rebel group Libertad to overthrow the oppressive rule of Antón Castillo. The game focuses on resourcefulness – building weapons from whatever you can find and using vehicles to take on a powerful army. As you fight for freedom, you’ll need to rally different groups and ultimately launch an assault on the capital city, experiencing a complex story about revolution along the way.

‘Half-Life 2’ (2004)

Valve’s acclaimed game casts players as Gordon Freeman, a scientist who unexpectedly becomes the leader of a rebellion against the oppressive Combine. Set in and around the city of City 17, the game depicts humanity’s fight for freedom under an alien occupation. Players use the famous Gravity Gun to interact with the world and join forces with other rebels in large-scale battles. The game’s climax involves a direct attack on the Citadel, aiming to overthrow the Combine’s human administrator, Dr. Breen.

‘Homefront: The Revolution’ (2016)

This open-world shooter, created by Dambuster Studios and published by Deep Silver, imagines a future where a united Korea controls the United States. Players take on the role of resistance fighters working to liberate Philadelphia, using hit-and-run tactics to disrupt enemy patrols and repurpose Korean technology against them. As you complete missions and sabotage the occupying forces, you’ll inspire the local population to rise up and join your fight.

‘Freedom Fighters’ (2003)

IO Interactive created this team-based shooter, which gained a dedicated following thanks to its easy-to-use command system. Published by Electronic Arts, the game puts you in the role of Christopher Stone, a plumber who leads the fight against a Soviet invasion of New York City. You begin with a small team and build up to commanding large groups of rebels, capturing key locations across the city. The game effectively portrays the feeling of a growing rebellion as you take back landmarks and plant the American flag.

‘Dishonored’ (2012)

Okay, so I’m playing this awesome new game, Dishonored, and it’s seriously cool. You’re Corvo Attano, and basically, someone framed you for killing the Empress, so you’re out for revenge in this plague-infested city called Dunwall. The best part? I can play it how I want. I can go in guns blazing and take everyone out, or I can be a total ghost and just mess with the bad guys politically, without killing anyone. And get this – the more I kill, the worse things get for the city. It’s called the Chaos system, and it actually changes the ending based on how violent I am. It’s a really unique system and makes you think about your choices!

‘StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty’ (2010)

Blizzard Entertainment created a campaign where you command Jim Raynor and his rebel group, Raynor’s Raiders. The story centers on their fight to defeat the oppressive Emperor Arcturus Mengsk and his Terran Dominion. Between battles, you’ll manage resources and improve your army from the Hyperion, a powerful spaceship. The game combines a thrilling sci-fi war with a complex political story, as you reveal the government’s wrongdoing to the galaxy.

‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

BioShock Infinite takes players to Columbia, a stunning city in the sky, in this story-focused, first-person shooter. You play as Booker DeWitt, who is tasked with rescuing a woman named Elizabeth, but quickly finds himself caught up in a fierce conflict between social classes. As you play, you’ll see the Vox Populi rise up and violently overthrow the city’s original, religious leaders. The game powerfully shows the messy and often brutal realities of revolution – how replacing one government with another can be a chaotic and violent process.

‘The Saboteur’ (2009)

This action-adventure game, developed by Pandemic Studios and published by Electronic Arts, is set in Paris during World War II under Nazi occupation. Players take on the role of Sean Devlin, an Irish race car driver who joins the French Resistance to disrupt German activities. As you liberate areas of the city, they visually come back to life with color. The game focuses on completing missions like destroying key structures and eliminating German officers to rally the people of Paris and encourage them to fight for their freedom.

‘Watch Dogs: Legion’ (2020)

In Ubisoft Toronto’s game, set in a futuristic London, you can recruit anyone you meet to join DedSec, a hacker group fighting for freedom. You play to free the city from the control of Albion, a powerful private military company. Each new member of your team brings special abilities to help you break into secure locations and reveal the truth about the city’s corrupt surveillance system. As you liberate different areas and win over the public, you gradually weaken Albion’s control.

‘Assassin’s Creed III’ (2012)

In Ubisoft Montreal’s game, players step into the role of Connor Kenway, a half-Mohawk assassin, during the American Revolution. The game portrays the hidden conflict between Assassins and Templars as the American colonies fight for independence. You’ll be involved in significant historical battles and tasked with taking down important Templars who are secretly controlling the British army. The story explores the difficult meaning of freedom while you aid the Patriots in their fight against British rule.

‘Wolfenstein: The New Order’ (2014)

MachineGames brought the franchise back to life with this action-packed shooter. Set in an alternate 1960s, the game imagines a world where the Nazis won World War II. Published by Bethesda Softworks, you play as B.J. Blazkowicz, working to reignite the resistance. Your mission takes you across Europe and even to the moon to eliminate key Nazi leaders and sabotage their advanced technology. The game features thrilling combat and a story centered around dismantling the totalitarian regime’s control.

‘Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction’ (2005)

The game, developed by Pandemic Studios and LucasArts, takes place in a chaotic North Korea. As a mercenary, you’re sent to hunt down the 52 leaders of the North Korean military – known as the Deck of 52. You’ll navigate a world with different factions and can even call in large-scale airstrikes to destroy cities and military installations. Your mission is to overthrow General Song and stop a potential nuclear war.

‘inFAMOUS Second Son’ (2014)

Developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony, this game puts you in the role of Delsin Rowe, a superhero with newly discovered powers. Set in a quarantined Seattle, you’ll battle the Department of Unified Protection (DUP), taking down their command centers and revealing the harsh tactics of their leader, Augustine. Your decisions will shape the fate of the city – will you become a celebrated hero, or a ruthless oppressor?

Please tell us which revolution you enjoyed leading the most in the comments.

2025-12-11 22:16