The Soviet Union is, in fact, a behemoth. Its large territory spans across Eurasia, making it the largest land country. Unfortunately, this gargantuan does not live long enough, and it merely survived for a single human lifetime.

Even though the Soviet Union is short-lived, during its reign it has carved many important histories. Its histories have inspired many writers and artists to create their piece of art, including video games. 

There are so many video games that set in the Soviet Union, both in real history or the alternate ones. Do you want to know which games that set there? Here are Top 5 video games set in the Soviet Union that you should play!

1. Kholat

Some of you might have heard about the 1959’s Dyatlov Pass incident where nine out of ten students are found dead in the mountain. That incident occurred in the northern region of Ural mountains, known as Kholat Syakhl, or “dead mountain”. 

The Ural mountains held some mysteries that still unsolved to this day. If you’re curious here are some mysteries surrounding the Ural mountains that you must know! And if you want to know more about mysterious places aside from the Ural, here are some more mysterious places in Russia for you to discover.

This horror survival game is inspired by that incident and took the mountain name as its title. This game will give everything that you can get from horror games. The terror, mystery, desolation, and eerie sound effects would make you feel the haunting chills.

When you play this game, you have to pay attention to your surroundings in search of pathways and clues. It is easy to get lost in this game, and it makes this game more challenging.

Aside from video games, the Dyatlov Pass incident has inspired a Russian director to make a film about it. The film itself is known to be one of the best Russian horror films.

2. Spintires

Back in the Soviet era, most road systems are poorly maintained. Roads are still littered with holes and covered in muds. But that doesn’t make an aspiring trucker from continuing his journey. After all, a straight and smooth road doesn’t make a skillful driver.

In this game, you can play as a driver of a truck or other off-road vehicles from the Soviet era. Your mission is to complete your delivery from one end to another and earn cash in return. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Russian wilderness while driving your vehicles. The game’s graphics are made in proper details, so it would make you feel that you are in the game’s world.

Despite all of the beauties, don’t let the stunning scenery distracts you. A good truck driver should always pay attention to the road, right? Once your vehicles stuck in the mud, you’ll know that challenges are about to begin. You have to understand a little bit of physics to play this game, as the mud mechanics are almost as real as in real life.

Being stuck in the terrain is a real risk in this game, and you have to prepare for other plans to complete your missions. But in case you can no longer proceed the mission, this game provides you options to switch your vehicle in singleplayer mode, or ask for other player’s help in multiplayer mode.

This game also could (arguably) make you a better driver. So if you or your friends drive like some Russians did, consider playing this game beforehand.

3. Command and Conquer: Red Alert Series

From its first installments to its third ones, Command and Conquer: Red Alert series gave a major influence in Real-time Strategy games development. 

The game sets in an alternate reality wherein the first installment, Nazi Germany have not risen into power to challenge the Soviet Union. Without any significant challenge from central Europe, the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin launched a massive scale invasion to all Eastern Europe countries and to China, capturing them in the process. This military campaign is launched in order to achieve Stalin’s dream of unified Eurasia under one rule.

In response to the military acts, the United States and its allies started a war to retaliate against the Soviet expansion, therefore starting an alternate World War 2 where the Allied force fights against the Soviet Union.

The second game installment revolves on a similar plot, continuing the war between the Allied Forces and the Soviet Union. While in the third installment, we were introduced to the third world power, the Empire of the Rising Sun.

4. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad 

This game is a first-person shooter game sets in the Eastern Front during World War 2. There is no plot in this game since the game was meant to be played in a competitive multiplayer game rather than a story-driven singleplayer. But after all, playing this game in singleplayer is available.

In this game, you can play as a soldier from the Red Army or as the Nazi German. The battlefield sets are varied, mostly sets in Soviet territory. The battle is very realistic and dynamic. It feels like the battlefield revolves around you. There is no HUD which indicates your health bar and how much ammo is left in your gun.

You can also hear your character’s breathing when aiming his gun, seeing your target fell as the bullet makes it way out of his body, and many more realistic features that make you feel like you’re in the battle. 

5. Call of Duty 2

By playing this game, you will be put in the shoes of some soldiers from the Red Army, the British, and the American. Every character has their own story which takes place in several theaters during World War 2, from Europe to Africa.

The first chapter of this game is the Red Army campaign where you will be put in the shoes of Pvt. Vasili Ivanovich Koslov, a conscript soldier from the Red Army. When you play as him, you have to fight off the Wehrmacht from invading your Motherland during the historical Battle of Stalingrad.

If you have watched Enemy at the Gates film, there is a mission inspired by the film where you have to snipe German targets. The film also introduced a Soviet sniper named Vasiliy Zaitsev, a real Soviet hero during the war times.

There, top 5 video games set in the Soviet Union that you should play. These games are good for you if you have plenty of time to kill, or if you want to escape from your daily routines once it gets too boring.

If you are too lazy to learn Russian history from books, you can play these games to learn it. Most of these games have some historical value that you could learn while playing. And also, it is always fun to protect the Motherland, even in a virtual world.