The Fight for Freedom Rages on!

As India gears up to celebrate 65 years of freedom, the feeling of patriotism may be strong in you today. If you’re feeling particularly rebellious and the need to liberate stuff, we’ve got a few games lined up for you that could cure that itch.

Freedom Fighters (PC PS2)

Fighting for freedom

Yes this one’s an oldie but Freedom Fighters was one of the first games I played that made me feel like I was actually fighting for a cause. As Christopher Stone, an ordinary plumber living in New York City, players were forced to defend their country against invading Russian forces. Being the leader of this resistance, it was up to the players to round up the troops and liberate New York bit by bit from the Red army. Doing so improved their Charisma that in turn allowed them to recruit even more freedom fighters till all of NYC was Soviet free.

Homefront (Xbox360 PS3 PC)

Home is where the heart used to be

Even though Homefront was not the greatest game ever made, it did have one thing going for it and that was its gripping plot. Right from the start, players witnessed the oppression laid out by a united Korea as it violently and ruthlessly invaded America. You watched in horror as parents were brutally murdered in front of their crying child or corpses were just dumped into a football field like garbage. It was a stark reminder that war isn’t pleasant making the act of picking up a weapon a meaningful one.

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The Saboteur (Xbox360 PS3 PC)

Celebrate freedom - with color

Of all the games present on this list, The Saboteur is the only one that depicted oppression in the game world visually. Areas under a Nazi influence were depicted in black and white but as soon as the game’s protagonist Shaun Devlin liberated them from the Third Reich, color was restored to them as a symbol of hope as well as a celebration of freedom. Even though the game was essentially a revenge saga, the way it tied in the Nazi rule into the game world made it a unique experience. 

Just Cause 2 (Xbox360 PS3 PC)

Freedom by any means

Just Cause 2’s fictitious island of Panau is a gorgeous tropical paradise. Unfortunately it’s also being ruled by an iron fist thanks to its oppressive rotund leader, “Baby” Panay and as Rico Rodriguez, it’s your job to liberate it at all costs. If this means marching into an enemy base with rebels only to blow it sky high with a turret gun you just ripped off from its stands seconds ago, so be it. In order to overthrow Panay, players had to perform ludicrously entertaining tasks for three factions present throughout the island. Doing so ensured their loyalty to you which at the end of the day would be instrumental in dethroning Panay.

Red Faction Guerilla (Xbox360 PS3 PC)

Viva la revolution

It’s the year 2012. Life on Mars isn’t what it used to be ever since the EDF (Earth Defense Force) converted the planet into one gigantic slave ship. As Alec Mason, a member of the Red Faction, it’s up to you to overthrow the oppression so Mars can enjoy some semblance of freedom once again. To eventually drive away the EDF from the planet, players must systematically reduce their influence in a particular area by not only completing missions but violently ripping apart their bases, brick by brick. This was possible thanks to the game’s Geomod engine that enabled some highly satisfying and cathartic environmental destruction.

Half-Life 2 (PC)

It’s a hard knock life in City 17

Considered by many as one of the best first person shooters made till date, Half-Life 2 thrust players into City 17, a dystopian and bleak city that was being ruled by alien forces called the Combine. As the silent but totally badass Gordon Freeman, players embarked on the struggle of their lives to unshackle City 17 from the Combine’s oppressive rule. Helping them along the way were an interesting cast of characters from the Lambda Resistance that included many of Freeman’s Black Mesa co-workers.

Note: The game’s available on the PS3 and Xbox360 as part of the Orange Box.