On March 9th, Netflix added the final season of The Last Kingdom, a historical fiction series based on The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. Since 2015, The Last Kingdom has gripped fans worldwide, giving us romance, gore, and betrayal in the same episodes, as the series explores the relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. Even though The Last Kingdom won’t be returning for a sixth season, the streaming service is developing a feature-length sequel called ‘Seven Kings Must Die.’ The sequel is something historical fiction fans can look forward to, though filming is still ongoing in Hungary. In the meantime, there are other ways period piece fans can fill this gap. In particular, the gaming industry has dozens of historical fiction games to play, which is better than starting a new series as the gaming experience is far more interactive.
Historical Entertainment That’s Not TV
Certainly, the video game industry has produced historical-based games, including the Assassin’s Creed franchise, which covers Vikings and Greek mythology. However, an underrated gaming niche is the iGaming sector, where players can find bingo and slot games based on history and famous folklore, and mythology. For instance, a popular series in the bingo online sphere is the Age of the Gods franchise, which covers Greek mythology and features legends like Zeus, Aeolus, and Medusa. The franchise also has games based on Norse mythology. The good thing about historical and mythological bingo games is that individuals can accumulate bonuses and play for real money, whereas historical video games are purely for entertainment purposes.
Regardless of whether you play casino games or video games, historical and mythological-themed games are a great way to fill the gap when our favorite shows are on hiatus. Or, in the case of The Last Kingdom, in production for a feature-length sequel instead of another season. However, it does bring up the question of why, in this day and age, we are still watching and producing shows, movies, and games based on periods that we will never truly understand, no matter how many books we read or artifacts we uncover.
Why Do We Like Historical Pieces?
The reality is, there are many reasons we like historical fiction, including fashion, which is one of the reasons Netflix’s Bridgerton became such a hit. However, psychologists also believe period pieces, even those with more elements of fiction than truth, ignite feelings of nostalgia and allow us to experience moments of history. Historical movies, shows, and games are also great learning opportunities for viewers to get a visual glimpse into what once was, which isn’t always possible when reading novels or textbooks.
Something’s changed…
Season 5 lands on our shores on March 9th. Are you ready? #TLK5 #TheLastKingdom pic.twitter.com/jX5q410urF— The Last Kingdom (@TheLastKingdom) February 9, 2022
Knowing this, it’s no surprise that The Last Kingdom ran for five seasons and still has fans asking for a sixth. While it’s unfortunate the show has ended, there is still the sequel to look forward to. For those who don’t want to wait, know there are other industries, especially the iGaming sector, that have capitalized on this interest in history.
“Creator. Troublemaker. Hardcore alcohol lover. Web evangelist. Extreme pop culture practitioner. Devoted zombie scholar. Avid introvert.”