War, strategy, and survival are all themes that feature heavily in our culture be it through the film, video gaming or board games. Board games have been around for thousands of years, a lot longer than video gaming but the desire to pit your wits against an enemy is stronger than ever. Here we take a look at some of the best war/strategy board games throughout history:
Chess
The top spot has to be awarded to the game of Chess. One of the oldest strategy games that’s still loved and played today right across the globe. It’s also the most played game far more than any other strategy-based board game. Focus, concentration and a good dose of lateral thinking are all required to protect your Queen at all costs.
Risk
A world domination game where you must defend your territories, win troops and attack your opponents in this quick-thinking board game. Do you have what it takes to take over the world with cunning, deception and the ability to forge allies with other players? Perhaps you’d like to try a real-life battle simulation in the form of a Tank Driving Day at https://www.armourgeddon.co.uk
Axis and Allies
These were a series of board games about World War Two featuring the five major world powers and their struggle for ultimate power. The gameplay was predominantly about grand strategic planning. In 1996, the game was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame. A very successful game, the play could last for anywhere between 2 and 10 hours!
Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage
Defend the Roman Empire against attack in this excellent depiction of the Second Punic War. Quite a complex card-based game best played with two players over the age 14. Enter your own version of this epic battle of the ancients with strategic cards that enable you to move generals, reinforce armies and meet on the battlefield.
Battleship
A classic childhood favorite played by millions, logic, and focus is the name of the game to identify the location of your enemy’s ships on the game board. When you get a hit, place a peg in the corresponding grid position and try to sink the rest of the ship. The first person to sink all their opponent’s vessels wins the game.
Checkers or Draughts
This is a simplified version of the game of Chess. The objective is to protect your King in this version. Two players go head to head in a game of diagonal moves across the board where jumping an opponent’s game piece means a capture of that piece. Only the dark squares are used and a piece may only be played diagonally into an empty square.
Memoir ‘44
Another World War II themed game, this game was the official board game of the 60th commemoration of the D-Day landings and France’s liberation. There are more than 15 battle scenarios and a double-sided board for the beach landings or for land combat. It can be played with between 2 and 8 players, can be finished within one hour and is not overly complex so suitable for the 8 plus age group.