Combining strategic gameplay with some brilliant detailing, historicalboard gameshave got to be one of the most immersive tabletop experiences of all time. These games put players right in the middle stressful war scenarios and royal decisions, needing them to think on their feet and make some important decisions.
With detailed maps and really thorough backstories, historical board games take you back to completely different time period. Whether you want to build a society from scratch, bring it to the modern era from sticks-and-stones or narrowly escape nuclear warfare, it can all be done here.
Twilight Struggle
Spy games.
Set right in the middle of the Cold War, Twilight Struggle is a two-player game. It is card driven and has the players play as the United States and the Soviet Union, constantly trying to one-up each other (no suprises there).
Twilight Struggle typically plays out over ten rounds with each round representing a decade of the Cold War. Players, playing either as the United States or the Soviet Union, make choices to influence countries and manage resources.
With both sides trying their best to dominate territories, organize military takeovers, and carefully avoid nuclear war, this game guarantees about two hours (give or take) of great strategy and maybe even a fun history lesson!
Brass: Birmingham
No Peaky Blinders involved
Playing Brass: Birmingam puts players right in the middle of the Industrial Revolution, having them manage resources and build infrastructure while competing to be the successful entrepreneur at the end of the game.
The sequel to the wildly popular economic strategy game Brass (2007), Brass: Birmingham takes you back to 18th and 19th century Britain. This game is divided into two eras : the Canal Era and the Rail era, where players get victory points depending on how much they’ve contributed. This fantastic combination of city building and player interaction makes Brass: Birmingham a must-have for tabletop enthusiasts.
Civilisation : A New Dawn
For the video game fans.
In this tabletop version of Civilisation, players take on the roles of leaders who guide and expand their empires through the ages.
Starting off in 4000 BC, players act as ancient tribal leaders who explore new territories, invest in military units like archers and chariots and strategize to assert dominance. As the game travels through eras like the Classical, Medieval and Renaissance, newer strategies and possibilities emerge. Your primitive tribes will grow into incredibly powerful empires, as long as you ensure that your opponents aren’t building their civilizations too.
Through The Ages: A New Story of Civilization
A trip down historical lane.
Racing through ages of advancement, Through The Ages encourages players to build civilizations with a balanced combination of battlefield brilliance and technological advancements.
Want to build world wondersandinvent the printing press in one brilliant civilization-building game? We’ve got just the thing for you. This one has got it all. Gnarly wars? Check. Major economic swings? Check. Era appropriate technology upgrades? Double check!
Players are expected to balance multiple aspects of civilization like population, culture, military strength and happiness and carefully prioritize their resources to build a stable society. Looking for something a bit more layered? You might enjoy our list of dopestrategy board gamesinstead.
Gutenberg
Hot off the press.
This game is a fun little tile-laying game where players compete to produce the most popular books and attract important nobles and patrons.
This game is truly one of a kind. Players compete for book contracts and, subsequently, approval from powerful patrons by stacking up tiles with different colors and symbols. The nobles' favor is good for more than just social clout, by the way.
You could end up getting some special bonuses and abilities which would definitely help you one-up your opponents. This whole book-production theme gives you an immersive and unique experience, which gives it a lot of repeat value.
Concordia
Caesar for a day!
Set in Ancient Rome, players win Concordia by establishing trade routes, managing resources and economy and basically building flourishing societies.
Let’s travel back to the Mediterranean coast, as players take on the roles of Roman traders and diplomats looking to set up settlements. Even though players compete against each other to make a quick buck while keeping trade stable, they can’t really do that without cooperation and negotiating for resources and transport. All in all, Concordia is a pretty cool game for both newbies and seasoned tabletop enthusiasts and promises some fun times.
FAQ
What is a historical board game?
A historical board game is based on or inspired by actual historical events. They usually include elements like resource management, strategy, diplomacy and negotiation. They could also include fictional premises set in periods of historical conflict.
Are historical board games educational?
They totally can be! Since they usually include themes, settings and characters, players can play in a completely different time period while also learning about it.
Can children also play historical board games?
The rules of some of these games, or the themes they are based on, may not be suitable for younger players. However, there are many games that are specifically designed for families and younger children.
