The 1900s from an abstract strategy perspective

So it’s on to the 20th century in pursuit of abstract strategy game greatness.

This was supposed to be the list which created headaches. I initially expected a long list of fine games to consider.

But, that was not exactly the case. I imagine, upon some reflection, the reason for fewer games than I anticipated had to do with two great wars, and the depression, a trio of world altering events which would have thwarted a lot of game design efforts for three decades. Although you will note the top game on the list is from 1930, so as in most things, there are exceptions.

The late 1960s through to the early 1980s was also a black hole for games. Certainly many were made with pasted on TV-series tie-in themes, from Man From U.N.C.L.E. to Bonanza, most with now nostalgic box art, but in terms of game play they were abysmal.

The number one game mentioned above as being created in 1930 is Camelot. I still rate this game as top-10 of all time for the abstract strategy fan, and the old boards are great with their soldier and knight pieces. You can also find this gem in a nice wooden piece reprint called Inside Moves.

Chase slots in at number two, and is the best use of dice I’ve run across. There is a lot of depth with this one, and some really nifty mechanics, although the learning curve is a bit higher than say checkers.

Lines of Action by Canadian designer Claude Soucie by contrast to Chase has a very simple rule set, yet it has depth that leaves you wanting to play again and again.

Epaminondas and Omega Chess, the latter also by a Canadian designer; Daniel MacDonald, round out the top five.

Abalone, comes next, and one abstract strategy game my son likes, is a marble fest that happens to look fantastic on a table.

Entrapment, a beautiful wooden game, Terrace, a game seen on Star Trek the Next Generation, Hex, the granddaddy of connection games, and Pente a game many will have tried, round out the top-10.

Gipf, the first of a series by Kris Burm is 11th. There are six games in the Burm series, the rest releases since the start of 2000. All are very solid games, although Gipf is perhaps underappreciated.

Gounki is my wild card pick. Not as well-known as the games above it, there is a lot to offer here with cool movement mechanics.

If you are into a Baker’s Dozen I would say Amazons, a game I myself am less high on, gets a lot of love out there, including from my son, so is worth a mention.

A couple of quick add-ons that I at least considered were; La Trel, Checkers 2000 (released 1999), King’s Court and Kendo.