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War! What is it Good For?
Hello game fans. I recently compiled a list of four/five player strategy games that work well (if not better) at a two player count. That got me thinking about other games I enjoy in a one-on-one setting. So, I'm back to present another selection of games that are great for two. This time my choices share a theme - War.
To some, the mention of "war games" conjures images of large, complex games that eat up entire days. If that is true for you, bear with me! Whilst that is the reality for some titles, it's not so with those in this selection. My aim is to highlight lighter games that bridge the gap between the heavier aspects of war gaming and 'mainstream' games.
I have chosen four favourites from my gaming group, that offer interesting, engaging, and fun, head-to-head gameplay. These are all games designed primarily for two, and, with one exception, can be played within an hour.
Undaunted Normandy
Player Count: 2 | Complexity: Low | Released: 2019 |Average play time: 45 min
First up is a deck-builder, with elements of area control and squad based combat. Undaunted Normandy is presented as twelve scenarios for you to play through, based on events from World War II. In each scenario, one player will take control of the 30th, and the other will command the German forces opposing them. The scenarios can be played singularly, in any order, or strung together to form a campaign.
During a scenario, players aim to move their squads around the board to secure objectives and suppress opposing forces. A Squad is represented on the board by a single marker, and a number of corresponding cards in the player's deck. Your deck is central to driving gameplay; it is through playing cards that you will influence the board state.
With the exception of 'fog of war', which slows your deck down, each card depicts a solider at your command. Every solider has between two and four actions, depending on their rank/class (e.g. Rifleman, Scout, Platoon Sergeant). During your turn, you play as many cards as you wish, from your hand, completing one action from each card. Actions allow you to move, fire, remove cards from your deck, or draft cards from your supply, etc. The cards you draw will determine your immediate plan, because certain actions can only be completed by a specific class. Scouts must recon an area before any other unit can move in, and only Rifleman can take control of an area. This makes for interesting gameplay in which both players will be forced to adapt their plans and work with the resources to hand.
Undaunted Normandy is a well designed game I think will appeal to a broad range of gamers. Gameplay is engaging and has enough depth to keep you coming back for another go.
Wings of Glory
Player Count: 2+ | Complexity: Low | Released: 2012 | Average play time: 30 min
Wings of Glory is a miniatures game focused on the aerial combat of World War I & II. Players take control of one or more airplanes and engage in dogfights, or attempt to complete specific missions. The game is played with model planes on 1/144 scale, each with its own deck of movement cards.
Set up is as simple as defining the play area and setting your planes onto their stands. To play, three movement cards are selected (in secret), for each plane, and laid out by the plane. Simultaneously, players reveal the first card for each plane, and move the models accordingly. A range check is then made; any planes within range on an opponent can open fire. Cards are drawn for planes receiving fire to determine damage and any effect on the plane that attacked. This process is then repeated for cards two and three. Once all planes have been moved three times, players return the movement cards to their respective decks and repeat the process.
Play continues in this way until the victory conditions have been met; in a straightforward dogfight, the last plane in the air is victorious. Wings of Glory is a fun, strategic two player that can be scaled quite easily - either by introducing more planes per player, or more players. The game can be fun with teams of players pitted against one another, but be warned, more planes generally means more chaos!
Whilst the game focuses on historic combat from the two world wars, a sci-fi themed game variant is also available. H.G. Wells fans can pick up the Tripods and Triplanes set, which introduces the Martian Tripods from War of the Worlds. This introduces a new element to gameplay and can be a fun way to mix things up.
Memoir '44
Player Count: 2 - 8 | Complexity: Low | Released: 2004 | Average play time: 30 - 60 min
Memoir '44 is arguably the most approachable member of the 'Command & Colors (C&C) family of games', with the widest appeal. The 'C&C family of games' is a term commonly applied to games that are based around the C&C game system.
The system is recognisable for utilising battle dice and a shared deck of command cards. The battle dice enable combat to be resolved efficiently. The command cards form the game engine, driving movement and providing orders for Units. They also serve to create a fog of war effect which adds to the realism. Games utilising the C&C system also have a game board that is a hex grid. This grid is divided into three sections: Left flank, Centre, and Right flank.
The Memoir '44 base game provides you with everything you need to play through sixteen re-playable scenarios. The scenarios are based on engagements between Allied and Axis forces in the latter half of 1944, on the Western front. Like other games on this list, scenarios can be played singularly, in any order, or strung together to form a campaign.
Gameplay is efficient and engaging, enabling you to concentrate on the action without getting bogged down in detail. Each turn, the active player must play a command card from their hand and activate units (in line with the restrictions on the card). Your options will be limited by the cards you hold. This can be frustrating, but it helps prevent the game stalling by focusing you on a handful of potential moves. Memoir '44 is a great introduction to the C&C game system. It's a solid all round game, with ongoing publisher and community support. Replay value can be increased by picking up expansions to add more units and scenarios.
Commands & Colors : Napoleonic's
Player Count: 2 | Complexity: Medium | Released: 2010 | Ave play time: 90 minutes
The last game on my list is one I like to play whenever the opportunity arises. Napoleonic's has been my favourite war game for some time. It's more complex than the other games I've discussed here, with a notably longer play time. But if you play and enjoy Undaunted or Memoir '44 (especially the latter), this one is worth a look.
Like Memoir'44, gameplay is built around the popular C&C game system, familiar to fans of Red Alert and Battlelore. For me, Napoleonics is the best thematic fit for the system. The mechanics lend themselves brilliantly to replicate the combined arms tactics (Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery) of the time.
C&C Napoleonic's enables you play through simulations of key engagements between the forces of Imperial France and other major powers of the day. The focus of the base game is confrontations between The First French Empire and Great Britain. Fifteen scenarios are included, showcasing engagements from Rolica in August 1808 to Waterloo in June 1815. Expansions enable you to field the Spanish, Russian, Austrian, and Prussian armies in an array of additional scenarios.
Setup does take some time, but when you're ready, game play is intuitive and flows well. A turn consists of playing a command card, activating eligible units, moving, and firing. Combat is resolved by dice roll. The number of dice rolled is based on the unit firing, and modified by distance from the target, and terrain. At first, players will be making regular use of reference charts to determine movement and combat modifiers. However, that information quickly sinks in, allowing you to focus on the board and become engrossed in the action.
Napoleonics is a stand out game from the C&C 'family'. I highly recommend it to anybody looking to try a war themed game.