If there’s one thing I’m looking forward to in the coming months, it’s a chill night in with my mates. It feels like eons since we last gathered ’round a table, watched Netflix or sunk hours into a board game.
I can’t remember the last time I played a board game in person, not over Zoom or something. Those are fine – I had fun, but they just don’t compare to playing a game with friends in the flesh. Especially a strategy board game that may make certain members of your party (me) super competitive. It’s all part of the bonding experience, if you ask me.
Add in some snacks, a couple of drinks, and plenty of news to catch up on in-between games, and you’ve got yourself a 10/10 night.
So in the spirit of coming back together again after months to ourselves, here are three strategy board games to go absolutely ham on.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
From the minds at Avalon Hill comes the second edition of the dearly beloved Betrayal at House on the Hill narrative board game. Where else would I begin?
This tile game gives players the power to build their own haunted house, room by room, tile by tile. It’s designed for three to six players, ages 12 and up, with each person playing one of six possible characters.
But one of the characters is persuaded by spooky forces to betray the rest of the party, and the innocent players must defeat the traitor before it’s too late. Dun, dun, dun!
Suspenseful and strategy-based, this game comes complete with detailed character cards, pre-painted plastic figures, and special tokens. One play-through takes about 60 minutes, with 50 different scenarios all up.
Betrayal at House on the Hill is easily one of the most popular strategy board games out there, so this is the perfect game to introduce newcomers to the genre. You can see more of it in our recent unboxing video below.
Axis & Allies 1942
For those who love period films set smack bang in the middle of war, I give you Axis & Allies 1942. Set in the titular year, players will command both your country’s military forces and its wartime economy, with the chance to plan attacks, assemble forces into embattled territories, and resolve conflicts. History buffs can play as the UK, US, Soviet Union, Germany, or Japan.
Victory is yours if you conquer your opponents on the battlefield and liberate (or occupy) cities. I can think of at least three people I know who would happily sit around this strategy board game, exchanging suspicious glances with each other for hours on end.
This second edition of the Avalon Hill strategy board game features 400 pieces, including an Antiaircraft Artillery combat unit, UK artillery, submarine, and destroyer model units. Plus, German artillery and a Russian sub sculpt too.
Make sure you have plenty of room to play though, because this tabletop board game measures 40″ x 26″, which is about 100cm x 66cm.
This baby is best played with two to five players – ages 12 and up – and the playtime is around four hours, so settle in.
Risk Legacy
In Risk Legacy, every game that’s played will change every future game. Now that’s a game-changer (sorry). A decision you make in Game 1 could come back to haunt you in Game 10, so think extremely carefully about every move you make. Once again, it’s all about the strategy in Risk Legacy.
Every player will get to shape how their world evolves in this game – I’m talking its history, cities, factions, and how they fight. Unlock new rules and watch events unfold as players win multiple games. Rules, cards, and stickers will come into play… and then go out of play forever.
This game is a more involved version of the classic Risk strategy board games, focusing on an immersive narrative experience for maximum fun.
Risk Legacy is great choice for your next game night, for both newcomers and strategy board game enthusiasts. It’s best suited to three to six players – ages 13 and up – and takes only an hour to play.
For more strategy board games from Avalon Hill, aggressively click right here.
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