A Beginner's Guide to Wargames: More Accessible Than You Think
Modern wargames explained for board gamers curious about the genre — what they are, how they work, and gateway titles that won't overwhelm you.
Wargames have an intimidation problem. This genre conjures images of 600-counter games spread across dining room tables, 40-page rulebooks referencing terrain modifiers and combat results tables, and 8-hour sessions where setup alone consumes the first hour. That reputation isn't wrong — those games exist — but the best entry point is finding wargames that feel like strategy games you already love.
If you enjoy strategy games like Root, Twilight Struggle, or even Risk, you're already closer to wargaming than you think — the genre is far broader and more accessible than most board gamers realize.
Skip the monster games with thousand-piece counters until you've found your wargaming legs — they're impressive shelf pieces but terrible teachers.
Asymmetric woodland warfare where each faction plays by entirely different rules.
- Incredible replayability through faction asymmetry
- Beautiful art and production
- Deep strategic interaction
- High teach time — 30+ minutes
- Unbalanced at 2 players
- Requires commitment from the whole group
Prices checked Mar 2026
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