@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I'm hitting the age of 14 where I don't quite know what I want to get for events like Christmas and my birthday, of course I'm a little too old for some toys that I used to like but don't really have interested anymore, and I've always enjoyed world war ii. Because of this I gotten into board gaming and have now taken to watching videos like this and spending my allowance and have quite the collection of board games right now. Thank you
Paths of Glory is not only my favorite WW1 game, it is my favorite 2 player game for the past 20 years! It offers an outstanding treatment of WW1 giving players a multitude of choices. I've played close to 100 games, never the same game twice.
I'm older than you, I fondley remember AH's Richtofen's War. Played it so much. Watching that red counter representing the baron on the map was special.
Cody’s Top 10 1:27 honourable mentions: Wings of Glory, the Great War 2:10 10. The First world War 3.28 9. Axis and Allies WW1 1914 4.28 8. Wings for the Baron 5.33 7. The Grizzled 6:53 6. Hapsburg Eclipse 7:51 5. Great War Commander 9.14 4. Age of Dog Fights 10.41 3. Fields of Despair 12.27 2. Versailees 1919 14:37 1. An Attrition of Souls
Just want to echo everyone’s recommendations for Paths of Glory. I own both Attrition of Souls and PoG deluxe version and as much as I like AOS, PoG is the definitive WWI game due to its CDG mechanics which adds so much historical flavor and context with the various historical events that can occur and how the two sides mobilize and start to bring in more armies through card play. It’s a balancing act between playing cards to conduct operations, events, strategic movement, replacements, or reinforcements and it gives the player a lot of tough decisions to make every game.
I disagree. PoG lacks theme. Because its a CDG, events can happen quite different than what occurred during the real war. It does not really feel like a WW1 game, in my opinion. It is, however, a good tourney game because of the CDG mechanisms. I feel like games such as The Lamps are Going Out feel and play more like a WW1 game.
@@mattvanweelden1827 POG is a a fun game, but there are in my opinion better historical games. Although those appeal to me, and as the sales of POG suggest not as likely as fun to play as POG.
An interesting game I recently played was KaiserKrieg!, by White Dog Games, which is WW1 solitaire playing the Germans/Austrians on a strategic level. Something to try out and sinks home how effective the British Naval blockade was.
Thanks for sharing your top ten. Any grognards here who played the classic Avalon Hill *1914* will appreciate how far game design has advanced in the 50+ years since it was published. Attrition of Souls is one of the more entertaining WW1 games currently available, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light 2 player game that can be finished in a single session.
LOVED "1914" as well... NEVER could find anyone to try "Bling squares and Dummy counters" though. Strange (or NOT so strange) Cody didn't mention JUTLAND... heard it was something of a bear... OR the WWI submarine game, by the same guys who did THE HUNTERS.
I've played Paths of Glory and I really like it. Versailles 1919 looks like a game I would enjoy. I will have to try it out. Thank you Cody for your videos and your reviews!
Thanks Cody for sharing your favorites. Everybody has their own taste, but by posting these videos i have found so.e great games. So please continue to share your games and your great jokes. Love them also. 😊😊😊
I just played Ted raciers ww1 game called 1918/1919 a fantastic hex game where you play the final year of the war I really enjoyed it and reccomend it if you like hex and counter wargames
Thank you for another great video. Sorry you have had to deal with some negative comments. You are one of my favourite reviewers. I rely on your honest unbiased reviews to steer me in the right direction and have purchased many games based on you advice. Keep up the good work. All the best from South Australia.
I finally got paths of glory last week wow boy am I kicking myself for not getting this a long time ago.I think not even giving verdun steel inferno a shout out is too bad,that is an awesome game.Just a good design.that plays fast and well.
A really interesting WWI game was Luftschiffe by Phil Eklund. It's an interesting solo game where you take command of a German zeppelin for a bombing run over the UK. There's a random event deck to cover events on the way to the target and back, and you move your crew around to use weapons and repair damage. Unfortunately, I deliberately called it interesting and not fun because the game is very fiddly where you need to track things like the amount of hydrogen in your lifting cells and work out bending moments to see if the airship breaks up in the sky/catches fire/explodes/crashes.
Thanks for doing this list! I have always been interested in the First World War and it is the era of history I find most fascinating. I have these WWI tabletop games... Axis & Allies WWI 1914 The Great War The Grizzled The Kaiser's Pirates Paths of Glory Quartermaster General 1914 Wings of Glory WWI
Thanks Cody! Have to say that A&A 1914 is by far my favourite of the series. I kind of "out grew" Axis and Allies many years ago, but this one is a gem. I found it plays best with four. Lots of other great games on the list. I was always partial to Guns of August, a very old school hex wargame. I am going to try out your number 1!
Versailles is just wonderful. In addition to the outstanding gameplay, a super fun meta game can develop within your group and the negotiations become intense and hilarious. Needs to get more press. Great list
I agree that Paths of Glory is the definitive game if you want total WW1 historical immersion. But man, it takes literally FOREVER to play! We're talking possibly more than an entire day! For ease of access and pure raw enjoyment, with just enough WW1 flavor, my number one is The Great War by Richard Borg. With a painted set, and the tanks, it's really fun to see and play. I played Lamps as well but to me it was just too fiddly, too repetitive to the point of feeling like work... Haven't played Attrition of Souls though, eager to try it out now! That and Quartermaster General.
WW1 games! #1 for me is Quartermaster General: 1914 Own Attrition of Soulsand Fields of Despair but haven't been able to get them to a table. Got a few others coming from Kickstarter too, The Longest Trench and Trench Club.
A strong list Cody! Love me some WW1 games. Thankfully the last 10 years have dragged the period out of the stereotypical drab stalemates and apparently poor generals and now we have way more variety to put on the table. A&A 1914 is my favourite A&A game too.
I have Storm of Steel and SPW Western Front monster games on my shelf. I have never had a chance to find anyone crazy enough to invest in playing them. I also have my copy of AH's Jutland that never gets played. I have Avalanche press's Jutland too. Never played. But someday when I retire and have time I will see if I can try out these monster games of WW1. Thanks for the list. I love WW1 naval history and family members fought under Black Jack and I met his granddaughter. So WW1 is interesting to me, but mostly on the naval history side. The treaty game has my attention. Thanks for the list again.
Just caught your channel a couple days ago. Loved catching up on some of your other videos. Glad to see an Axis&Allies 1914 game made your WWI list I have not played it yet but am wanting to pick up a copy of it. I wanted you to know that I appreciate the fact that not all your games on your WWI list are "war games" I think that adds flavor to the list you shared and some of them even though I have not played them look very cool and I would want to play them sometime. Thanks for making these videos. They are great and it gives a lot of good I formation about what is available on the table top market. Because sometimes it is hard to find games.
Great video, sorry to hear there were issues with the WW2 one. I have Attrition of Souls but will definitely check out Versailles based on your recommendation. Have you seen Europe in Turmoil: Prelude to the Great War from Compass? Knowing how much you love Twilight Struggle makes me think you might love it - Steven Dolges does a great overview of it.
Wings! 1914-1918 is very similar to Age of Dogfights but a much older game. Each player can choose a side and then an agreed upon number of points to then choose aircraft or balloons/ buildings/ships depending on the chosen scenario. It includes various aircraft from Germany, Austria, France, UK, USA, Russia and Italy and has various stat's on the cards as to how many movement points you need to perform manoeuvres. It even includes variables to dice rolls depending on range, angle and the sun. You can also add in wind and clouds which affect where you are each turn and the dropping of bombs for the ground attack
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Excalibur games published in 1981 and should be 1916-18 not like I previously said. I am at work and was unable to look at my box lol
I have half of these (1 on pre-order). Surprised 'Paths of Glory' (GMT) was not mentioned? VPG are remastering their back catalog ('Ottoman sunset' and 'Hapsburg eclipse' are on my wish list), but they told me that they no longer hold the rights to Wings for the Baron. Thanks for a well structured and thoughtful presentation.
Yes Dawn Patrol or as it's also called Fight In The Skies is and has been my favorite for over 40 years. It also has a sort of mini roll play flavor as you keep track of the pilots you fly and watch them become aces. It includes ground attacks, balloon missions, artillery spotting and directing and photo recon as well as straight up dog fighting. It has all the planes that were actually flown in the war with historical stats put into the simple movement. It also has altitudes as in one of the other games you mentioned. Well thanks for letting me get in a word. They do have a society web site.
#10 - WWI #9 - Axis and Allies WWI #8 - Wings for the Baron #7 - The Grizzled #6 - Hapsburg Eclipse #5 - Great War Commander #4 - Age of Dogfights #3 - Fields of Despair #2 - Versailles 1919 #1 - An Attrition of Souls Good list! Yes, An Attrition of Souls is one of our favorites too.
Another game that I have not seen mentioned on here is "World War I." I refer to the game that was originally published by SPI in 1975 and it was my first wargame. It was redone again in the 1990s by Decision Games; some may remember that version had the counters with the funny hats. In 2018 it was updated yet again by Decision Games in what they now call "World War I Deluxe Edition" with a mounted map and a more elaborate rules system. I am trying to get into the Deluxe Edition in my semi-retirement years. I think it shows promise. What do others on here think?
Glad Wings of Glory made your honorable mention at the least. I love that game, though never get enough time to play it recently...let alone enough people...
Agree with your choices on the games I've played (The First World War, Wings for the Baron, The Grizzled, Great War Commander). Like you I haven't played Paths of Glory, which sits under a cloak of dust glaring balefully at me from my shelf of shame...too many games! An Attrition of Souls sounds interesting
Has anyone suggested you try Paths of Glory? (jk) There's good reason for it! It's a great game. I was pleased to see you included Versailles I was hoping you would. Cody ignore any negative comments. You are the top board game reviewer on UA-cam. My shelves bulge with your recommendations.
Glad I viewed this, Wings for the Baron is now on my radar. Didn't know it existed. And I was curious about Attrition of Souls, but you've sold me. Shame on you for not playing Paths of Glory yet -- its the game that made it cool to explore WWI. I also recently acquired a French, card driven operational game on Verdun at the recommendation of Mark Herman and Volko called Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno (as it turns out, much less enjoyable than a disco inferno) .
Ha! I've heard good things about Steel Inferno, perhaps I will have to check that out. I really want to play PoG, but it's always out of print or some such, seems like. You'll get a kick out of both Wings for the Baron and An Attrition of Souls. Both really fun games. As always, thanks a ton!
Hapsburg Eclipse is very fun...especially in my household where I have little kids in my house who aren't ready even for Risk (though, we play a lot of Pay Day!!!) and my wife is not a big board gamer. This is my SOLO SAVIOR when it comes to "hobby games" in my house!
“Axis and Allies 1914 never took off like the others, probably because it a slow game.” I’d also like to add that it seemed like it was sold in markets for like 2 days and now it’s being sold on eBay for, no lie, over a 1000 dollars
I've heard of Attrition of Souls but never really considered it. My copy of Lamps is on the way here so I'm waiting on that. Thanks for bringing Attrition to my attention. A very good pre-World War I game is Europe in Turmoil from Compass Games. If you played and enjoyed Twilight Struggle then this game is for you. Twilight Struggle mechanics all throughout but it's not just a WWI reskin of TS. Lots of flavor and I think you'll really enjoy it. Give that a shot. Finally, I echo everyone here about Paths of Glory. I was shocked it didn't even make your Top 10 list. I will admit that PoG is quite a bit more complicated than Lamps or AoS so keep that in mind. But everything everyone else says is true. Give it a shot. Thanks.
Has anyone played Quartermaster General 1914? I have yet to play it, but it looks very intriguing. I'd appreciate any comments from those have played this game. Thank you!
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Wow, a new edition will soon be released? I did not know that--thank you for the information! I also would very much like to try it!
Forty five yrs ago I played a WWI board game forget the name of it but it was so static and unfun it turned me against WWI games so I fell out of the loop. But this list intrigues a guy and I want to thank you for putting it together.
I had NO IDEA there was an active tabletop war game bunch here in the States. Me, I could never find people to play them with me unless it was something like Milton Bradley's Dogfight in '62. So I went the computer route when Wings came out in '90 for the Amiga and, of course, Dynamics' Red Baron a year or two later. But the YT algorithm pointed me here, I did find it interesting. Many thanks!
Interesting list. Did you happen to back Trench Club last year? I'm very much looking forward to playing around with it! Perhaps it'll make this list next time you make it.
More real old school, really loved The Guns of August, Diplomacy and, although I can't remember the name, there was a booklet air warfare game where two players plotted their moves and crossed referenced the pages they would turn to. Never could find it, but had a blast playing it. Otherwise, an excellent list and better video!
Learned gaming from PBM 'Diplomacy'. There are games that play better for the diplomatic aspect that PBM permits. 'Balance of Power' is a 'Diplomacy' Killer and in that group.
Thanks for the list a little surprised that Paths of Glory did not make it on to your top 10, but then everyone is different in what they enjoy For me the number one WW1 game is Der Weltkrieg WWI wargame series designed by David Schroeder and published by SPW/Decision games.
Probably the best WW1 game I ever played was Diplomacy by Avalon Hill, unfortunatly it's a game you probably don't want to play with friends more than once a year.
I used to play it all the time. Used to have a lot of fun with that one. I don't really consider it a WWI game. It feels more like a pre-WWI game to me. Thanks.
Versaille 1919 has been at the top of games I want since i first heard of it, though it's very expensive here in Australia. I love negotiation games and something this meaty and complicated has me intrigued. Hopefully I'll get to try it some day
Solid list, a few there i havent tried. And, as people said before, you really REALLY should play Paths of Glory. After a few plays that game is just amazing. Knowing what cards are in the decks, both yours and the opponents makes the game even better!
Excellent list, cool to discover games I’d never heard of (The Grizzled, for instance) when I was expecting the usual PoG and such. Blue Max was one of my favorites as a teen in the 80’s. I had another biplane air-to-air game that used maneuver booklets that was cool back then, but can’t remember what it was called.
Sorry to repeat my comments from your Lamps video, but you really should check out Paths of Glory and Europe in Turmoil, truly great games! You have sold me on both Attrition and Versailles! Today i just started reading The Deluge by Adam Tooze so this video was perfect timing. Please keep up the great work on both your channels!
Dude! You need to dig up and copy of the old Avalon Hill game 1914 and give that a couple of plays. It is not only a great lesson in great war attrition, and the challenges of a modern war without all the modern infrastructure, it's a barn burner! The long hot summer of 1914 will have you biting your nails as you hang on by them as the French, or digging them into the table top as the German. Paris is so close! But also so far! A great game that is not only fun, but a great education on the operational challenges that face commanders in 1914 who thought they knew what they were getting into, then quickly found out how wrong they were about that.
I recommend Ottoman Sunset as well, it links with Hapsburg Eclipse and works well with it as it has a distinct identity to the Ottoman experience in the war. Are you doing a review to Trench Club?
WW1 is a period of history that I have a strong interest in, and rarely can pass up a strategic based game on the subject. So will look at AOS. Overall a great mix of games on your list
I do not have much on WW1, but I really like Paths of Glory and The Great War (commands & colors). I also have Drive on Paris and Operation Michal (by The Gamers), but these are hex & counter games that take a bit longer. Both great though.
I really liked your video here. So generally, I’m a huge Axis and Allies fan. I do agree that 1914 can be a long drawn out game. So that’s kinda what lead me here to watch your top 10 list. I’ve seen a couple of your videos in the passed, I think I’ll start watching some more!
Love these Top 10 lists, Cody! I have Attrition of Souls, just sitting in my shelf and need to play it already!! Shelf of shame! So consider a top 10 for Civil War and also American Revolution games for future ideas. For American Revolution I recommend you try the Great Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack. Great value, great system! I don’t think you’ll think it’s too complex. There are some really small intro battles you can play to start.
I'd like to do more top ten lists from different conflicts, and those two wars are on my list. Of course, it means I need to find the time to get them played, and of course I have to actually LIKE the ten I mention. Thanks.
See, I'm old and nostalgic enough that Blue Max, Jutland, and Guns of August would all make my Top Ten. Jutland was the first naval miniatures game (using the definition somewhat loosely) I every played, IIRC. All old-fashioned and with plenty of flaws, but serviceable and fun to play.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I'm particularly fond of Blue Max owing to the FLGS running a year-long campaign back in 1985 where we all built model kits of our planes and played on a hugely-upscaled map painted on one of the minis tables, with the planes based on homemade bases using radio aerials (back when they were cheap and easily-found thing) to indicate elevation. Quite the visual spectacle, that was. I suppose Dawn Patrol would make my list too. Played a fair amount of that, although only as a board game.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer sounded like you were in TX for a season. consimworld has a minicon here now. This year it will be in Allen in May. Hit me up sometime if you get back this direction and want to play a wargame.
I did enjoy the video and there are some games I will look into. But there are some games that i think need some love. My first is the Weltkrieg series, an excellent representation of combat on a divisional level. The other game is the Paths of Glory series. I guess those are my submissions and look foward to your next video.
Not a big fan of Paths of Glory. But I love Grand Illusion by Ted Racier. It's about the the Battle of the 1st Marne and the Race to the Sea. One of the most underrated wargames out there in m opinion. It's a bit fiddly though.
Thanks for the video. Had to chuckle when you mentioned how in playing WW I Axis and Allies, it could bog down and go long. There's WW I for you :) I only had two games on the list--Age of Dogfights and 1919. Haven't played 1919 yet--waiting for a group. I'm curious if you tried Verdun: Steel Inferno.
Thanks for this. A special thanks (as a semi Swiss) for the joke at the end.... A question that overlaps both your channels.. do you have any suggestions about good books that deal with the Versailles treaty negotiations?
McMillan's book tends to excuse the betrayal of Greece that I referred to in another comment. A good contrast to her coverage of that tragedy would be "The Blight of Asia" by George Horton. @@TheDiscriminatingGamer
I love A&A WWI. However, it could have been much better with a few minor changes on country / province borders and order-of-battle. Many suggestions on boardgamegeek.
To counter any negative comments, just want to say you are my absolute favourite board game reviewer! Keep going Cody and keep the dad jokes coming!
Thank you, sir. That means a lot.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I'm hitting the age of 14 where I don't quite know what I want to get for events like Christmas and my birthday, of course I'm a little too old for some toys that I used to like but don't really have interested anymore, and I've always enjoyed world war ii. Because of this I gotten into board gaming and have now taken to watching videos like this and spending my allowance and have quite the collection of board games right now. Thank you
@@Liam_Daly Excellent.
Paths of Glory is not only my favorite WW1 game, it is my favorite 2 player game for the past 20 years! It offers an outstanding treatment of WW1 giving players a multitude of choices. I've played close to 100 games, never the same game twice.
Fantastic!
I'm older than you, I fondley remember AH's Richtofen's War. Played it so much. Watching that red counter representing the baron on the map was special.
Very cool!
Cody’s Top 10
1:27 honourable mentions: Wings of Glory, the Great War
2:10 10. The First world War
3.28 9. Axis and Allies WW1 1914
4.28 8. Wings for the Baron
5.33 7. The Grizzled
6:53 6. Hapsburg Eclipse
7:51 5. Great War Commander
9.14 4. Age of Dog Fights
10.41 3. Fields of Despair
12.27 2. Versailees 1919
14:37 1. An Attrition of Souls
Yup. That's the list.
We love you Cody! Period! Unbiased, warm and wonderful reviews! I like your program more than any other. Keep up!
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Just want to echo everyone’s recommendations for Paths of Glory. I own both Attrition of Souls and PoG deluxe version and as much as I like AOS, PoG is the definitive WWI game due to its CDG mechanics which adds so much historical flavor and context with the various historical events that can occur and how the two sides mobilize and start to bring in more armies through card play. It’s a balancing act between playing cards to conduct operations, events, strategic movement, replacements, or reinforcements and it gives the player a lot of tough decisions to make every game.
Thanks.
I disagree. PoG lacks theme. Because its a CDG, events can happen quite different than what occurred during the real war. It does not really feel like a WW1 game, in my opinion. It is, however, a good tourney game because of the CDG mechanisms. I feel like games such as The Lamps are Going Out feel and play more like a WW1 game.
@@mattvanweelden1827 POG is a a fun game, but there are in my opinion better historical games. Although those appeal to me, and as the sales of POG suggest not as likely as fun to play as POG.
@@andrewmcdonald1166 I agree. I'm not dissing PoG....it's just not the best WW1 simulation.
@@mattvanweelden1827 We do agree, my clumsy worded reply might have applied otherwise.
An interesting game I recently played was KaiserKrieg!, by White Dog Games, which is WW1 solitaire playing the Germans/Austrians on a strategic level. Something to try out and sinks home how effective the British Naval blockade was.
Interesting.
Thanks for sharing your top ten. Any grognards here who played the classic Avalon Hill *1914* will appreciate how far game design has advanced in the 50+ years since it was published. Attrition of Souls is one of the more entertaining WW1 games currently available, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a light 2 player game that can be finished in a single session.
LOVED "1914" as well... NEVER could find anyone to try "Bling squares and Dummy counters" though. Strange (or NOT so strange) Cody didn't mention JUTLAND... heard it was something of a bear... OR the WWI submarine game, by the same guys who did THE HUNTERS.
Thank you, sir. Indeed - the hobby has come a long way. I have yet to play a WWI naval themed game. I need to correct that.
Cody, just wanted to pop in and say that ever since I discovered your videos I have been enjoying them immensely. God bless.
Thank you, sir. Much appreciated.
I've played Paths of Glory and I really like it. Versailles 1919 looks like a game I would enjoy. I will have to try it out. Thank you Cody for your videos and your reviews!
Thank you, sir!
well thought out reviews, but without playing Paths of Glory seems a huge gap. happy to see his review when he gets a chance to play it a few times.
Thanks Cody for sharing your favorites. Everybody has their own taste, but by posting these videos i have found so.e great games. So please continue to share your games and your great jokes. Love them also. 😊😊😊
@@ITInLoveWUJAlways Thank you very much. Happy to help.
Thank you for this list. I want to get a good WWI game at some point and this gives me some good ideas.
Happy to help. You might also want to consider Quartermaster General WWI.
Just found your site, I have been playing war games since 1977. Thank you for a great site & I enjoy your thoughts. RBG
Thank you. Much appreciated.
My favorite from High school Ace of Aces, Nova Games. Yes, I'm old.
Ha! Thanks.
I just played Ted raciers ww1 game called 1918/1919 a fantastic hex game where you play the final year of the war I really enjoyed it and reccomend it if you like hex and counter wargames
Thank you, sir. I will look out for it.
Thank you for another great video. Sorry you have had to deal with some negative comments. You are one of my favourite reviewers. I rely on your honest unbiased reviews to steer me in the right direction and have purchased many games based on you advice. Keep up the good work. All the best from South Australia.
Thank you!
I finally got paths of glory last week wow boy am I kicking myself for not getting this a long time ago.I think not even giving verdun steel inferno a shout out is too bad,that is an awesome game.Just a good design.that plays fast and well.
I've heard good things about Verdun. I want to play it just haven't had the chance yet. And of course I need to play Paths of Glory.
A really interesting WWI game was Luftschiffe by Phil Eklund. It's an interesting solo game where you take command of a German zeppelin for a bombing run over the UK. There's a random event deck to cover events on the way to the target and back, and you move your crew around to use weapons and repair damage. Unfortunately, I deliberately called it interesting and not fun because the game is very fiddly where you need to track things like the amount of hydrogen in your lifting cells and work out bending moments to see if the airship breaks up in the sky/catches fire/explodes/crashes.
Thanks. It does indeed sound interesting.
Thanks for doing this list! I have always been interested in the First World War and it is the era of history I find most fascinating. I have these WWI tabletop games...
Axis & Allies WWI 1914
The Great War
The Grizzled
The Kaiser's Pirates
Paths of Glory
Quartermaster General 1914
Wings of Glory WWI
Haven’t played PoG, QMG1914, or KP. Hope to hit them all someday.
Thanks Cody! Have to say that A&A 1914 is by far my favourite of the series. I kind of "out grew" Axis and Allies many years ago, but this one is a gem. I found it plays best with four.
Lots of other great games on the list. I was always partial to Guns of August, a very old school hex wargame. I am going to try out your number 1!
Thank you. You’ll get a kick out of attrition.
Versailles is just wonderful. In addition to the outstanding gameplay, a super fun meta game can develop within your group and the negotiations become intense and hilarious. Needs to get more press. Great list
Indeed. Great game. Thanks.
I recall a game when in my late 20s called Diplomacy - what pain to play, durn you, scagmo, for showing me that one.
Great game. I love Diplomacy, but haven't played it in years.
Outstanding list. Thanks for sharing - this have given me a project for the weekend (war game research)!
Thanks. Here’s the updated list: ua-cam.com/video/j7n5AFsm6o0/v-deo.htmlsi=VU3I_NCDqLrm2lqR
I agree that Paths of Glory is the definitive game if you want total WW1 historical immersion. But man, it takes literally FOREVER to play! We're talking possibly more than an entire day! For ease of access and pure raw enjoyment, with just enough WW1 flavor, my number one is The Great War by Richard Borg. With a painted set, and the tanks, it's really fun to see and play.
I played Lamps as well but to me it was just too fiddly, too repetitive to the point of feeling like work... Haven't played Attrition of Souls though, eager to try it out now! That and Quartermaster General.
Hope you get to play Attrition soon.
WW1 games!
#1 for me is Quartermaster General: 1914
Own Attrition of Soulsand Fields of Despair but haven't been able to get them to a table. Got a few others coming from Kickstarter too, The Longest Trench and Trench Club.
Hope you get to Attrition and Despair soon (that would sound awful in another context). Thanks!
A strong list Cody! Love me some WW1 games. Thankfully the last 10 years have dragged the period out of the stereotypical drab stalemates and apparently poor generals and now we have way more variety to put on the table. A&A 1914 is my favourite A&A game too.
Thank you!
Interesting choices, thanks for this video! I’ll have to check out some of the games you mentioned.
Thanks.
I have Storm of Steel and SPW Western Front monster games on my shelf. I have never had a chance to find anyone crazy enough to invest in playing them. I also have my copy of AH's Jutland that never gets played. I have Avalanche press's Jutland too. Never played. But someday when I retire and have time I will see if I can try out these monster games of WW1. Thanks for the list. I love WW1 naval history and family members fought under Black Jack and I met his granddaughter. So WW1 is interesting to me, but mostly on the naval history side. The treaty game has my attention. Thanks for the list again.
Thank you.
Fantastic job with your list! Ignore the haters, and please keep sharing your favorite games with us. Again, thanks for all you do.
Thank you.
You're spot on about An Attrition of Souls. It's a great game. Love it.
Indeed. Thanks.
Just caught your channel a couple days ago. Loved catching up on some of your other videos. Glad to see an Axis&Allies 1914 game made your WWI list I have not played it yet but am wanting to pick up a copy of it. I wanted you to know that I appreciate the fact that not all your games on your WWI list are "war games" I think that adds flavor to the list you shared and some of them even though I have not played them look very cool and I would want to play them sometime. Thanks for making these videos. They are great and it gives a lot of good I formation about what is available on the table top market. Because sometimes it is hard to find games.
Thank you. Happy to help.
Great video, sorry to hear there were issues with the WW2 one. I have Attrition of Souls but will definitely check out Versailles based on your recommendation. Have you seen Europe in Turmoil: Prelude to the Great War from Compass? Knowing how much you love Twilight Struggle makes me think you might love it - Steven Dolges does a great overview of it.
I have not played EiT yet, but I think it looks pretty cool. I think you'll get a kick out of Versailles 1919. Thanks!
Hater be haters. I thoroughly enjoy your channel and appreciated your opinions about games.
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Wings! 1914-1918 is very similar to Age of Dogfights but a much older game. Each player can choose a side and then an agreed upon number of points to then choose aircraft or balloons/ buildings/ships depending on the chosen scenario. It includes various aircraft from Germany, Austria, France, UK, USA, Russia and Italy and has various stat's on the cards as to how many movement points you need to perform manoeuvres. It even includes variables to dice rolls depending on range, angle and the sun. You can also add in wind and clouds which affect where you are each turn and the dropping of bombs for the ground attack
Sounds like a fun game. Who publishes it?
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Excalibur games published in 1981 and should be 1916-18 not like I previously said. I am at work and was unable to look at my box lol
I love the Lamps are going out. It plays solo perfectly. How is your number one for solo play ?
I haven't played it solo.
I have half of these (1 on pre-order). Surprised 'Paths of Glory' (GMT) was not mentioned? VPG are remastering their back catalog ('Ottoman sunset' and 'Hapsburg eclipse' are on my wish list), but they told me that they no longer hold the rights to Wings for the Baron. Thanks for a well structured and thoughtful presentation.
Thank you. As mention in other comments, never had a chance to play PoG.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer 'surprised' is the wrong word, sorry. You have PoG discovery to look forward to.
@@carrickrichards2457 Indeed. It's one I'm eager to try. Thanks!
for an air war game you need to check out Dawn Patrol originally from TSR. Best played as a regular group so your pilots can gain experience.
Thanks!
Yes Dawn Patrol or as it's also called Fight In The Skies is and has been my favorite for over 40 years. It also has a sort of mini roll play flavor as you keep track of the pilots you fly and watch them become aces. It includes ground attacks, balloon missions, artillery spotting and directing and photo recon as well as straight up dog fighting. It has all the planes that were actually flown in the war with historical stats put into the simple movement. It also has altitudes as in one of the other games you mentioned. Well thanks for letting me get in a word. They do have a society web site.
Hey thanks for the list. No WWI games on my shelf yet, these look like some great suggestions. I enjoyed your WW2 list as well, so keep 'em coming.
Thank you, sir!
#10 - WWI
#9 - Axis and Allies WWI
#8 - Wings for the Baron
#7 - The Grizzled
#6 - Hapsburg Eclipse
#5 - Great War Commander
#4 - Age of Dogfights
#3 - Fields of Despair
#2 - Versailles 1919
#1 - An Attrition of Souls
Good list! Yes, An Attrition of Souls is one of our favorites too.
Thanks. Great game.
Another game that I have not seen mentioned on here is "World War I." I refer to the game that was originally published by SPI in 1975 and it was my first wargame. It was redone again in the 1990s by Decision Games; some may remember that version had the counters with the funny hats. In 2018 it was updated yet again by Decision Games in what they now call "World War I Deluxe Edition" with a mounted map and a more elaborate rules system. I am trying to get into the Deluxe Edition in my semi-retirement years. I think it shows promise. What do others on here think?
Sounds interesting.
Glad Wings of Glory made your honorable mention at the least. I love that game, though never get enough time to play it recently...let alone enough people...
Fantastic n game.
Agree with your choices on the games I've played (The First World War, Wings for the Baron, The Grizzled, Great War Commander). Like you I haven't played Paths of Glory, which sits under a cloak of dust glaring balefully at me from my shelf of shame...too many games! An Attrition of Souls sounds interesting
Ha! We’ve all got the shelf of shame! Attrition is great!
Has anyone suggested you try Paths of Glory? (jk) There's good reason for it! It's a great game. I was pleased to see you included Versailles I was hoping you would. Cody ignore any negative comments. You are the top board game reviewer on UA-cam. My shelves bulge with your recommendations.
Thank you very much. I do hope to try PoG one day. Just never had the chance. I do love Versailles.
Glad I viewed this, Wings for the Baron is now on my radar. Didn't know it existed. And I was curious about Attrition of Souls, but you've sold me. Shame on you for not playing Paths of Glory yet -- its the game that made it cool to explore WWI. I also recently acquired a French, card driven operational game on Verdun at the recommendation of Mark Herman and Volko called Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno (as it turns out, much less enjoyable than a disco inferno) .
Ha! I've heard good things about Steel Inferno, perhaps I will have to check that out. I really want to play PoG, but it's always out of print or some such, seems like. You'll get a kick out of both Wings for the Baron and An Attrition of Souls. Both really fun games. As always, thanks a ton!
Hapsburg Eclipse is very fun...especially in my household where I have little kids in my house who aren't ready even for Risk (though, we play a lot of Pay Day!!!) and my wife is not a big board gamer. This is my SOLO SAVIOR when it comes to "hobby games" in my house!
Fantastic!
“Axis and Allies 1914 never took off like the others, probably because it a slow game.”
I’d also like to add that it seemed like it was sold in markets for like 2 days and now it’s being sold on eBay for, no lie, over a 1000 dollars
Yeah. It’s not a perfect game - it’s got it’s problems. But I enjoyed it.
I've heard of Attrition of Souls but never really considered it. My copy of Lamps is on the way here so I'm waiting on that. Thanks for bringing Attrition to my attention.
A very good pre-World War I game is Europe in Turmoil from Compass Games. If you played and enjoyed Twilight Struggle then this game is for you. Twilight Struggle mechanics all throughout but it's not just a WWI reskin of TS. Lots of flavor and I think you'll really enjoy it. Give that a shot.
Finally, I echo everyone here about Paths of Glory. I was shocked it didn't even make your Top 10 list. I will admit that PoG is quite a bit more complicated than Lamps or AoS so keep that in mind. But everything everyone else says is true. Give it a shot.
Thanks.
I intend to play PoG as soon as I can. I’ve heard good things about EiT. Thanks.
Has anyone played Quartermaster General 1914? I have yet to play it, but it looks very intriguing. I'd appreciate any comments from those have played this game. Thank you!
I haven't, but it looks like a new edition will be coming out from ARES Games in November. I'd love to try it.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Wow, a new edition will soon be released? I did not know that--thank you for the information! I also would very much like to try it!
Forty five yrs ago I played a WWI board game forget the name of it but it was so static and unfun it turned me against WWI games so I fell out of the loop. But this list intrigues a guy and I want to thank you for putting it together.
Thanks! Happy to help!
It was probably Avalon Hill's 1914. It could be static... but I have very fond memories as I found a good PBM (yes... snail mail) friend through it
I had NO IDEA there was an active tabletop war game bunch here in the States. Me, I could never find people to play them with me unless it was something like Milton Bradley's Dogfight in '62. So I went the computer route when Wings came out in '90 for the Amiga and, of course, Dynamics' Red Baron a year or two later. But the YT algorithm pointed me here, I did find it interesting. Many thanks!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you, enjoyed your list very much. I have been looking for a good list of WWI games.
Happy to help. Thanks!
I have been reading a lot about "The Lamps are going out" surprised to not see it on here...
Did you watch my comments on Attrition of Souls?
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer No... I will have to check that out... thanks for the great videos... and keep em coming :)
Thanks!
Interesting list. Did you happen to back Trench Club last year? I'm very much looking forward to playing around with it! Perhaps it'll make this list next time you make it.
I didn’t back it- I rarely back KS projects these days, but I am intrigued. Thanks.
I like The Great War in Europe Deluxe, The Lamps Are Going Out, and Death in the Trenches.
I've not heard of the first and last games you mentioned. Sound interesting.
Excellent Cody. :-)
Thanks!
More real old school, really loved The Guns of August, Diplomacy and, although I can't remember the name, there was a booklet air warfare game where two players plotted their moves and crossed referenced the pages they would turn to. Never could find it, but had a blast playing it.
Otherwise, an excellent list and better video!
Thank you, sir. Big fan of diplomacy, too.
Learned gaming from PBM 'Diplomacy'. There are games that play better for the diplomatic aspect that PBM permits. 'Balance of Power' is a 'Diplomacy' Killer and in that group.
The booklet air warfare game was "Ace of Aces" - truly unique and fascinating. A paper video game.
Fun list. Thank you. Still want to get Versailles 1919 for my classroom.
Great game!
Thanks for the list a little surprised that Paths of Glory did not make it on to your top 10, but then everyone is different in what they enjoy
For me the number one WW1 game is Der Weltkrieg WWI wargame series designed by David Schroeder and published by SPW/Decision games.
As I mentioned in the video, I have not yet had a chance to play PoG. Thanks.
I bought Attrition of Souls because of you. It's fantastic.
Happy to help! Great game!
Probably the best WW1 game I ever played was Diplomacy by Avalon Hill, unfortunatly it's a game you probably don't want to play with friends more than once a year.
I used to play it all the time. Used to have a lot of fun with that one. I don't really consider it a WWI game. It feels more like a pre-WWI game to me. Thanks.
Cody, Attrition of Souls is fun. I would pivot you to Dawn's Early Light, by Compass Games for another awesome experience. Great list. 😊
I've heard that one is good. Thanks for the recommend.
Versaille 1919 has been at the top of games I want since i first heard of it, though it's very expensive here in Australia. I love negotiation games and something this meaty and complicated has me intrigued. Hopefully I'll get to try it some day
I hope you do get a chance to play it. It is a fantastic game.
I am more interested in the tactical level style games. However, I appreciate your reviews and picks. Good job
Thanks!
Nice job!
Danke.
Hi Cody, You reviewed Quartermaster General 1914 after you posted this video. Where would you rank that game? Would it be in your WWI top 10?
It might. I'd have to think about it. Although it didn't survive my most recent purge - nothing against the game, just ran out of space.
Great List
Thanks!
Great thanks
@@lukec1146 Thank you.
Thanks Cody, I notice no Naval games but no big deal totally agree with the top three
Thank you, sir.
Which naval titles would you recommend?
Solid list, a few there i havent tried. And, as people said before, you really REALLY should play Paths of Glory. After a few plays that game is just amazing. Knowing what cards are in the decks, both yours and the opponents makes the game even better!
I wanna hit it. I'm sure I will eventually.
I would also recommend Europe In Turmoil from Compass Games. Also, Paths of Glory. Really enjoyed the video!
Thank you, sir.
Excellent list, cool to discover games I’d never heard of (The Grizzled, for instance) when I was expecting the usual PoG and such. Blue Max was one of my favorites as a teen in the 80’s. I had another biplane air-to-air game that used maneuver booklets that was cool back then, but can’t remember what it was called.
Thank you, sir.
Ace of aces?
@@picton101 Ha, googled it, that is precisely right! Thank you sir!
Sorry to repeat my comments from your Lamps video, but you really should check out Paths of Glory and Europe in Turmoil, truly great games! You have sold me on both Attrition and Versailles! Today i just started reading The Deluge by Adam Tooze so this video was perfect timing. Please keep up the great work on both your channels!
Thank you, sir. I’d love to play PoG and EiT at some point.
Axis and Allies 1914 is fun (got it) but it is a long game as you said. You hit it perfectly.
Thanks.
Thanks for creating another great list! I would love to see your top 10 Civil War games.
Maybe somewhere down the line. Thanks!
Hi, congratulations for the video ... What do you think on Imperial Tide, who release in January ? I think it' s a very good game
I haven’t played that one.
Dude! You need to dig up and copy of the old Avalon Hill game 1914 and give that a couple of plays. It is not only a great lesson in great war attrition, and the challenges of a modern war without all the modern infrastructure, it's a barn burner! The long hot summer of 1914 will have you biting your nails as you hang on by them as the French, or digging them into the table top as the German. Paris is so close! But also so far! A great game that is not only fun, but a great education on the operational challenges that face commanders in 1914 who thought they knew what they were getting into, then quickly found out how wrong they were about that.
Thanks!
I recommend Ottoman Sunset as well, it links with Hapsburg Eclipse and works well with it as it has a distinct identity to the Ottoman experience in the war.
Are you doing a review to Trench Club?
I currently don't have any plans to review Trench Club. Not familiar with it. I know Ottoman and Hapsburg are being re-released in November I think.
WW1 is a period of history that I have a strong interest in, and rarely can pass up a strategic based game on the subject. So will look at AOS. Overall a great mix of games on your list
Thanks! Attrition is great!
I do not have much on WW1, but I really like Paths of Glory and The Great War (commands & colors). I also have Drive on Paris and Operation Michal (by The Gamers), but these are hex & counter games that take a bit longer. Both great though.
Awesome!
I really liked your video here. So generally, I’m a huge Axis and Allies fan. I do agree that 1914 can be a long drawn out game. So that’s kinda what lead me here to watch your top 10 list. I’ve seen a couple of your videos in the passed, I think I’ll start watching some more!
Fantastic! Thanks.
The Grizzled is a beautiful, dreary game. I absolutely love it.
Indeed.
Guns of August 4th edition is also a gem !
Heard good things about it.
Great vid 👍
Thanks!
"If you have something nasty to say, keep it to yourself", N I C E
Indeed!
Love these Top 10 lists, Cody! I have Attrition of Souls, just sitting in my shelf and need to play it already!! Shelf of shame!
So consider a top 10 for Civil War and also American Revolution games for future ideas. For American Revolution I recommend you try the Great Battles of the American Revolution Tri-Pack. Great value, great system! I don’t think you’ll think it’s too complex. There are some really small intro battles you can play to start.
I'd like to do more top ten lists from different conflicts, and those two wars are on my list. Of course, it means I need to find the time to get them played, and of course I have to actually LIKE the ten I mention. Thanks.
See, I'm old and nostalgic enough that Blue Max, Jutland, and Guns of August would all make my Top Ten. Jutland was the first naval miniatures game (using the definition somewhat loosely) I every played, IIRC. All old-fashioned and with plenty of flaws, but serviceable and fun to play.
Fantastic!
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I'm particularly fond of Blue Max owing to the FLGS running a year-long campaign back in 1985 where we all built model kits of our planes and played on a hugely-upscaled map painted on one of the minis tables, with the planes based on homemade bases using radio aerials (back when they were cheap and easily-found thing) to indicate elevation. Quite the visual spectacle, that was.
I suppose Dawn Patrol would make my list too. Played a fair amount of that, although only as a board game.
Another suggestion to play Paths of Glory and reset your ratings! Great channel, thanks for the content. Ever get to Dallas?
I used to live in Denton, just north of Fort Worth from 2017 to 2020. Possible I may pop back down sometime in the future.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer sounded like you were in TX for a season. consimworld has a minicon here now. This year it will be in Allen in May. Hit me up sometime if you get back this direction and want to play a wargame.
I did enjoy the video and there are some games I will look into. But there are some games that i think need some love. My first is the Weltkrieg series, an excellent representation of combat on a divisional level. The other game is the Paths of Glory series. I guess those are my submissions and look foward to your next video.
Thank you, sir. Really want to play PoG at some point.
Looking for a regiment/division level WW2 game. Any good recommendations. Thanks in advance
Combat Commander?
Great list. One game I would recommend although it is a little more complicated than Paths of Glory would be Pursuit of Glory.
I haven't heard of that one. I'll check it out.
Not a big fan of Paths of Glory. But I love Grand Illusion by Ted Racier. It's about the the Battle of the 1st Marne and the Race to the Sea. One of the most underrated wargames out there in m opinion. It's a bit fiddly though.
I will keep an eye open for it. Thanks.
Hi ! Very interesting ! Merci, thank you !
Thank you!
Thanks for the video. Had to chuckle when you mentioned how in playing WW I Axis and Allies, it could bog down and go long. There's WW I for you :) I only had two games on the list--Age of Dogfights and 1919. Haven't played 1919 yet--waiting for a group. I'm curious if you tried Verdun: Steel Inferno.
I haven't played VSI. Have you? You're going to love Versailles when you get the chance. Great game! One of the best of 2020.
Thanks for this. A special thanks (as a semi Swiss) for the joke at the end....
A question that overlaps both your channels.. do you have any suggestions about good books that deal with the Versailles treaty negotiations?
Hands down the best book is Margaret McMillan’s Paris 1919. You may also want to check out The Kings Depart by Richard Watt. Hope this Helps.
McMillan's book tends to excuse the betrayal of Greece that I referred to in another comment. A good contrast to her coverage of that tragedy would be "The Blight of Asia" by George Horton. @@TheDiscriminatingGamer
@@johnsakelaris7 @The Discriminating Gamer Thanks for these suggestions. I've ordered all three and look forward to reading them.
Did you say games instead of planes twice on the Wings for the Baron segment?
Yes. I was testing you. You passed.
I love A&A WWI. However, it could have been much better with a few minor changes on country / province borders and order-of-battle. Many suggestions on boardgamegeek.
Indeed.
Hi Cody,
Have you tried At All Costs!, Verdun 1916 or Imperial Tide?
I have not. They sound fun.
@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Would love to see a new Top 10 WW1 games as soon as you have tried them as our tastes seem to match on many genres. :)
Attrition of Souls has a lot of optional rules. Do you play with any of them or do you prefer the "vanilla" game?
Last game we played we used a lot of the optional rules and had a lot of fun with it. You?
Sadly, I only manage to play it two times so far and both times with the original rules.
Not quite relevant but, did Cody tried Thunder in the East from the "used to be old team of VPG" before?
I haven't, but thought it looked pretty good.