Boardgames have drawn more on European History than computer games so far, their creators giving us a huge range of challenges and styles of play. Indeed, sitting with your friends and family round a board can be far more involving and satisfying than playing online. Wargames and Empire building games have been given their own categories.
Boardgames
The history of Europe has been used in many ways by boardgame designers, from the setting for a murder mystery to having the players reenact historical events. The following is a list of the best games with a European History theme which are currently available - specialist games can often have very small print runs!
Wargames
The majority of games either set in the past or designed around a specific historical event are wargames, now often called 'conquest simulations'. These range in complexity from two sides playing for an hour, to a large group playing for days on end! The list below includes a range of eras with a range of complexities, although WW2 and the Napolenic Wars dominate as they do the genre.
Empire / Civilization Games
The distinction between wargames and empire building/civilization games can be slight, but the latter usually have more emphasis on politics, economics, trade and the growth of your culture, as opposed to just beating enemy armies.
