TDG: Cody's Top Ten Ancient Greece & Rome Games (June 2023)

[@ericengstrom2138]

I absolutely love Successors, especially the recent 4th edition. Every game I've played of it has been dynamic and engaging and the tension lasts until the very last moment. Thanks for the list!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@GB-333]

Great idea. This is my favorite theme. Time of Crisis, in my opinion, is easily in the FIRST place, cause like you say it's phenomenal. The way you have to manage senate, populace and military actions is fantastic, the map is fantastic, the rules are fantastic ( especially with expansion new Emperor rule ). An other game that should be in your list ( in fact this is a crime, maybe you have never play it ) is the Wars of Marcus Aurelius, it's my number 2.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. I haven't played MA. Why do you like it?

[@GB-333]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer it's really one of the Best solo game i've play. Great mechanic, sophisticated state of siege system, great cards, very hard to win but it's good like this, and the theme I mean it's good to be in the skin of Marcus Aurelius

[@tcp1623]

You Cody, being a successful youtuber, will have to carry the torch in the pursuit of persuading GF9 to print the expansions for the new version of Spartacus. The spectators wills it. 😊

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I will bring it up the next time I speak with them.

[@miguelmarques4699]

Cody, I'm very honored to see my game among those masterpieces, thank you! 😎

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It's a great game. Thank you!

[@tmcd5049]

Sorry, which game is that? Edit: Never mind, it is Tetrachia. Just found the rules, but not my lost Nestor games version. Ahhhhhh...

[@rolandbruno686]

One of my favorite themes. I have most of your list. Some others for recommendation. Caesar!, The End of the Triumvirate is a 3-player game worth a look as well. Foundations of Rome for the abstract strategy fan is a must. Nika and finally, Pandemic: Fall of Rome too.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@dhmcarver]

I did not see Downfall of Pompeii coming! Such a great game. Thanks for this list. You have mentioned Tetrarchia on a few lists. I need to track that one down.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Pompeii is great. Hope you get a chance to play Tetrarchia at some point. I think you’ll enjoy it.

[@tmcd5049]

Yeah, Tetrachia is a great cooperative game, but easily lost... mine came in, essentially, a pencil case, from Nestor Games. Very portable.

[@zacharyclark3693]

Hannibal and Hamilcar looks very cool, but the complexity and length is a bit intimidating. Plus most of the people I regularly play games with would be even more overwhelmed. It looks fun though. Especially that combat system. “300: Earth and Water” from Nuts! Publishing is a fun, compact war game about the Greco-Persian wars. Lots of choices in a little game.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Haven't heard of that one. Thanks.

[@rockhopper01]

My faves are GMT’S entire Great Battles of History series, Peloponnesian War, Hellenes, Falling Sky, Sword of Rome. Olympus is our favorite family or Euro.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@tmcd5049]

Olympus is fun, Falling Sky looks like a great COIN.

[@FalkFlak]

I loving playing in those ancient settings. Two of my favourites are *History of the Roman Empire* from UGG (in which all players play as the romans and ALSO as the barbarians) and *Hands in the Sea* from Knight Works (which is the ancient version of a Few Acres of Snow).

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I heard Hands in the Sea was really good, but I never got a chance to play it. Thanks.

[@mrp4242]

+1 for Time of Crisis +1 for Julius Caesar (Columbia) +1 for C&C Ancients I will add: Concordia Battleline (themed Ancient Greece vs Persia, so Im going to count it) Hands in the Sea (a true hidden gem) Barbarians at the Gate Foundations of Rome Hadrian’s Wall Gladius (a homemade game I made for my kids) I had never heard of Downfall of Pompeii. We will be visiting Naples/Pompeii this summer. Looks interesting.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@robertthurman9866]

great combo of games. A fun video.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@hairbrainedgames3127]

Great list, as always. One of my favorites is still Conquest of the Empire (which, coincidentally, is on your previous top list of board game table hogs). Also loved Falling Sky (GMT). And Antike Duellum, Glory to Rome, Pelopponesian War... There's just a ton of great Roman/Greek themed games out there. We're spoiled.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don't think Conquest of the Empire was on my table hog list. It's a great game though - forgot about it here! Dang!

[@hairbrainedgames3127]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Ah, yes, my mistake. It was not on the table hog list. My bad. Chalk it up to Pax Forgotta... ;)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@hairbrainedgames3127 Ha!

[@tmcd5049]

Antike Duellum is great! Takes a while to play, but using the rondel is fun.

[@mackdamerc8885]

Recommendations: Pax Romana (GMT) Sword of Rome (GMT) Hellenica: Story of Greece (Mr.B Games) Epic of the Peloponnesian War (Clash of Arms Games) Republic of Rome (Valley Games edition) Circus Maximus (Avalon Hill) Cyclades (Matagot) Jugula (Gripping Beast) Mare Nostrum: Empires (Academy Games)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@HuguesMartel]

Thank you for your enlightened opinion!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@jankogo]

Nice Cody! My favorites are Mare Nostrum Empires, Mosaic and Antike 2.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Mare Nostrum and Mosaic are great. I haven't played the other one.

[@jankogo]

Mac Gerdts in his prime. Worth a shot.@@TheDiscriminatingGamer

[@jwspiker]

never even heard of Tetrarchia . looks interesting.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It's a fun little game: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXzZi3iQrqyLipI

[@masmorden]

Great suggestions! What about "Falling Sky: The Gallic Revolt Against Caesar?" Have you had a chance to play that? It looks good too and it's rated pretty high on BGG.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't had a chance to play that one.

[@douglaspearson4853]

C&C Ancients & Napoleonics are my two fav's of the C&C series but like you Napoleonics has the edge. Due to my fasination with Napoleon. Ancients is still a great game though, Some games I like not on the list are, Siege Of Jerusalem, Empires Of The Anceint World, Circus Maximus , SPQR (Deluxe), Trireme, Caesars At Alesia (really love this one)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks.

[@tmcd5049]

Glad to see Tetrarchia in this list, but I'm afraid you forgot to include Pandemic: Fall of Rome. 😉 Also, glad to see GMT sponsoring the video! 😂 😂 😂 😉 Others I like are Municipium and Mare Nostrum, Antike Duellum, Pellepones and Hellas.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Didn’t forget anything. Haven’t played it.

[@Kab61]

Fun to see Hannibal and Pompeii on the same list! Glad to see Successors get some love. I have quite a few of these. I also have Pax Romana, which I've never played but can report it has a great map! Charioteer looks fun. On my radar is a game called 300: Earth and Water.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@rbaynosa]

great list. mine would be cnc ancients. hope you can do a medieval list too

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Maybe somewhere down the road.

[@kq76]

Wow. I was shocked to see you have Pompeii so high. My wife got it second hand on a whim once and I figured it was probably garbage, but I was pleasantly surprised when we played it. Despite its looks, it's pretty good. I haven't played many ancient Greek or Roman games like you, but I really like Caesar!, Fall of Rome, Santorini, Omen, and Battle Line.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks a lot. Pompeii is deceptively fun.

[@hairbrainedgames3127]

There's something viscerally satisfying about tossing people you've convinced to visit a volcano *into* said volcano.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@hairbrainedgames3127 Ha! Yes there is.

[@mikes4865]

Good list. Here are 10:15 some of my favorites, SPQR (GMT), Circus Maximus (AH), The Great Battles of Alexander (GMT), The Republic of Rome and Caesar! Seize Rome in 20 Minutes.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@seanobrien798]

Awesome list. I really enjoy Peloponnesian War (original Victory Games) and The Roman Republic (original Avalon Hill version). I also have Imperium Romanum (2nd ed.) from, I think, West End Games. It has scenarios for Rome from Sulla vs. Marius to the Reconquest by Justinian (about 100 BC to AD 535). Latin Teacher: How do you write 1,000 in Roman Numerals? Student: (thinking) MMMM..... Latin Teacher: Well done!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! Thanks!

[@nerdfatha]

I have never heard of Downfall of Pompeii. I will have to check that one out!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I hope you can find a copy. it's a great game.

[@gowensbach2998]

Ive been dreaming about a board game that can capture the entire history of the rise AND fall of the Roman empire. Most games divide the rise vs the fall. I am messing around with my own ideas for a game. Wouldnt that be cool to have a solo game where you have to expand like crazy and fend off the invaders? Both in the same game?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Best of luck to you! Sounds fun.

[@gowensbach2998]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Hey, remember the AH game Russian Campaign? Perhaps an ancient Rome version like that could work? I would need to work out a table that gives the Romans a growing advantage for a while, then peeks and wains as the enemies grow stronger. Would need a system of scoring points along the way ( like Britannia) any thoughts?

[@varovaro1967]

how are classes? do you adapt there? thank you for your channel as always

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Adapt to what?

[@varovaro1967]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer life in a new town

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@varovaro1967 I'm moving again shortly. Soon ask me in a few months.

[@ishotmyboss]

It's why congress is the opposite of progress.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!

[@mickbeast8371]

Hadrian’s Wall

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven’t played it. Fun?

[@FragRevel]

Have you ever played Polis? Do you like it?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

No. I've head about it and it sounds like it would be right up my alley. Fun?

[@FragRevel]

​@@TheDiscriminatingGamerI've just bought it but couldn't play it yet.. btw, great channel and videos! Cheers from Argentina!

[@tmcd5049]

I seem to remember having it set up, and trying to play it on an ironing board. Crazy times (no drugs involved, before you ask!) Very good production (the big black box version), not too complicated, but the surreal learning session prevented me from even trying to explore that game!

[@syramento]

Siege of "Athens" with pictures of Siege of Syracuse?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah - slip of the tongue.

[@robfranken2158]

Of course you forgot 'Republic of Rome'!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Nope. I haven't played it.

[@thegamesninja3119]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer the forgot is connected to actually playing it. It is worth playing.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@thegamesninja3119 Sounds like a good game. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[@thegamesninja3119]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer it is a brutal game of negotiations.

[@flyingwombat59]

Siege of Syracuse!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@thegamesninja3119]

Cody ordered a gyro-pizza hybrid while working on this video. 🥷 the video had nothing to do with it. On Tuesday, Bison raids and Cody orders Gyro Pizzas.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha!