TDG: Cody's Top Ten Hex & Counter Wargames (December 2024)

[@hermannluttmann1637]

Wow, Cody! I am so honored - thank you so much for putting Vive L'Empereur on your list! I can't tell you how much that means to me and I appreciate your kind words. The plan is to do Borodino next for this system and it's just a matter of finding the time to get working on it, but it will be soon. Thanks again!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir! Great game! Looking forward to Borodino!

[@christopherwilson2606]

I own this game and it's fantastic

[@hermannluttmann1637]

@@christopherwilson2606 Thank you, Christopher!

[@moellerc1]

So pleased and humbled, Cody. May your crits always be confirmed ;). -Chris

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir. Fantastic game. And with the dice, I need all the help I can get!

[@-RTC-]

This is the first i’ve heard of your game, as I kind of live on the periphery of hex and counter games, but I am very intrigued! It looks amazing. Is the best place to purchase it on your website? Cheers!

[@Deep_under_the_snow]

Thank You for the great and fun game Chris.

[@princepsgames]

I am honored that 'Freezing Inferno' is on the list! 😊 This is such a great company! Thank you Cody!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@princepsgames Thank you!!!

[@craigwheller]

Definitely Starfleet Battles, O.G.R.E. and the granddaddy Panzerblitz from Avalon Hill

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@michaelwild888]

Thanks!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

[@douglaspearson4853]

My favorites are an old guy picks as I like what I have and can't afford new due to space. No order I still like Avalon Hill Afrika Korps still play. Small counter quantites, 4 page rules, whats not to like, Its aa simple & fast game to get into. Yet a lot of strategy. Easy to play soitaire (you play both sides) love it. Games that I rate the same are the No Retreat series Italy, Africa and Russia. Columbia East, West, Euro, Med, Volga Front games. Then there is Three games I like on cmplexity levels Memoir 44 easy, Advanced Squad Leader complex and Tide of Iron in the middle. though you might consider Memoir & TOI card games.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played most of those (but I love TOI and Memoir - but no counters).

[@robertewalt7789]

I also enjoyed AH’s Afrika Korps. One of the best.

[@douglaspearson4853]

@@robertewalt7789 My first AH game was Jutland, Which was nicer than the reprint it came with boards to orgaanize the ship. Then i picked up Afrika Korps. That was my1st campaign game. I loved the 4 page rule book small about of counter by todays standards. But a lot of strategy. I had a frriend who told me The Germans had the advantage I beat him as British then he claimed the British had the advantage. I beat him as the German. He then threaten to throw me through my picture window.

[@michaelboyd38]

Great list Cody! Burning Banners is indeed excellent! And so is Vive le'Empereur along with everything Hermann Luttmann does. It's awesome to see both Chris Moeller and Hermann, honestly my two favorite designers, recognized and posting as well! I'm super torn between Tattered Flags, Into the Whirlpool and Burning Banners as my game of the year choice. Both are really just beyond fantastic!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@michaelboyd38 Great games both!

[@dalerobinson8051]

At 6:20 you mention that tanks point at the vertex (plural: vertices) and that you'd not seen that before. The old Squad Leader does this. Narrows the front arc but reduces movement to a back-and-forth crablike affair. Thanks for the reviews, especially Vive L'Empereur! Seriously thinking of getting it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@dalerobinson8051 Thanks. I hadn’t seen that before. I think you’ll get a kick out of Vive L’Empereur. Great game.

[@90rightangle2]

Coincidentally named, the Assault series of games by GDW used a similar concept. Units facing a hex side were in march formation while those facing a vertex were in combat formation. It determined the number of hex sides - one versus two, respectively - where a unit presented its frontal armor. There were other effects on movement and spotting that I can’t recall because I haven’t played the game in over 30 years.

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! Excellent parameters and some strong choices. I've heard good things about burning banners but had not heard of Space Empires. I love Medieval Fantasy wargames like Divine Right and also love 4X games like Xia Legends of a Drift System, so I will check out both of those on your recommendation. Thank you, again.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Happy to help. Burning Banners and Space Empires 4x are both excellent. I think you'll really get a kick out of them.

[@Suprsim]

Cody my man, you definitely need to try and review Downfall: Conquest of the Third Reich, 1942-1945. It has unique mechanics, great combat, excellent strategy, exciting cards... I can't say enough good things about it. Easily my game of the year, one of my top games of all time, especially for 1v1.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ray's got a copy. Maybe a some point. Thanks.

[@Deltium5683]

I agree that this game is superb. Very innovative too.

[@Phalanx11]

Third Reich, Squad Leader, Fortress Europa...these are the elite board wargaames.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@Phalanx11 What do you mean by “elite”?

[@Phalanx11]

@TheDiscriminatingGamer these are the 'staple' wargames we played at NSA in the USAF back in the '70s. Love your channel. Btw I gave a speech in college on Waterloo and how Napoleon died and the college kids were actually interested.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@Phalanx11 I remember years ago trying to play Advanced Third Reich, but my gaming tastes had not evolved that far, and I gave up on it. I'd probably enjoy it now. Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.

[@Phalanx11]

@TheDiscriminatingGamer actually the original third reich was better than advanced. I have both. I snuck the 3r rules into a top secret facility to read!

[@catunfit]

I enjoyed playing Salerno 43 too! My first experience with Italian theatre WW2.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@catunfit Good Game. Thanks.

[@GaveMeGrace1]

The first game I thought of was O.G.R.E. (Wish I still had my Micro Games edition before being renamed Steve Jackson Games). StarFleet Battles takes my second to come to mind. I think your Sci-Fi X pick may outdo Dark Stars... and then there’s Melee and Wizard from Micro Games too. Thank you.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@bobhart677]

I played ogre micro game edition in high school, several lifetimes ago, my friends and I made our own maps and counters and staged huge battles. I recall an epic battle involving hundreds of gevs fighting an army of ogres!

[@davidhouston4810]

After hearing what you like, I think there are 2 games you might like, 1st - East Front, a game that has command and control, and the fog of war, 2nd - Avalon Hill's Anzio, A simple game, but no other game even comes close to portraying the grind, tension and attrition of the Italian campaign.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@davidhouston4810 Thanks. I’ve heard good things about East Front.

[@-RTC-]

Love the updated list! For your #2, I highly recommend playing it 2v2, it is something amazing. I’m definitely going to check out your #1, it looks amazing.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@-RTC- Thanks! Will do!

[@jpro8908]

As soon as you started to describe your number one I knew it was Burning banners lol! I have avoided it due to my solitary existence on a desert Island, Wilson doesn't count unfortunately. Have steered clear of Freezing Inferno thus far as I am not completely sold on it's solitaire play. Great selections however!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks! Hope you get a chance to play Burning Banners at some point. Amazing game!

[@Deep_under_the_snow]

I am playing it two-handed at it's a blast

[@billchristian9445]

Burning Banners! Totally agree with you ranking it #1. Now if I could only find some willing players for it!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@billchristian9445 Hope you do. Great game!

[@Panzersonor1967]

Glad to see the imperial stars love. It’s such a fantastic game!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed. Great game!

[@FeyNick]

Battles of the American Revolution Tri-pack also is a really good and accessible hex-and-counter that you should check out. I think you'd like it. It actually even contains 4 battles and 2 beautiful maps. I also don't like really the super complex hex-and-counter games.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks! Who publishes it?

[@rockhopper01]

GMT!

[@pod1964]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamerGMT

[@eatingweevils]

I quite liked Long Range Recon Patrol: a solitaire Vietnam hex wargame by Mike Lambo. It helped pass the time when travelling on a nightmare snail pace train to Liverpool. But my all time favourite is Squad Leader (AH) I saved up ages when was in my early teens to buy Squad Leader I was not disappointed when I got it Burning Banners: Rage of the Witch Queen looks a fantastic game ( I will have to investigate further)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@eatingweevils Thanks! You will love BB.

[@madmike5421]

I top picks are probably not too well known, there a little old. Panzer Groupe Guderian, SPI, Fire in the East, GDW, War in the East, SPI, Terrible Swift Sword, SPI and Wooden Ships & Iron Men, AH bought. Terrible Swift Sword is the best Gettysburg game I have every played. Rich in detail and very fun. Honorable mention Austerlitz, The Battle of Three Emperors, SPI. like I said these are old.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@madmike5421 Thanks!

[@stevebeckerleg7363]

Mike - we must be the same age 65ish?

[@madmike5421]

@@stevebeckerleg7363 Almost, 70, My first war Game was Battle Cry from Milton Bradly in 63 or 64. My first real War Game was Jutland from AH in 68. I have over a hundred board war games and with my friends it must be close to the entire SPI and AH library along with many others from Steve Jackson Games, Jagdpanther games, Game Design(Aus), GDW and many more. I was lucky to grow up when Board Games took off. Just wish I lived close to those friends to play them.

[@stephenholcomb9278]

I just put in an order for Burning Banners. Looking forward to it! Reminds me of a new version of Greyhawk Wars.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@stephenholcomb9278 You’re gonna love it!

[@benja6902]

Vive L'Empereur! looks great! Just ordered it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@benja6902 Happy to help!

[@mikeadams5305]

Everyone will have their biases, but I am REALLY disappointed that there was no mention of PanzerBlitz. At 50+ years old, it is still fun to play and was the inspiration for so many later games. Maybe a second Top Ten would be fun, ‘Games that Innovated a Genre”.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I don't know that I'd be qualified for that list. I've played a lot of games, but there are far more I haven't played. Thanks.

[@jaimeosbourn3616]

Above your left shoulder is a box that says "Forbidden stars". What game is that? I've never heard of it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@jaimeosbourn3616 It’s the old FFG Warhammer 40K game. Published in 2015, but long out of print. Great game if you can get your hands on it.

[@robertsavard9293]

Great video ! Vive L' Empereur... Cody !

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@robertsavard9293 Thanks!

[@darrickdean1849]

A lot of great looking games. Definitely need to find a copy of Burning Banners. Map reminds me of Runebound.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@darrickdean1849 Burning Banners is great. Hope you get a chance to play it soon.

[@knirobin]

Great video - are any of these playable Solitaire ?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Vive L'empereur is a solitaire game.

[@ddlod9896]

Burning Banners is awesome

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It is indeed!

[@tomharding4095]

thanks for sharing your perspective. I would be curious if you have a top ten civil war board games?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@tomharding4095 It’s a little out of date now but: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHutnXaZlr92b9Usi=G1_yCJE1H1YudwFW

[@Jux925]

Uhh, heavy list here :) I am afraid of Burning Banners, even though I have been wishing for fantasy hex-n-counter for long time. Now that it is available I am afraid it won't get to the table much.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@Jux925 I hope you do. Great game.

[@Brett-p3v]

This list seemed to be more about choosing games from different companies than choosing the best games.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It's about choosing my favorite games is what it is.

[@Brett-p3v]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Yep I understand. Everyone has their own list and most of us probably disagree with everyone else's list.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@ Indeed. Thanks.

[@KabukiKid]

I wish Imperial Stars II would get a reprint with a more affordable option. heh

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

We'll see what it is like in retail.

[@jon7043]

Yes. I wanted to get into the crowd funding on this one, then saw the price, forgot to keep breathing, then realised I will just get Space Empires 4X instead.

[@KabukiKid]

@@jon7043 LOL Yeah, I may do the same. The original game was like $25 or something, I think. lol I already own Space Empires 4X, so I'll just stay there. ;-) I was aiming at Imperial Stars II, because it is a zippier game.

[@christopherwilson2606]

Can't argue with that top three.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@christopherwilson2606 Thanks!

[@Kili121416]

Did you play Combat Commander Solo Cody ?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I have not played it solo. Fun?

[@Kili121416]

@ not really solo playable given the card mechanics. Pity as I would really like to pick it up otherwise.

[@FalkFlak]

IIRC you like Napoleonic wargames. I wonder if you know *Maneouvre* (GMT) which might be my favourite. It's not a historical accurate scenario based wargame but a quick 45 min. card-driven variable chit wargame with tons of terrain tiles and 8 different nations to combine freely. It's funny. Of the only 10 or so wargames I own two are on your list (Imperial Stars II + Salerno43).

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I have heard of Maneovre but I have never played it. I thought it looked really cool. Thanks.

[@johnthebiker300]

Which game would you recommend to a newbie solo player?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@johnthebiker300 I think of these games Vive L’Empereur might fit the bill.

[@julioescandon7170]

Hey Cody thanks for the heads up on burning banners. It wasn’t on my radar until this video. Just got a copy after watching gameplay videos and reading the rules. It seems the kind of game I was looking for since Conquest of Nerath was OOP and Wizard Kings seemed lacking a better combat. Would you still put it on top of this list just for the basic game?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yes. I think it is fantastic as a straight wargame, but even better with the advanced (magic) game. I think it really does do a lot of the same things that Conquest of Nerath does (still got that one in my collection).

[@davidhalliday7776]

Ironclads. Simply fantastic.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played that one. Thanks.

[@Tombonzo]

Excellent List, Cody!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@charleslatora5750]

Yes. Gettysburg. Worthington. Most excellent.

[@charleslatora5750]

And Salerno 43!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@charleslatora5750 Great Games.

[@justgettothegame6331]

Nice job.. but you need to add Great Campaigns of the American Civil War :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@justgettothegame6331 Haven’t played it. Fun?

[@justgettothegame6331]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer the rules take a moment, but I have seen your videos and you have tremendous gaming acumen so I think it wont be an issue. Once you play it a few times, you quickly realize the masterpiece of it. I started with Hood Strikes North... and there are some amazing KZbin Vassal plays that really helped solidify my understand. Happy Holidays to you sir, and please keep up the amazing work that you do!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@justgettothegame6331 Thank you. Much appreciated.

[@silverfang6668]

I haven’t had a chance to play any games where I encounter a hex.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@silverfang6668 Ha!

[@michaelmelen9062]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Then he has dice that work correctly. All of my dice are hexed!

[@chucklestheclown8024]

I was an Avalon Hill bigot, Panzer Leader, Panzer Blitz and Arab Israeli Wars. Dang, I never knew of these other brand names! Thanks!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you!

[@captainnolan5062]

No Squad Leader!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Nope.

[@rockhopper01]

Great list! I think Burning Banners looks the most interesting, I’ll have to check that out. Space Empires 4X is also one of my favorites. Some of my faves: OCS Tunisia II from MMP Great Battles of History series from GMT Musket and Pike series from GMT D-Day at Tarawa from Decision Games Flying Colors from GMT Next War: Taiwan from GMT

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks! They look like great games!

[@DieterDietz1]

Super list.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@DieterDietz1 Thanks!

[@dw4351]

There's 26 days left in 2024. Do you think another game can overtake Burning Banners for you in that time?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Never say never. Got several on my shelf I still need to play.

[@jbthor03]

Burning Banners was also my top game of 2024. Just so fun and easy to play

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@ Great Game!

[@CarlAlex2]

Have you never played games from the golden age? I wonder how no games from TAHGC or SPI are mentioned. My favourite is Advaned Squad Leader.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

As you will recall at the beginning of the video, I noted that I have only really dived into hex & counter games in the last decade or so. Thanks.

[@CarlAlex2]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Yes I noticed that. I just wonder why a man with our shared interest hasn't actively acquired some of them or at least been introduced to them by the people you play with. They are not that hard to find and not all that expensive on the second hand market. Ok, some of them are, but far from all. ASL is even still in print and being expanded.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@CarlAlex2 I've always shied away from ASL. I'm not someone who likes a lot of complexity. I trend to gravitate toward more light to medium complexity games in general. I can see the appeal, but I don't think its for me.

[@ArnoVdVelde]

Pacific is a bit different. Mediterranean is jut more nations for the Europe system.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@ArnoVdVelde Thanks.

[@augustmcbride]

Hitler's War

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Haven't played it. Fun?

[@thierrym7154]

Advanced Squad Leader is thé best

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@thierrym7154 People seem to love it. I’ve never played it.

[@Deltium5683]

It’s probably the heaviest of hex and counter war games with a very complex set of rules, but for the fans, it’s a great game in terms of depth of decision making.

[@markwilliams9133]

Pet peeve: Top Ten lists that start with honorable mentions.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

D'oh!

[@dubarnik]

Half of the games aren't even wargames. Geez, what a ridiculous list. This guy knows very little about hex and counter wargames.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

They've all got hexes and they've all got counters. If there are any other criteria please enlighten me.

[@colinettle4394]

Great list,deffo agree with burning banners superb game,I'm here in UK but if anyone looking for the game it's at second chancegames.cheers

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@colinettle4394 Thanks!

[@davidnreiko]

Thanks!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@davidnreiko Thank you very much. Much appreciated.