TDG: Cody's Top Ten World War I Games (December 2023)

[@thelesserhumungous2927]

Thanks for that Cody. You might enjoy Downfall of Empires also - played that for the first time recently and that's a quick, interesting game akin to Attrition of Souls.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I've heard of that one. Maybe I'll check it out one day.

[@johnsakelaris7]

This was a very informative video. Unfortunately, I currently suffer from a lack of available opponents in Oklahoma. I will comment, however, on how these events over a hundred years ago affected my family. My paternal grandfather was a Greek immigrant in the US but was past military age then (he had been in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897) and his sons were still too young, but this war concerned my mother's side of the family. My maternal grandfather was a Greek immigrant in the US Midwest during World War I. He showed was on a train headed for induction on Nov 11, 1918 when the Armistice news arrived. They were all sent home! This is of great importance to me, since he was a single man then and had not yet met my maternal grandmother. My very existence was on the line, although no one at the time knew it! I do often talk up the importance of Armistice Day. As for my maternal grandmother, she was a teenaged girl in Greece during World War I. Ironically, she was the one in the most immediate danger of dying because of World War I, as she and many other Greeks suffered greatly during the 1916-1917 period, the result of a British and French starvation blockade that was done to force Greece to join the Allied side. It has been sadly omitted from our English-language history books.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. It's always interesting hear people's personal engagement with history and games.

[@BIllKoff-b6k]

You rightly imply that each individual's favorite game lists will differ. It's not a question of absolute quality, it's more a matter of differing tastes (and possibly also access to less widely-known titles). That being said, here are some of my favorite WWI games, in alphabetical order: Age of Dogfights WWI - allows you to re-create larger dogfights than most any other game, with an elegant and novel system and tons of plane types available Assault on Gallipoli - eminently playable grand tactical game of the ANZAC vs. Ottoman part of the campaign Empire at Sunrise - fascinating study of the opening months of the war in Asia and the Pacific on land and sea, using a novel system of 3 nesting maps The Great War - WWI version of Commands and Colors, featuring minis (including tanks!) and lots and lots of scenarios Kaiserkrieg - solo game of the entire war from the Central Powers perspective The Longest Trench - great little 2 or 4 player card game of the entire war, elegantly baking in the history with a great flow Naval Thunder: Clash of Dreadnoughts - my go-to set of WWI naval miniatures rules (I use 1:1800 scale ships). Hits the complexity sweet spot - not overly abstracted but not rivet-counting either Operation Albion: Germany vs. Russia in the Baltic, 1917-1918 - wow, quite simply the best magazine game I've ever played. Really captures the interaction of land, sea and air elements of the campaign Ottoman Sunset - you listed Hapsburg Eclipse but I like its sister game even better. Actually what I really like is the combined version playing both games together. And the new editions are a superb upgrade

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Great stuff. Thanks.

[@Albireo8]

My great grandfather William Chapman was also killed in action on the same day; the First Day of the Somme. He was an infantryman in the 7th Queen`s Royal West Surry Battalion. His name is on the Thiepval Memorial with 70 000 other Brits whose bodies were never recovered. He left 7 children including my grandad who at the age of 12 was the eldest and so had to leave school and get work. Grandad never liked my interest in military history. We all loved him. And now I`m crying.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

God bless him. And you.

[@varovaro1967]

The Lamps are going out captures WWI fairly well…

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I was disappointed with Lamps. It got really talked up to me, but it fell kind of flat when I got it to the table.

[@meenki347]

I had the original SPI World War I game and loved it, but lost it over the years. It's quite easy too. Now Decision has a Deluxe Version which I plan on buying.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Excellent. I'll keep an eye out for it.

[@chadvader974]

Been waiting for this list and it did not disappoint. Also your jokes have been on point lately 😂😂

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. Glad you liked the video.

[@markellis1777]

Awesome review coming from a very experienced and informed perspective! Thank you!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[@robertmoffitt1336]

Great video, another great list! The end...sobering. Never Forget 🎗️ 💝

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed. Thanks.

[@seanobrien798]

Always enjoy your lists. I'd like to try An Attrition of Souls. For me my favorite WWI game is Paths of Glory. I agree it may be a bit dated, but then so am I. 😉

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! PoG is a great game, for sure. Thanks.

[@don6538]

My favorite WWI game of all time is Wings of War/Glory. Chose sides and plane models. Play by selecting manoeuver cards and placing them face down. When all cards are placed, they get flipped over and everyone executes their plan. End up in someone's gun sights and your get a damage card, which is not revealed until you meet or exceed your DPs. Each plane is rated for gunfire and damage points, and has its own movement cards. Best part is that any number can play at once.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yes. Wings is a good game. It should have at least gotten an HM here. Oversight on my part. Thanks.

[@jarjagr]

Some games I enjoyed or should try: "Dogfight!: Rule The Skies in 20 Minutes", fun little game of luck. Super simple for people who are nor board or war gamers. "Trench War" from Fellowship of Simulation, who make my number 1 WWI game, Verdun 1916. "March on the Drina" from Giga mech. Great list! Love your content.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. I've wanted to hit Dogfight, Trench War, and Drina for a while. Maybe someday.

[@douglaspearson4853]

That story of Captain May choked me up. What a heartbreaking story.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed.

[@andreford3197]

Nice review. Have you tried Kaiserkrieg, R. Ben Madison's game from White Dog Games? Great game!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't. It looks great.

[@andreford3197]

Also give Imperial Tide from Compass Games a try. Not heavy at all with good gameplay and a solo variant that is included.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@andreford3197 Thanks for the head's up.

[@CaptainFritz28]

Surprised to see A&A 1914 way up there, but not disappointed! I agree with your choices here much more than the first list.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. Yeah, after recently revisiting AAWWI1914, I felt like it really needed to be up there.

[@dimetronome]

Thanks for recommending Attrition of Souls. I ordered it back when you first reviewed it and I love it! Have you played Imperial Tide and Downfall of Empires? Those are two other grand strategic WWI games that I've been thinking about checking out.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't had a chance to play those, but they look great. Happy to help.

[@PACEUK22]

Thank you for reading the letter. We must never forget the needless tragedy of war

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed. Thank you.

[@johnsakelaris7]

The letter was tragically similar to the letter presented in the Ken Burns Civil War series, from Sullivan Ballou just before he died at Bull Run.

[@robjohnson8837]

Cody, is that 75 mm Pak 40 at the end? Looks like Fort Bliss, too. I've been to the museum there, mostly cavalry and armor. 1st AD is one of my combat patches from my tour in Iraq.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

It’s in the middle of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

[@alexconti7932]

Great list, thanks. Do you have/consider to do a top 10 naval war games list?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Maybe at some point. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve played that many.

[@chris999999999999]

It's super niche (and the mechanics are kind of terrible) but I've always liked Phil Eklund's Luftschiffe about the zeppelin bombers from WWI. The unique part is that the main gameplay area is the zeppelin itself where you need to have the crew run around to man the guns, fix leaks, and shovel snow off the fins to get rid of the weight.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Interesting. Thanks.

[@GenestealerUK]

Absolutely love Paths of Glory still can't believe it's not in your top 10 Ww1 games. It's up in my total top 10. I guess each to their own. Normally the games you rate I tend to agree with.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

To each their own indeed. I liked it, didn’t love it.

[@GenestealerUK]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Versailles at #2 though. Yes it's amazing! Not played Attrition of Souls, I guess I need to try that. Thanks for the list Cody.

[@danwoolven5581]

Paths of glory is a great game. Surprised it didn’t make the list

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@GenestealerUK I hope you get a chance. Thanks.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@danwoolven5581 I gave reasons for it. Good game, but a bit dated by this point, in my opinion.

[@horrido666]

Bloody April is the one that makes the table most here. Paths of Glory too.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Heard good things about BA.

[@Biodelic]

Is there a WWI wargame, with a well implemented solo mode, you would recommend?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

As mentioned in the video, Aces of Valor, Hapsburg Eclipse, and Ottoman Sunset are all great solo WWI games.

[@Biodelic]

​​@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Thank you very much for your reply. My apologies, I didn't make the connection between Hapsburg Eclipse and Ottoman Sunset being both solo games. I did put Ottoman Sunset my research list after the video. Will now check them both out. Thank you for that. Aces of Valor, as you said, seems truely very abstract. So much that I am not sure that it would be for me. But again, thank you for the recommendation.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@Biodelic Happy to help. Best of luck to you.

[@richarddefortuna2252]

Cody: The letter from Captain May, is that collected in a particular book? If so, what is the title. Such a beautiful letter and a devastating coda. Thank you.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks. It's in Peter Hart's "The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War."

[@richarddefortuna2252]

@TheDiscriminatingGamer excellent. Thank you! And thank you for the always fabulous and entertaining content - on both of your channels!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@richarddefortuna2252 Thank you.

[@mackdamerc8885]

I would of expected this list in July or August :)

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Ha! Right?

[@ThePIFiles34]

Hi Cody! Great list. I’ve played many of them and love them all. What is your opinion of ‘Death in the Trenches’? Regards, Brendan

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I haven't played that one, I'm afraid. Have you? Fun?

[@martafdez6761]

My two favourite WWI games are The Great War from PSC and Wings of Glory. I think this war was too much static for strategic games.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Both great games.

[@peterixon8708]

As always Cody, an interesting list. 'Downfall of Empires'; really surprised that one wasn't on the list; it is a great game. 'Brave Little Belgium', profiled by Stuka Joe, is another your subscribers might like. Both relatively 'simple' games (though I confess BLB is complete nonsense). For the more complex treatments, SPW's 'Der Weltkrieg' system, particularly 'The Western Front', is one to consider; I only play the 1914 scenario and then walk away, sated. Of course, ADG's WWI version, 'Fatal Alliances'. Finally, that stonking huge monster of them all; 'La Grande Guerre'14-18', by Azure Wish Enterprise. Yes, all three I list last are not for the faint-hearted (truly big games). Thanks, nevertheless, for inspiring this retiree to go look over what was on his shelf. In too many instances, some good games, too long ignored.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks for the tips. I've really wanted to try BLB, but haven't had the chance yet.

[@thadmccollom6444]

How does Versailles 1919 compare to Churchill? Seems similar?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Game play is actually very different between the two games. I prefer Versailles, although Churchill is great.

[@thadmccollom6444]

High Praise😃- thanks! @@TheDiscriminatingGamer

[@rcspaintserviceandgaming]

I’m puzzled that The Great War isn’t on your list. But perhaps you haven’t played it?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

The Commands & Colors game? It's in the Honorable Mentions.

[@Mikleve]

I would recommend Western Front Ace

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I'm not familiar with that one. Thanks.

[@kaiax33]

Sad face...Paths of Glory is terrific, sorry it didn't make the cut. Most of those selected seem to be on the lighter side. So no 1914 series, no Paths/Pursuit/Illusions of Glory, nothing complex. Any chance you'd do a "Heavy WWI games"? Really appreciate your work Cody!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks.

[@cwcsquared]

Where do you teach?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

In Idaho.

[@douglaspearson4853]

I have a few WW1 games. My first was AH 1914. I know you would not like this one. I think it was the 1st game I played with Step-Reduction abd Card enhanced game play. The manual that came with was really nice. I would say Paths of Glory is my favorite. Ted Racier siged my manual. Other WWi games I liked Jutland (Naval), Wings of War (Air), Airships At War (Luftschiff), Fight In The Skies. I really enjoyed this game. I wish they mad this with better components. The Kaisers Pirates Really like this. Its a card game, It can be played solitaire and love the Art work. (Surfice Raiders, Navel), Richthofens War with the card expasion. And Landships its an easier Advanced Squad Leader in WWI. It does have some flaws but I like it. I like you list never played them but The Grizzled, Verdun 1916 , Fields of Dispair are the ones that most interest me.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@douglaspearson4853]

Your wellcome. Hoe you and Kim had a safe and good Christmas as well.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@douglaspearson4853 Thank you.

[@AlejandroLuisGarcia]

Check out Imperial Tide; it's good!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I've heard good things.

[@brundebrauc2208]

The man with the hat strikes again!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

But it's a friendly strike.

[@josephhaack5711]

TSR Dawn Patrol

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fun game? I haven't heard of it.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

Yes Attrition ot the wallet , ps I'm gonna try AaA 1914 whith Brawling Battleships 4 the naval engagements , 😍🏰👍

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fantastic!

[@flyingwombat59]

Axis and Allies 1914 should be called Central and Allies.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yeah, but they you lose name recognition. It's a marketing thing.

[@flyingwombat59]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer I know.

[@shtrguy]

Zero WWI naval games?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Haven’t played any.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

Good point, have U played Brawling Battleship's ?

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

Too many Euro games for my taste.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

To each their own.

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

@@TheDiscriminatingGamer Agreed. However, "each" is singular while "their" is plural. Therefore, the grammatically correct expression is "To each his or her own." As a college professor, I'm sure you will agree that grammar matters.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

@@stevenmqcueen7576 Not on KZbin