Start considering yourself the Games Academy. Call these the Annual Wargaming Awards. Come up with a snazzy award trophy. Wear tuxedo T-shirts. No one will mind the event being held in March.
Honestly, I actually have the snazy faux golden trophies already made, we'd considered doing an actual awards show a few years ago. Poprbably need to dust off this idea. I mean.. I made the props and everything!
No matter what one might think about YMS, but Adam releasing his "Top 10 Films of $Year" 2+ years after the year and mentioning more than 10 movies really helps shine light on an era of movie making.
Love the list format. Would love it even more if you had more scenes of the game layout and in progress clips. That gives me a better idea if I want to try the game or not. Thanks for the excellent content!
Thanks guys! I would love to see a photo of the map or game play dropped into each game's discussion. I know it is a bit of editing but it would really add interest for several of these games. Also, I hope you hear Shelby Foote's voice through all 3,000 pages of his ACW books!
Thanks for the excellent video. I’m looking for war games like these, but often find them disappointing (too complicated or boring). Call me dumb but I still love Axis & Allies Global (Europe + Pacific). Regards.
My husband bid on several titles from the original versions of those Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series at that Games Plus auction in March, and won a few of them. I slightly recall reading the articles about the original versions (in old issues of the Avalon Hill "General", I think?).
The saving grace of DVG's rule books is there are available as a searchable .PDF. I always have the rule book open on my computer or laptop when I play. Amazing games with a very helpful community make slogging through the rule books worthwhile.
I think these lists SHOULD be done later in the year. People complain the reviewers don't spend enough time with a game then they want the yearly list done in December 🙄. You can't win.
My husband was a P500 purchaser of Tanto Monta. He might even talk me into playing it with him, since with my MA in Spanish literature, I share his interest in Spanish history (and especially the later years of the Reconquista). Warfighter showed up at the March auction at Games Plus in Mount Prospect, IL, and sold well (as did several of the expansions for it).
Great video. You guys do excellent work, and lots of it. You put an enormous amount of time, effort, curiosity, intelligence and humor into your contributions to the hobby. There is no need apologize or for self recrimination about when you post lists; just have fun. That you can do this and have families and employment is a testament to your good character and joie de vivre.
I’m just glad you put out a list. Highly regarded when making a purchase. Great vid. Thanks for all the content you provided for 2023. And thank you for your continued effort for our future. Brilliant.
Spinning off from the issue of reprints of older games, my husband has been doing some "Swedish death cleaning" of his old Strategy & Tactics magazine games over the past several months, so that our son won't have to figure out what to do with them when we're gone. Hubby picks out approx. 15 S&Ts each month, and I list them on eBay. He seems to have run out of S&Ts with unpunched counters, so he's started in on the ones with punched counters (and doing counter inventories for each one himself, a tedious task I'm thankful I don't have to do).
Thanks so much for sharing. Great and very informative content as usual. I have a small question when and if you find the time: what are you thoughts on Border Reivers for solo play only? Again, thanks so much for your content. Take care out there!
You guys CAN'T be better, because you're AWESOME! Just my .02 cents! 🍻 2:00 Grant's right too, it's "we", meaning both of you. Your friendship comes shining through in all your videos, and friendship is so incredibly special! A friend is one of the best things you can be, and one of the greatest things you can have. Quoted for truth!
There were a lot of 'Top' lists in Dec/Jan so this makes you stand out and is refreshing to hear for spring! I might do a top 10 from the last decade so you are ahead of me!
Great content and very fun and informative to watch as usual. I like your lists! I think you should play Plantagenet and Inferno, beautiful games :) there are so many games (I know) but those are worth the time. Keep it up! edit: Anyway, did you manage to play A Glorious Chance from Legion? (too many games I know xD great game btw )
Thanks for the list, guys! 2040 was actually one I really enjoyed, but I hope that they do a second edition that cleans up and pretties up the rough edges the game has.
Love all your vids, one question to you both, you play heaps of games/read loads of rules, have you both ever thought of writing designing wargames ? , keep up the good work
This idea gets raised regularly, and we're both at a point right now where doing so would be another massive time commitment, and there's already plenty of games out there to play and explore. We just don't have that impetus to make our own and play it 150 times to get it right. That's three years worth of other wargames we could have played!
If you want proof not to listen to a handful of people complaining read this review of North Africa '41 on gmt's website. "Good scale. Good OOB. Good unit scale. Good game system. Interesting game features. Inaccurate map. HINT: Quatara Depression is NOT a marsh; it's a sand sea per historical photos. Punched, but never played it; back on the shelf." Yep, he decided the game was unplayable because a terrain feature that is difficult to pass was mistakenly put as another terrain feature that is equally difficult to pass.
Shelby Foote's narrative trilogy on the American Civil War is a great resource which will keep you busy reading for a LONG time. (My husband's re-reading it, and I would like to start re-reading it once he finishes Volume 1, because I only got halfway through Volume 2 on the first attempt.) Although it's long, it's very readable, and a fairly balanced treatment of its subject. (Bruce Catton wrote both single-volume and 3-volume histories of the entire war back in the 1960s, as well as a trilogy on the Army of the Potomac, but he admitted to being pro-Union in his treatment of those subjects.)
Excellent 2023 review, I will certainly check some of these games out particularly North Africa 41 and Downfall. Maybe they are bit advanced for my experience right now, maybe Ardennes II is better as I am an experienced board gamer but inexperienced war gamer! Maybe is Traces of War is a good start?
Of the four you've mentioned, Traces of War might be the most accessible, rules wise. Like all wargames just check for any errata online. If you have a second player then The British Way is also a very easy on ramp to that style of board wargaming.
I think I probably say this every year - but I am more than happy for you to wait until this point when you have actually had the chance to play as many 2023 games as possible to have a proper opinion on them. It shows more diligence and less going for clickbate. Put it this way. You don't see them doing the Oscars in December, and for good reason. Inferno and Plantagenet both coming out in 2023 was alot. But you should try and get around to both.
I try not to get too terribly upset about these lists, but you said "Warfighter" and I was about to blow a gasket thinking you were going to praise Warfighter Fantasy :D. I was happy to be wrong :).
Guys... maybe consider doing top 5's or top 10's for half the year. You could probably get three videos out of that (first half, second half, recap of the year). Love your content, but for me, its hard getting through some vids that are over 30 min. Breaking it up, might appeal to a lot of people and maybe it might reduce the grumbles for being late on the annual top 10. Grant, if I see you at GenCon this year, I'll be sure to say hi. I'm making a return after over 30 years. Looking forward to going back, after so long.
You both have, like a billion games. As someone who is starting to dip their toes into wargaming, it would be cool to get a list of your current favorite games.
If the goal is best games played as published in the calendar year, reviewers should indeed take some to to consider games published late in the year. Another alternative would be “best games new to us” as played in the calendar year….. regardless of their publication date. Enjoy your lists - when you feel it’s the right time to publish….
We kind of wanted to keep the 'new to us' game separately. In the coming years with the Shelf of Shame: Dust Off kind of taking hold I think that will be a more relevant discussion.
Storm Over Jerusalem, to my mind, is the doable version of the mini-monster Siege of Jerusalem. Practically every feature of Storm is rooted in the chrome of Siege. Both good. Both satisfy.
Start considering yourself the Games Academy. Call these the Annual Wargaming Awards. Come up with a snazzy award trophy. Wear tuxedo T-shirts. No one will mind the event being held in March.
Honestly, I actually have the snazy faux golden trophies already made, we'd considered doing an actual awards show a few years ago. Poprbably need to dust off this idea. I mean.. I made the props and everything!
No matter what one might think about YMS, but Adam releasing his "Top 10 Films of $Year" 2+ years after the year and mentioning more than 10 movies really helps shine light on an era of movie making.
These games can be extremely complex and time consuming to learn and play. Your dedication is appreciated. Thanks for these reviews.
Thanks Grant and Alexander.
I watch 95% of your vids, but rarely comment.
Your content is excellent.
Love the list format. Would love it even more if you had more scenes of the game layout and in progress clips. That gives me a better idea if I want to try the game or not. Thanks for the excellent content!
Thanks guys! I would love to see a photo of the map or game play dropped into each game's discussion. I know it is a bit of editing but it would really add interest for several of these games. Also, I hope you hear Shelby Foote's voice through all 3,000 pages of his ACW books!
Thanks for the excellent video. I’m looking for war games like these, but often find them disappointing (too complicated or boring). Call me dumb but I still love Axis & Allies Global (Europe + Pacific). Regards.
Is it sad that I love your lists. You guys are my favourite TH-camrs
It can never be sad to love the list. May your Hive Fleets forever be on time.
Storm Over Jerusalem was made by the owner of my LGS. Really nice guy who’s helped me get into CDG’s and war games.
My husband bid on several titles from the original versions of those Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series at that Games Plus auction in March, and won a few of them. I slightly recall reading the articles about the original versions (in old issues of the Avalon Hill "General", I think?).
I'm only 3 min into your vid.
I couldn't care if this top 10 of 2023 came in another month or so.
Well done the both of you.
👍
The saving grace of DVG's rule books is there are available as a searchable .PDF. I always have the rule book open on my computer or laptop when I play. Amazing games with a very helpful community make slogging through the rule books worthwhile.
I think these lists SHOULD be done later in the year. People complain the reviewers don't spend enough time with a game then they want the yearly list done in December 🙄. You can't win.
My husband was a P500 purchaser of Tanto Monta. He might even talk me into playing it with him, since with my MA in Spanish literature, I share his interest in Spanish history (and especially the later years of the Reconquista). Warfighter showed up at the March auction at Games Plus in Mount Prospect, IL, and sold well (as did several of the expansions for it).
Great video. You guys do excellent work, and lots of it. You put an enormous amount of time, effort, curiosity, intelligence and humor into your contributions to the hobby. There is no need apologize or for self recrimination about when you post lists; just have fun. That you can do this and have families and employment is a testament to your good character and joie de vivre.
I’m just glad you put out a list. Highly regarded when making a purchase. Great vid. Thanks for all the content you provided for 2023. And thank you for your continued effort for our future. Brilliant.
I think "Storm over Stalingrad" is a must have wargamer purchase for any complete collection. Its an oldy but a goody.
Spinning off from the issue of reprints of older games, my husband has been doing some "Swedish death cleaning" of his old Strategy & Tactics magazine games over the past several months, so that our son won't have to figure out what to do with them when we're gone. Hubby picks out approx. 15 S&Ts each month, and I list them on eBay. He seems to have run out of S&Ts with unpunched counters, so he's started in on the ones with punched counters (and doing counter inventories for each one himself, a tedious task I'm thankful I don't have to do).
You guys are great !
Thanks so much for sharing. Great and very informative content as usual.
I have a small question when and if you find the time: what are you thoughts on Border Reivers for solo play only?
Again, thanks so much for your content.
Take care out there!
You guys CAN'T be better, because you're AWESOME! Just my .02 cents! 🍻 2:00 Grant's right too, it's "we", meaning both of you. Your friendship comes shining through in all your videos, and friendship is so incredibly special! A friend is one of the best things you can be, and one of the greatest things you can have. Quoted for truth!
There were a lot of 'Top' lists in Dec/Jan so this makes you stand out and is refreshing to hear for spring!
I might do a top 10 from the last decade so you are ahead of me!
Great content and very fun and informative to watch as usual. I like your lists! I think you should play Plantagenet and Inferno, beautiful games :) there are so many games (I know) but those are worth the time. Keep it up!
edit: Anyway, did you manage to play A Glorious Chance from Legion? (too many games I know xD great game btw )
Keep being you - both of you - it's fine - all is good
Thanks for the list, guys! 2040 was actually one I really enjoyed, but I hope that they do a second edition that cleans up and pretties up the rough edges the game has.
Interesting selection!
Love all your vids, one question to you both, you play heaps of games/read loads of rules, have you both ever thought of writing designing wargames ? , keep up the good work
This idea gets raised regularly, and we're both at a point right now where doing so would be another massive time commitment, and there's already plenty of games out there to play and explore. We just don't have that impetus to make our own and play it 150 times to get it right. That's three years worth of other wargames we could have played!
We care and we have strategical patience for Aid that coming as ready.
Thanks guys, well done. An ask: could you give your opinion on how balanced the odds are on either side could win the game?
Well worth the wait gents. Quality over timeliness. You just cost me a hockey sock full of Canadian Dollars of course... :)
If you want proof not to listen to a handful of people complaining read this review of North Africa '41 on gmt's website.
"Good scale. Good OOB. Good unit scale. Good game system. Interesting game features. Inaccurate map. HINT: Quatara Depression is NOT a marsh; it's a sand sea per historical photos. Punched, but never played it; back on the shelf."
Yep, he decided the game was unplayable because a terrain feature that is difficult to pass was mistakenly put as another terrain feature that is equally difficult to pass.
Lol.. I presume he never plays games that have errata in them. So. He never plays games.
Shelby Foote's narrative trilogy on the American Civil War is a great resource which will keep you busy reading for a LONG time. (My husband's re-reading it, and I would like to start re-reading it once he finishes Volume 1, because I only got halfway through Volume 2 on the first attempt.) Although it's long, it's very readable, and a fairly balanced treatment of its subject. (Bruce Catton wrote both single-volume and 3-volume histories of the entire war back in the 1960s, as well as a trilogy on the Army of the Potomac, but he admitted to being pro-Union in his treatment of those subjects.)
Excellent 2023 review, I will certainly check some of these games out particularly North Africa 41 and Downfall. Maybe they are bit advanced for my experience right now, maybe Ardennes II is better as I am an experienced board gamer but inexperienced war gamer! Maybe is Traces of War is a good start?
Of the four you've mentioned, Traces of War might be the most accessible, rules wise. Like all wargames just check for any errata online. If you have a second player then The British Way is also a very easy on ramp to that style of board wargaming.
A wonderful video.
You guys are the best amateurs 😊
Looking forward to the Solo version of this Top 10!!
I would enjoy this if there were some examples of the maps and counters.
I think I probably say this every year - but I am more than happy for you to wait until this point when you have actually had the chance to play as many 2023 games as possible to have a proper opinion on them. It shows more diligence and less going for clickbate.
Put it this way. You don't see them doing the Oscars in December, and for good reason.
Inferno and Plantagenet both coming out in 2023 was alot. But you should try and get around to both.
Finally! Long awaited….😊🍾
10:13 there’s a new rule book for Warfighter that is a massive improvement.
I try not to get too terribly upset about these lists, but you said "Warfighter" and I was about to blow a gasket thinking you were going to praise Warfighter Fantasy :D. I was happy to be wrong :).
Warfighter Fantasy, just ain't it.
Guys... maybe consider doing top 5's or top 10's for half the year. You could probably get three videos out of that (first half, second half, recap of the year). Love your content, but for me, its hard getting through some vids that are over 30 min. Breaking it up, might appeal to a lot of people and maybe it might reduce the grumbles for being late on the annual top 10. Grant, if I see you at GenCon this year, I'll be sure to say hi. I'm making a return after over 30 years. Looking forward to going back, after so long.
Fighters of the pacific is fantastic! 🏆
Have you guys ever tried the "15 Minute Cold War" card game?
RC is such a bad ass game and holds up still and yes, nostalgic glory!!
Bitterwoods my second fav
Great list! Though, no Vijayanagara? Not complex enouth?
Vijayanagara only came out this year (2024), so maybe it will make that list.
@@66morningviewoh you're right!
As stated, that's a 2024, but I Can probably already tell you it'll be on that list. We've only played it once but was excellent.
You both have, like a billion games. As someone who is starting to dip their toes into wargaming, it would be cool to get a list of your current favorite games.
theplayersaid.com/alexanders-top-10-wargames/
I would love to see Martin Luther and Queen Elizabeth I in Ivan Caceres artstyle 😅
It's a shame GMT has recently reprinted both HIS and VQ
If the goal is best games played as published in the calendar year, reviewers should indeed take some to to consider games published late in the year.
Another alternative would be “best games new to us” as played in the calendar year….. regardless of their publication date.
Enjoy your lists - when you feel it’s the right time to publish….
We kind of wanted to keep the 'new to us' game separately. In the coming years with the Shelf of Shame: Dust Off kind of taking hold I think that will be a more relevant discussion.
YESSSS8 Fighters of the Pacific is MARVELOUS!
grossly underrated.
How does NA ‘41 compare with “The Dark Sands”? I have TDS and I’m wondering if I need NA ‘41.
I know the scale is much different I’m just wondering about gameplay
Gameplay they're very different. NA 41 is I-go U-go, and the supply mechanics are much more inveigled. Dark Sands is simpler in that respect.
Yes, the Russian Campaign game is great. I still have mine from the 70's.
Downfall = SPI's Battle for Germany. Same paradigm.
DVG leader rulebooks are disasters. I have Zero Leader…unplayable.
I have one DVG game. By stealth and Sea. One is enough.
Not an unfair assessment.
Now we have New Years Eve 2024 😉
Just go for the start of the Roman New year.......March 1st
The Academy Awards are in March 🤷♂
I like the flying cheese burgers
Downfall is my game of the year, but to be fair I don't play as many games as you guys :).
And it's a hell of a good Game of the Year.
I'll stick with Memoir '44. 😊😂
always better late than never. plus games come out so late often
Storm Over Jerusalem, to my mind, is the doable version of the mini-monster Siege of Jerusalem. Practically every feature of Storm is rooted in the chrome of Siege. Both good. Both satisfy.
I just finished playing Storm Over Jerusalem and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have not played the other game. I'm happy with SOJ.
I care.
Land & Freedom not allowing the historical faction to win ruined the game for me.
Ignore the cry babies. You get to it when you get to it. Life calls.
👍
it is not like this is your full time job. You have other jobs and family first!
The Oscars were a week ago. I think you guys are right on schedule releasing this now!
Alex-ahhnder.
You guys are so cute when you talk, are you guys a couple or just _really_ good friends? Anyway, great channel!
I have an opinion on this video.
Nooooooo. Not 2040! 😮😊
Sign of a down year: VUCA games makes the list.
Nooooooo