5 Best Beginner Wargames

Our first installment of 5 Best Beginner Wargames.
We highlight 4 solo games, 2 games focused on urban combat, games from the tactical level up to strategic campaign level. All 5 games are well design games with a balance of player agency and the uncertainty of warfare. I have played all of theses games and would recommend any one of these games to someone just getting into wargames.
Battle for Ramadi
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On to Moscow
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Tarawa 1943
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Undaunted: Normandy
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Stalingrad: Advance to the Volga, 1942
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[@carrickrichards2457]

Good list, well presented, thank you

[@HissyCat]

Hi Carrick, thank you for watching and the kind words. I am glad you enjoyed the list. =)

[@michaelrinella6384]

The follow-up to Stalingrad, the battle of Manila, 1945, is at the printers. Shipping in about eight weeks!

[@HissyCat]

I actually have a playtest copy of the game and will be publishing a play thru video late December - mid January. You have designed another fantastic game!!

[@ZillaBlitz]

Awesome! I think this is your best video yet. Really liked the flow and the amount of information you packed into 10 minutes. Makes me want to get and play all of these. Great stuff!

[@HissyCat]

Thanks Mr. Z =}

[@RememberTheRegs]

Bought the Battle for Ramadi following this video. Looking forward to giving it a go as my first solitaire war game.

[@HissyCat]

Hi RememberTheRegs, I think you will enjoy it, i have fun every time i play it. I would love to hear your thoughts once you play it. and welcome to solo wargame family. =)

[@RememberTheRegs]

@@HissyCat thanks :D Will drop some comments once I've had a play.

[@HissyCat]

@@RememberTheRegs Awesome. =)

[@jamesbrazeal3847]

As someone new to war games I greatly appreciate this list. I have saved it and check out the games. I also subscribed. Thanks 😊

[@HissyCat]

Hi James, thank you for the sub and I hope the games I listed help. There are many other great beginner games out there I just wanted to list a few I have actually played and own.

[@MeanderingMikesManCave]

Nice set of five games. I need to get the Battle of Ramadi ... I don't have that one yet! 🙂

[@HissyCat]

Thanks boss. Battle for Ramidi is a fun game, I think you would enjoy it. =}

[@vijilant]

Recommend chapter markers :)
Really good video.

[@HissyCat]

Thank you sir, trying to level up my video skills.

[@walkaboutgamez2502]

Good selection of games

[@HissyCat]

Thank you boss, I tried to cover a few different types and styles. =)

[@charleslatora5750]

Good selection sir. Stay safe. Be well.

[@HissyCat]

Happy Thanksgiving my friend!

[@ParkeraNZ]

Enjoyed watching this and the added music was not overpowering compared to your voice and the choice of music used was also complementary as well.

[@HissyCat]

thanks, i wasn't 100% on the music, i think it was a tad too loud. thank you boss.

[@Granox]

First one seems interesting might but it

[@HissyCat]

Let me know your thoughts if you get it

[@jpro8908]

Tarawa was my third game and Stalingrad my fourth.

[@HissyCat]

Nice picks. I hope you are enjoying them, i know i have. =)

[@jpro8908]

@@HissyCat Very much so indeed! Great hobby to have for sure!

[@HissyCat]

@@jpro8908 totally agree. =)

[@Fettigator]

What were your first 2?

[@jpro8908]

@@Fettigator Funny my first one was Pandemic Fall of Rome. I had gotten it for my grandson and after reading the reviews and knowing it could be played solo I ordered two copies. From there I was hooked. I took a deep dive and my second title along the same era was The wars of Marcus Aurelius from Hollandspiele. There was no looking back after!

[@kosterix123]

The best beginner simplest game is Airborne in your pocket. All you need is a printer. Setup is very simple. It has 50 scenarios.

[@HissyCat]

Hi Kosterix, is that a PnP game? Where would I find it?

[@kosterix123]

@@HissyCat unfortunately you will need a bgg account for that IIRC. I can share the files if you prefer.

[@HissyCat]

@@kosterix123 I have bgg, I’ll search for it. =}

[@ASLAcademy]

Despite being an obvious hardcore ASLer, I love science fiction. Do you have any recommendations for good scifi wargames, beginner or otherwise? Not sure I've seen you talk about them, or if you're into them.

[@HissyCat]

Hey boss, I love sci-fi. I mostly game sci-fi with miniatures, but I grew up playing OGRE and G.E.V. Just remembering how much fun those are, I need to get copies. Both were from Steve Jackson Games and are Classics. There is also the Space Infantry Series from Lock n Load. I have an old copy and it’s a solitaire game.
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5206/ogre
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66781/space-infantry

[@ASLAcademy]

That's funny, I recently bought the GEV reprint on Amazon because I had some of those old microgames (pocketgames?) in the late 70s. All I could afford back then, like $4 I think. Space Infantry sounds interesting, I'll take a look. Thanks.@@HissyCat

[@HissyCat]

You are welcome. the Microgames were awesome. as i remember they came in that little plastic flip box. =)

[@petercaron7023]

Space Empires 4x. Great wargame! Plays up to 4. Rules are well written and not complex. Designer streamlined a lot of fiddly stuff out of the game yet still captures the feel of space exploration / conquest. Good implementation of fog of war. Combat uses d10's, roll target number or less. Good tech tree. Clean economy rules. Plays in around 4-5 hours, depending on scenario. Some co-op and solo play as well. The Doomsday Machine scenario is a great way to teach new players the rules as it's everyone vs. the doomday machines invading the board. Can't recommend this game enough!

[@HissyCat]

@@petercaron7023 Now that's what i call a recommendation!!! Thank you Peter!