Memoir 44 is just the best little 2 player war game on the market, and has been for a long time. Pretty much the only other acceptable arguments in this niche are the other games in the series and you can find just about any setting to fit. From space battles and Fantasty warfare to the US Civil War and Ancients. The Command and colors series has a wargame for everyone vaguely interested in wargames.
Love it, but I think some of the OG box are a bit bland. The expansion have some neat scenarios and interesting unit types. It might stretch the wargame definition but don’t sleep on War Chest. My younger son prefers that now for 2 player we play but it’s surprisingly deep with drafted units.😊
"Clausewitz for kids!" You buried that nugget. It is a great game for kids. Take out the special cards and even a 7-year-old can understand what is going on. And they really do understand. My son preferred the grey models at first, which my (English) wife found a little irksome. Gradually her history lessons sank in and he now prefers to play as the Allies. Learning can be fun!
Have you played any of the expansion content? My father in law loves this game. I think it can last a bit long, but for a war game, it's reasonably short
For a wargame, its very short. I have just the 3 main unit packs, Pacific, Eastern and Med. They're fine, slightly more rules in each one than the core box but only a little. It's just more good stuff really, but play the core out first unless one of those fronts is of huge interest to you
We played this tournament style in my game group one time. The last two were determined to finishing the evening with a winner despite not much time left for the evening. They finished the game in 8 minutes. I mean really, pick an order, do it, draw a new card.
They did do a sci-fi space one a while back. But yes, it could work for just about anything. And i'm thinking of using a system heavily inspired by Memoir 44 in a light wargame i'm designing. The tweak with mine, is you build your own draw decks based on capabilities you are deploying. And its not, left, middle. right, It's different sectors on the board. But Memoir 44 is the clearest big inspiration for it.
I've heard of this game before but haven't considered it since I got into 40K (mainly playing with One Page Rules). This might be a wiser choice than Bolt Action in terms of storage and gameplay variety, thanks for the review! PS. I heard recently that there are plans for adapting Bolt Action into a board game this year, could be interesting.
I find the key is juggling units over the lines. So got a lot of right cards make sure that when you are about to run out you move some of your right units into the center to use them there with center cards.
The Napoleonics one is my favourite, it has a bit more complexity as there are different types of infantry, cavalry and artillery that all fight differently and then this is different by each nation, but the reference sheets are clear. A key difference between Memoir ‘44 and Napoleonics is that the number of dice you can role reduces as your units take damage. Both are fantastic games and I’m sure the others in the list will be too.
I’ve seen this around for ages but never looking into it, and I have to say I’m interested now. You do a wonderful job of summing up and displaying things simply, thank you!
Got this for my father-in-law and we played it for a whole day straight, absolutely loved it! Only criticism i had was not being able to burn a turn to swap out your whole hand of cards. Getting stuck with 4 cards that do nothing on repeat is just annoying
See, to me that's the core of the game, that you have to manage that. You only get into that position by overfocusing on one flank. A trick i do is use those off cards to move units into the flank i need them, or better still, use another card to get units into that flank so i can clear those cards by chaining action and action with some units doing a breakthrough. I think thats part of expert play of this game.
@@3MBG Definitely fair! It was an edge case that only happened in 1-2 games where one of us would annihilate one flank and leave it sad, but that's part of playing well!
Whilst it may look like a wargame, the gameplay can feel more like a variant on the deckbuilding theme - Sabotage your opponent's deck by removing cards (kills) or clogging it up (fog of war) - race to the objective or play the longer game by curating the deck (as in many deckbuilders), but also with the added complexity of the deckbuilding also driving positioning (defensive, offensive, preparatory) I could absolutely see someone who likes deckbuilding, also enjoying this series of games, even if the theme washes over them. The spatial element and ability to directly hamper your opponent's deck adding additional intrigue to normal deckbuilding. That also allows for a surprisingly wide range of approaches.
Indeed, Carl von Clausewitz, Prussian military theorist and the father of modern strategic studies. I've been using him as an avatar for decades as I did a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.
it really bothers me that one team is dark green and one team is blue idk it feels like theres not enough contrast. one team should be black or red or something
The green on the board is right at some point where my camera freaks out with it white balancing. So some photos look super green, and others don't and i had to manually correct them to be somewhat in-between. Very frustrating.
Memoir 44 is just the best little 2 player war game on the market, and has been for a long time. Pretty much the only other acceptable arguments in this niche are the other games in the series and you can find just about any setting to fit. From space battles and Fantasty warfare to the US Civil War and Ancients. The Command and colors series has a wargame for everyone vaguely interested in wargames.
For a link to all the other games in the series, see the video description.
@@3MBG Unfortunately, Battlelore Second Edition is not seeing reprints and is near-impossible to find at good prices here. :(
Comparable to Undaunted!
this game looks like my imagination when I was placing plastic armies all over the kitchen tiles at home as a kid.
100%
Love it, but I think some of the OG box are a bit bland. The expansion have some neat scenarios and interesting unit types.
It might stretch the wargame definition but don’t sleep on War Chest. My younger son prefers that now for 2 player we play but it’s surprisingly deep with drafted units.😊
"Clausewitz for kids!" You buried that nugget. It is a great game for kids. Take out the special cards and even a 7-year-old can understand what is going on. And they really do understand. My son preferred the grey models at first, which my (English) wife found a little irksome. Gradually her history lessons sank in and he now prefers to play as the Allies. Learning can be fun!
Fantastic
Have you played any of the expansion content? My father in law loves this game. I think it can last a bit long, but for a war game, it's reasonably short
For a wargame, its very short. I have just the 3 main unit packs, Pacific, Eastern and Med. They're fine, slightly more rules in each one than the core box but only a little. It's just more good stuff really, but play the core out first unless one of those fronts is of huge interest to you
This was the game that really got me into baord games. True classic!
And with the various expansions it's one of the best WW2 games out there
One of my favorite boardgames, such a classic, and i have made a small version for on the go
Love M44. Such amazing longevity as well.
This looks is much more random than Undaunted. Undaunted uses dice for attacks but it's much more streamlined and can be mitigated.
Undaunted is also about 20 years newer ;)
And the large pre-printed maps make set up really easy. Such a masterpiece of a game that will give you lots of great memories.
We played this tournament style in my game group one time. The last two were determined to finishing the evening with a winner despite not much time left for the evening. They finished the game in 8 minutes. I mean really, pick an order, do it, draw a new card.
hot damn that's some speed M44.
I can see it though, two veteran players who agree to make the game go as fast as practicable. Still, very impressive.
I like Memoir 44 a lot, but I think Undaunted edges it out for top spot. This is a very close 2nd tho.
I keep bugging David for a copy of undaunted.
@@3MBG I would love to introduce you to it. Just a quick jump over the pond! lol
I wrote to the designer about adapting this to the Star Wars IP. Would be a gold mine, I think.
He seemed intrigued by the idea.
They did do a sci-fi space one a while back. But yes, it could work for just about anything. And i'm thinking of using a system heavily inspired by Memoir 44 in a light wargame i'm designing. The tweak with mine, is you build your own draw decks based on capabilities you are deploying. And its not, left, middle. right, It's different sectors on the board. But Memoir 44 is the clearest big inspiration for it.
I played Battlecry growing up and LOVED it!!!
This looks great and all the expansions, hot damn thats awesome!!!
I've heard of this game before but haven't considered it since I got into 40K (mainly playing with One Page Rules). This might be a wiser choice than Bolt Action in terms of storage and gameplay variety, thanks for the review!
PS. I heard recently that there are plans for adapting Bolt Action into a board game this year, could be interesting.
I have only played this on BGA and I’m so bad at it. lol
Definitely not hating on it, I just think bad at strategic combat.
I find the key is juggling units over the lines. So got a lot of right cards make sure that when you are about to run out you move some of your right units into the center to use them there with center cards.
@@3MBG thats smart
Can you give the list of alternate games you showed at the end? they went by fast
I've added a link in the video description above. That will go through to a list that has even more of them, there's a bunch
The Napoleonics one is my favourite, it has a bit more complexity as there are different types of infantry, cavalry and artillery that all fight differently and then this is different by each nation, but the reference sheets are clear. A key difference between Memoir ‘44 and Napoleonics is that the number of dice you can role reduces as your units take damage. Both are fantastic games and I’m sure the others in the list will be too.
The second edition with modern armies NATO vs Russia would be so cool.
Too soon maybe? A lot of wargames get more easier to manage once they pass from living memory.
Oh, thank you for review. I love this one!
Immediately knew that this is a GMG
Well, yeah, it hits a lot of notes that make for a great game for me. And it's also a near universal pick for best in its category. Tis a worthy game
I’ve seen this around for ages but never looking into it, and I have to say I’m interested now. You do a wonderful job of summing up and displaying things simply, thank you!
Much appreciated.
Got this for my father-in-law and we played it for a whole day straight, absolutely loved it! Only criticism i had was not being able to burn a turn to swap out your whole hand of cards. Getting stuck with 4 cards that do nothing on repeat is just annoying
See, to me that's the core of the game, that you have to manage that. You only get into that position by overfocusing on one flank. A trick i do is use those off cards to move units into the flank i need them, or better still, use another card to get units into that flank so i can clear those cards by chaining action and action with some units doing a breakthrough.
I think thats part of expert play of this game.
There's a house rule that you can burn any card to move only one unit in any one section. Seems to work well.
@@3MBG Definitely fair! It was an edge case that only happened in 1-2 games where one of us would annihilate one flank and leave it sad, but that's part of playing well!
@@Emsworth377 duly noted, will have to try that!
“For something more tankey” 😂 brilliant
I am surprised you have not mentioned Undaunted. For me it is a candidate for the best light wargame.
I still haven't played it.
Whilst it may look like a wargame, the gameplay can feel more like a variant on the deckbuilding theme
- Sabotage your opponent's deck by removing cards (kills) or clogging it up (fog of war)
- race to the objective or play the longer game by curating the deck (as in many deckbuilders), but also with the added complexity of the deckbuilding also driving positioning (defensive, offensive, preparatory)
I could absolutely see someone who likes deckbuilding, also enjoying this series of games, even if the theme washes over them. The spatial element and ability to directly hamper your opponent's deck adding additional intrigue to normal deckbuilding. That also allows for a surprisingly wide range of approaches.
So much nostalgia
Please Review Company of heroes next!
Would love to, just haven't played it. The next war game coming up on the channel is an odd one, Churchill.
@@3MBG it is currently on the pledge manager state on gamefound for the 2nd version and it looks quite good!
3:43 So that's the name of your avatar
Indeed, Carl von Clausewitz, Prussian military theorist and the father of modern strategic studies. I've been using him as an avatar for decades as I did a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.
Owned it, sold it, it just didn’t make it to the table often.
Such a great game. BGA has a great online implementation of it that is certainly worth checking out!
I would have bought this game but tried online on steam and it seemed too luck based with the dice rolls.
Trust me, like a lot of wargames with dice, the more skilled player will still win every single time.
it really bothers me that one team is dark green and one team is blue
idk it feels like theres not enough contrast. one team should be black or red or something
They went for historical accuracy over visibility
Its probably the colour correction on my photos, in person they are easy enough to tell apart.
The green on the board is right at some point where my camera freaks out with it white balancing. So some photos look super green, and others don't and i had to manually correct them to be somewhat in-between. Very frustrating.