An ABC of Best Abstract Strategy Games
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Here, in my opinion, are the best abstract strategy games starting with each letter of the alphabet. Games not yet in the BGG database are discussed in the comments section. Comments most welcome. If you are interested in knowing more about any of the honorable mention games, geekmail me. Enjoy my first BGG list.
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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One of the greatest abstract games invented in the past few decades. Simple rules and very deep play. A huge number of possible moves per turn means that strategy dominates over tactics. This game has attracted the attention of computer programmers, and the best programs now play very well.
Honorable mention: Arimaa, Abalone, Akron, Accasta, Anchor
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2.
Board Game: Bushka
[Average Rating:5.92 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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A great checkers-like game from the inestimable Christiaan Freeling.
Honorable mention: Bipod, Breakthrough
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3.
Board Game: Chess
[Average Rating:7.09 Overall Rank:245]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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There are other excellent games to choose from here, but it's hard not to pick the game to which thousands have devoted their lives and which has produced innumerable examples of brilliant play.
Honorable mention: Camelot, Cannon, Chase, Croda, Chad
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4.
Board Game: Dameo
[Average Rating:7.17 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Dameo is Christian Freeling's take on checkers. Better than American or International Checkers and less drawish.
Honorable mention: Delta, Dragon, Dvonn
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5.
Board Game: Emergo
[Average Rating:6.93 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Originally conceived for a hexagonally-tessellated board, but now standardized to squares, Freeling's Emergo is a fast-moving and tactically deep update of Laska.
Honorable mention: Epaminondas, Entrapment, Ergo, Exxit
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6.
Board Game: Focus
[Average Rating:6.58 Overall Rank:1316]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Sid Sackson's finest abstract strategy game, also produced under the name of "Domination"
Honorable mention: Fanorona, Fibonacci
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7.
Board Game: Go
[Average Rating:7.77 Overall Rank:41]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Probably the world's deepest strategy game and the only game that can rival chess in the depth of analysis and devotion it has attracted.
Honorable mention: Gipf, Gonnect, Gogol, The Good-For-Nothings, Gyges, Gounki
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8.
Board Game: Hex
[Average Rating:6.78 Overall Rank:1427]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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The quintessential connection game, about as simple as a game can be, yet deep and interesting.
Honorable mention: Havannah, Hexade, Hexdame, Hive
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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An alignment game with three piece types that allow both players to occupy a given location. Very sharp tactical game.
Honorable mention: India
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
-
Khet is a very tactical game in the chess family, with long-range kills possible. Very sharp and challenging. Perhaps a little lacking in clarity for long-range planning.
Honorable mention: Kuba, Kinger, King's Court, Ko-An, Ketchup
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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A great game with original movement rules and winning condition. Another game that attracted a strong following in NOST.
Honorable mention: Lotus, Lilypad
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12.
Board Game: Makruk
[Average Rating:7.44 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
-
The regional chess of Thailand. Makruk is a slower-paced game than western chess, but provides a great positional challenge
Honorable mention: Medusa, Mastery, MacBeth, Macadam, Modern-Ming-Mang
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13.
Board Game: Neutron
[Average Rating:6.58 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
-
A fun, fast-paced, and very tactical game playable on 5x5, 7x7, or even larger boards
Honorable mention: Neo Chess
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14.
Board Game: Octi
[Average Rating:6.84 Overall Rank:1615]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
-
The winner by a nose over two very good non-proprietary honorable mentions, Octi is a very challenging game with interesting tactics and strategy. Originally designed by a Yale professor to be difficult for computers to play, and the best programs still can't beat the best humans.
Honorable mention: Onyx, Orbit, Ordo
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15.
Board Game: Pente
[Average Rating:6.63 Overall Rank:800]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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While I might have chosen Poly-Y over Pente, Pente is in the database. And Pente is a very good game, as is its variant Keryo Pente.
Honorable mention: Poly-Y, Phalanx
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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An excellent path-finding game with excellent production values.
Honorable mention: Quax, Quarto, Queen's Guard
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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While 6x6 Reversi (the original, nonproprietary game that was later marketed as "Othello") has been solved, and 8x8 is becoming very well-analyzed and may be a draw, 10x10 will be a great game for a very long time to come.
Honorable mention: Realm, Renju
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18.
Board Game: Shogi
[Average Rating:7.40 Overall Rank:486]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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The traditional chess of Japan. Shogi starts more slowly than chess, but turns into a sharp mating race, and draws make up only about 2% of all games even between masters. A very great game. Some of the honorable mentions would place first for many other letters; "S" is loaded.
Honorable mentions: Santorini, *Star, Scala, Shakti, Slither, Six, Susan, Sygo
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19.
Board Game: Twixt
[Average Rating:6.60 Overall Rank:840]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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One of the best connection games, a field featuring many fine games, including two in the "T" honorable mentions!
Honorable mentions: Terrace, Trax, Trellis, Traverse, Taiji
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20.
Board Game: Unlur
[Average Rating:7.59 Unranked]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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Another connection game, this time with players trying to achieve different goals, one of them easier to achieve, but balance is achieved by an interesting pie-rule starting phase. Original and interesting.
Honorable mention: Uisge
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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The regional chess of China featuring the interesting cannon pieces and the palace that confines the kings. A great game played by millions.
Honorable mention: Xodd
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Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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More interesting than Hex. A great game with extremely simple rules. Its big-brother Poly-Y is also very interesting.
Honorable mention: Yinsh, Yavaleth, Yodd
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23.
Board Game: ZÈRTZ
[Average Rating:7.37 Overall Rank:183]
Michael Howe
United States
Cromwell
Connecticut
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I have little experience with Z games so I'm listing the very popular Zertz even though it doesn't appeal to me personally.
Honorable mention: Zenix, Zen, Zonesh, Zamma, Zhadu
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