Strategy Board Games Round-Up
The iPad/iPhone/iPod touch have proven to be amazing platforms for strategy board games and card games, I thought I would do a summary of some of the more interesting ones. Sorry, this is so long, but I LOVE strategy gaming, and I wanted to share!
Roll Through the Ages -
iTunes Link
Price: $3
Compatibility:
It's an iPhone app, but it looks and plays just fine at 2x on the iPad.
Description:
A dice rolling game. Difficult to grasp at first and the tutorial is lacking. If you want to learn the game, Scott Nicholson of "Board Games with Scott"
has made a good video review explaining the game well. Build cities, build developments and feed your people to earn points, a better society will net you more points. Really, really fun solitaire game. Game includes the excellent "Late Bronze Age" expansion. Probably my favourite game right now.
- Game Length: 3 minutes (once you've learned it)
- Multiplayer?: Yes, unlimited players...local only. I don't like the multiplayer as much as single player - more players slows the pace of the game a lot.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 3.5 stars
- My rating: 5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.1/10 and 7.64/10 for the "Late Bronze Age"expansion.
- Boardgamegeek link
Samurai -
iTunes Link
Price: $5
Compatibility:
iPhone App
works well on iPad
Description:
You place tiles to exert influence over and eventually capture religious, peasant and warrior castes. Its a multiplayer game where each player is competing to capture the most of each category. Very interesting and unique strategy. The app itself is very well-made, with a (thankfully) very helpful tutorial.
- Game Length: 10 minutes.
- Multiplayer?: Yes, online and local. Local is pass and play with hidden information which is not appealing to me, but the online is (apparently) well done.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 5 stars
- My rating: 5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.53/10 Boardgamegeek link
Carcassonne -
iTunes Link
Price: $5
Compatibility:
iPhone App
works well on iPad
they have promised a price increase and a universal version is coming.
Description:
A GAF favourite for good reason. This game, Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride, are the three best real life gateway board games for getting people away from Monopoly and Sorry! and into true strategy board games. A great implementation of a great game. Lay tiles and place peasants strategically to get points. Great UI, Great Tutorial, price increase is coming
.Get it now!
Settlers of Catan -
iTunes Link
Price: $5
Compatibility:
iPhone App
works well on iPad
Description:
A true classic. Most peoples first strategy board game. I find the iPhone implementation disappointing as it just plays too slowly for me, and doesnt have any of the expansions available (Seafarers would be a welcome addition). I think the best part of Catan is trading with friends and negotiating with them these human interactions just cant be replicated in the app. Still, if youve never tried Catan before, this is a very true version, and an interesting game.
- Game Length: 10-15 minutes.
- Multiplayer?: Yes, local only hot seat multiplayer
.not a great way to play
but better than nothing I guess.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes in App
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4.5 stars
- My rating: 3.5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.58/10 Boardgamegeek link
Reiner Knizia's Money -
iTunes Link
Price: $3
Compatibility:
It's a universal app and plays well on both iPhone and iPad.
Description:
An auction style game that has players bidding on various currencies (Euros/USD/Pounds/Chinese RMB/Yen). Points are given out for collecting a lot of the same currency or three-of-a-kinds. Easy to pick up on the rules, and a little too easy to win once you get the hang of it. Very fun and well worth $3.
- Game Length: 5 minutes
- Multiplayer?: No
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4.5 stars
- My rating: 3.5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 6.7/10
- Boardgamegeek link
Reiner Knizia's High Society -
iTunes Link
Price: $3
Compatibility:
It's a universal app and plays well on both iPhone and iPad.
Description:
An auction style game that has players bidding on luxuries and recognitions, to increase their points, and bidding to avoid misfortunes which decrease points. All players start with the same amount of money to bid on items, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.....but there's a twist! The player with the fewest dollars remaining at the end of the game loses, regardless of how many points they have. It's a great wrinkle which adds a lot of of strategy to the game.
- Game Length: 5 minutes
- Multiplayer?: No
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4 stars (many are complaining of a crash bug that I haven't experienced!)
- My rating: 4 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 6.88/10
- Boardgamegeek link
Hive -
iTunes Link
Price: $2
Compatibility:
It's an iPhone app, but it looks and plays just fine at 2x on the iPad.
Description:
I think of this as a light chess game. Players take turns moving their insect armies attempting to surround their opponent's queen. Each unit has a specific movement ability. A lot of interesting strategies develop as you learn the game.
- Game Length: 5-10 minutes
- Multiplayer?: Yes, 2 Player local only. This is an "open information" game so no need to have your opponent look away while you are taking your turn.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4 stars
- My rating: 4 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.37/10
- Boardgamegeek link
Honey Thats Mine -
iTunes Link
Price: $2
Compatibility:
It's an iPhone app, but it looks and plays just fine at 2x on the iPad.
Description:
Place your bees on the board and try to eat the most honey. Once youve landed on a hex, other bees cant land on or fly over that spot. Basically you try to use your bees to block in your opponents. A fun game, and can get hectic in multiplayer.
Note: This is apparently a copy of an original board game called Hey! Thats My Fish!.
- Game Length: 10 minutes
- Multiplayer?: Yes, 4 players, local only a good multiplayer game.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 3 stars (some people are experiencing crashing issues that I havent been)
- My rating: 3.5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 6.95/10
- Boardgamegeek link
Reiner Knizias Medici -
iPad version -
iPhone version
Price: $6 for iPad - $3 for iPhone
Compatibility:
Separate apps for iPhone and iPad
Description:
Another auction-style game by Knizia. Bid on goods, receive a bonus for having the most of a given good, and an extra bonus for having the highest value of items on your boat.
While the game itself is interesting, I am disappointed in the app for 2 reasons: 1.) the AI is far too easy and gameable (just dont bid much until the end of a round, and you can get goods very cheap) 2.) the apps are crashy, and the UI is not smooth. The game crashed as I was loading it to do this writeup.
- Game Length: 10 minutes (another gripe is that the pace is too slow, especially when counting
it should be a faster game)
- Multiplayer?: Yes, up to 6 players, local only.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: iPad: 3 stars, iPhone 2.5 stars
- My rating: 2 stars heres hoping for an update!
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.24/10 Boardgamegeek link
Tichu -
iTunes Link
Price: $3
Compatibility:
Universal app
Description:
Challenging trick-taking strategy card game. Apparently an extremely popular Chinese card game. Similar flow to Big 2, but a LOT more strategy here. Very interesting game, and a GREAT app in terms of UI, tutorial, and apparently the AI is good (Im too new to know).
- Game Length: 1-2 minutes per round. 10-15 minutes per game
- Multiplayer?: Yes, via Bluetooth
I think it is 2 player only.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 5 stars
- My rating: 4.5 stars (after 2 games)
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.72/10 Boardgamegeek link
Small World for iPad -
iTunes Link
Price: $7
Compatibility:
iPad only
Description:
A one-on-one battle where each player chooses a race and tries to take over and hold provinces in the world (expansion is somewhat like Risk). The more area you control, the more points you get. The catch is that you dont get to replenish units, so once your race is fully extended, all you can do is lose ground, so at some point you must must choose put your race in decline and choose a new race, and attempt again to conquer as much area as possible. There is a real ebb and flow to this unique game, as races extend, and decline. This is a game by Days of Wonder, makers of Ticket to Ride (my favourite board game ever). The app is extremely high quality in terms of art and production value.
- Game Length: 10-15 minutes per game
- Multiplayer?: Yes, it is 2 player local only.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
but through in App control
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4.5 stars
- My rating: 3.5 stars (I want to like it more, its very polished and interesting, but for some reason I dont get it)
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.64/10 Boardgamegeek link
Charadium -
iPad -
iPhone
Price: iPad $5, iPhone $3
Compatibility:
Separate apps (Ive only played iPad
Description:
Think Pictionary. Draw a picture, or guess someone elses drawing for points. Great implementation
fast and clean. Fun to play online.
- Game Length: 30 seconds per picture
10 minutes for a full game.
- Multiplayer?: Yes, no local play
.must be connected to play (I think!)
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4 stars
- My rating: 4.5 stars (If you like Pictionary, this app is for you!)
- Boardgamegeek rating: 5.83/10 Boardgamegeek link
Reiner Knizias Robot Master -
iTunes Link
Price: $1
Compatibility:
iPhone app. Plays well on both, but seems more suited to iPhone
Description:
Very quick game. Can be played solitaire, versus AI, or versus another person. I love the tournament solitaire version of the game. Involves drawing number cards to maximize score. Light math required. Less than 2 minutes and you get a quick strategy hit.
- Game Length: 2 minutes.
- Multiplayer?: Yes, Local only hotseat pass and play.
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 3.5 stars
- My rating: 4 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 6.46 /10 Boardgamegeek link
Shredder Chess -
iPad -
iPhone
Price: iPad $8, iPhone $8
Compatibility:
Separate apps (Ive only played iPad)
Description:
A great game of chess! Adjusts to your skill level very effectively to give a challenging, but winnable game. Also if you take the time, it will help you improve considerably.
- Game Length: Chess
depends on you.
- Multiplayer?: Yes
- Can I play my own music?: Yes
- Current Version's Rating in iTunes: 4 stars
- My rating: 4.5 stars
- Boardgamegeek rating: 7.06/10 Boardgamegeek link
