1. Risk Legacy 2. Risk Europe 3. Risk Star Wars 4. Memoir 44 5. Age of War 6. Small World 7. Kemet 8. Game of Thrones 9. 1775 Rebellion 10. Twilight Struggle
Mason Gregory not true. Just played it 3 weeks ago. I got easy games I haven’t played in years. The rules are not that heavy. Ever play Star Wars rebellion, Star Trek ascendancy? Those are heavy games, axis and allies is medium I would say.
I'd highly recommend the book "New Rules for Classic Games" by R. Wayne Schmittberger for everyone watching this video. He compiles a bunch of simple variants for Risk (and tons of other games) which breathe new life into classics. My favorite variant is "Tactical Nuclear Risk."
@@diego2817 No, it only has five steps. The rule book looks big because it has fine details in each category. I would watch a instructional video here on RU-vid.
CODEwater Airsoft and More I own all of them except for pacific and WW 1 edition. The zombie one every time an infantryman dies they automatically come back a zombie. Then you have to fight zombie and the opponent. At times you don’t want to attack anyone solely because you just don’t want to see any more zombies.
Can't really argue with Tom's list (although Game of Thrones and Twilight Struggle are heavy to recommend to non-hobby gamers), but five other worthy mentions: Quartermaster General, Spheres of Influence, Nexus Ops, Axis & Allies, Ikusa
My list in no particular order would be: * Scythe * Axis & Allies * Diplomacy * Memoir '44 * 1775: Rebellion * Twilight Struggle * World War Tesla * Dust Tactics/Dust 1947
My friends and I played the mess out of risk as teens. Now that I'm into boardgames and they're not so much I use pandemic to get them into the hobby. At very least peak their interest. The way I have sold all of them on playing is by telling them it is co-op Risk in a tenth the time. Has worked at least a dozen times.
Thank you for pointing the others options to me. My gaming group loves shogun but we always feel that whoever ends up in the middle is at a massive disadvantage. Still one of our favourites in any case. Really surprised it was not mentioned
Which Shogun are you referring to? Shogun by Queen games with the cube tower or Shogun, which was later called Samurai Swords, which is now called Ikusa that is very similar to Axis & Allies?
I ended up playing Risk a lot in my college days because my roomate loved it. I ended up hating it, seems that it had this particular problem-- the tendency to reach equilibrium and last forever given three or more players. Someone would get powerful and everyone else would gang up and knock them down to size, resulting in one of the other players getting powerful-- rinse and repeat. Ugh. The game usually ended about 4AM with someone allowing themselves to be killed off just so the game would end (and that someone was often me). So what game's better than Risk? ANY GAME, if you ask me.
Pretty much why you include the Cease Fire card. Once drawn the game is over, and you add up points I.e. all the territories you conquered. Bonus points equal to the number of troops you could get were added to your score if you conquered a continent. Usually that way the game would last about maybe an hour or two at most.
The game has a built in timer. Every set of cards traded in gives more troops than the last. At some point you should be able to amass a ridiculously large army and steamroll someone. You were playing it wrong. Seriously. Who the fuck plays with 3 people and then constantly gangs up 2 v 1 as soon as someone becomes dominant? Of course the game wouldn't end. Make 1 alliance or make no alliances. The game will end fast enough.
No one ever mentions them anymore, but there are two games very similar to Risk that are still quite good; not as good as games like Small World perhaps, but still good. The first one is actually a variation on Risk and even has Risk in the title, and that is Risk 2210 A.D. It is Risk, but it gives the units more regions to control, even some on the moon. There are also sea areas you can control and no region is much harder to get under your control than the other, so the lack of balance that you had with Australia in regular Risk is gone. And last but not least, it ends after a set number of rounds. I don't know everything about this game, but I was impressed to see what issues it fixes from the original Risk. And the other game I'm talking about is Dust. Not Dust Tactics or Dust Warfare, but just Dust, which seems to be described as some sort of cross between Risk and Axis & Allies. Again, there is no continent where you are a lot safer than on the other, also because of the fact that you can do battle on sea, and transport your land units over sea with the help of submarines. The game works with a victory point system that will set your goal for the end of the game (get the set amount of points first and you'll win). Instead of completing secret objectives and conquering continents to get extra troops, you'll have your own Capital to defend and other ones to conquer, as well as building production centers and power sources to get enough resources for getting your troops. What I like about the game is the fact that there are more types of units instead of just one (as in Risk). Tanks and mechs battle on land, submarines battle on sea and fighters and bombers battle above land, but can sometimes be used to fly themselves to remote places that need more support. And I also like the simple hit-or-miss combat system (only hits or misses on the dice), but still some depth because of the types of attacks depending on where you battle and with what.
Glad to see Small World mentioned as that is my favorite Risk-like game. Or if I want something with the long and epic feeling, but that still keeps everyone competitive till the end, then I enjoy History of the World.
I love this new series. I find myself recommending tons of games for tons of people, and a lot of times the only reference to what they would like is liking or playing one of the classics. These videos help a lot in understanding different aspects that might make some games good replacements for said classics. Keep it up, Tom!
I tried it out recently, and I can live without it. Came down to the last player in the last round deciding who to attack...whoever he choose lost and the other won. Not my idea of fun.
I buy every single version of Risk I can get my hands on, but I have never played Risk Europe nor Star Wars, out of the 12+ versions I have. I have to say playing them all over and over, my very favorite Risk is Metal Gear Solid. The Outer Haven mechanic makes for such dynamic late-game turnovers that it fascinates the FUCK out of me
The Outer Haven mechanic also eliminates the dreaded "Australia Turtling" army growing technique... And the hero units, if used right are pretty cool. Wouldn't ever go back to vanilla risk after playing this one...
The variable turn order in SoI is brilliant. That and the special cards make it my favorite Risk-killer. I do believe it's still available from the homepage of Little Nuke Games, though shipping outside the US will be expensive.
Small World is one of my favorite games. I need to get my hands on GOT The Board Game. Twilight Struggle is a long game and is real tough if you're new to it playing against someone who is more familiar with it.
Should have had El Grande. No explicit combat, but it has the light area control style of Risk with a number of clever mechanics that make it much more strategic and fun. I also prefer the fantasty version of Memoir '44, Battlelore 2nd ed.
Diplomacy. It is the essence of strategy games (no luck/dice/cards). And with so much online activity &variants. And since we are talking about risk there is godstorm.
Warzone is also a good mobile game that can replace risk, where u can do a campaign, make your own custom matches, play with other players, or make different levels for players across the world to play and see if they can beat it
Dear Tom, you mention 3 versions of Risk (Legacy, Europa and Star Wars) better than Original Risk. In my opinion, the best Risk version after the Original (and better than 3 versions you mentioned) is RISK 2210 AD. Best version ever! Regards.
True story: the way I always introduce Small World to my non-gaming friends is: it's like Risk but fun to play. I just discovered this series of "better than" videos. I am really liking them.
Love your list! I’ve tried this game called Lagim - a collectible card game based on the Philippines’s folklore and mythology. The art work of this game set is also impressive.
The bonus of the Risk variants like Risk Europe and Star Wars Risk compared to the others is that they can be bought quite cheap. I got mine for about £20 each.
I love playing Risk but it very quickly can feel repetitive. That's why I like the "story mode" of the different games and the alternative win conditions they give.
This is helpful. We played alot of Risk as kids and I'd hope the better games will be enjoyed much more by the next generation. 1775 (or 878), Endeavor: Age of Sail, Twilight Imperium (or Eclipse), Shogun, 'Coin' series Games (GMT) and Twilight Struggle. Political-Economic 'Euro' games like Hansa Teutonica (or Marco Polo) Shasn, Coimbra, Tzolkin, Architects of the Western Kingom (or Raiders of Scythia), Lancaster, Stroganov, Pax Pamir (or John Company), Explorers of the North Sea (or Raiders of the North Sea) and Odin's Feast. Want war? How about Frederick (or Maria), Race to Moscow, and a host of others without going to fantasy themes (Glad you did not mention Axis-and-Allies). There are so MANY good 'non-zero-sum' euro games now. .
I just won risk playing for the first time out of South America, we were playing capitols but I was so closed to world domination my opponents both forfeit
Last summer I decided to merge a few things from Axis Allies into Risk. My friends at work and I have not played a game yet because our schedules are so conflicting. It amazes me that I can't find a single video posted by anyone that has tried to merge these two games? All I took from Axis Allies was using $$ to build a factory, then you can build a naval base and/or Air Base so you can manufacture short/long range bombers, and/or aircraft carriers/troop transport ships so you can have an impact on what's happening in different parts of the world even though your armies are somewhat isolated in a particular part of the world. You also can manufacture air defense and radar stations, and also coastal artillery to defend against air strikes and amphibious assault. you can also manufacture an atomic weapon. Also added the need for petroleum oil.
I would have added War of the Ring to the list. It's for 2 to 4 players and as well as the regular army combat also has the fun of trying to get the Fellowship of the Ring secretly to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. If you enjoy Risk or you enjoy Lord of the Rings then I'd recommend this game.
Josh Roberts one of my faves, you have to pay attention to where the walkers have already hit and make sure you avoid having weak forces in territories that are still not yet attacked!
For my money, no game captures the feel of Risk like Nexus Ops. It's the Risk feel in a 60-90 minute playtime. Can't believe it's not on the list as it's the game I always see mentioned for Risk lovers.
Taking or holding asia in risk is nearly impossible. It's one of the jobs of the player who holds australia to step into siam and make sure nobody ever controls asia.
Dust strategy board game is very good. Out of print but copies are around. Plays well from 2 up to 6. Everyone I've played wants to play again as soon as the game is over. 10 rounds, point based there for attacking rewarded turtling/build up is not. Can't recommended enough!
TBH i love Risk, i own a revised edition, and i know it's more of a luck game cause even having 20 units assaulting 6 units doesn't guarantee you victory in a battle. Also all that dice throwing takes a good chunk of time. That's why i adjusted the rules a bit so that there's no need for dice, it eliminates most of the random aspect and speeds up the game a lot.
Tom... you forgot a few games Shogun (Samurai Swords) is amazing... Samurai (Knizia), Condotierre is amazing (card game), how about "Fortresss America"?
For me Nexus Ops, Dust and Age of Conan are the best Risk'ish games, except that the last is perhaps too complicated to be compared. Same is imho true for the Axis & Allies games.
if I recall correctly tom doesn't like axis and allies due to the low amount of player agency and the "smug" people who play the game, with dictated pre-determined opening moves for every country pretty much. IE. lots of "oh you can play X and here's your first moves"
Back in the 80s, Axis & Allies was definitely the game that replaced Risk for my group. We played it like mad. heh That was around when we also discovered Diplomacy, which was a really cool departure from doing combat with dice. ;-) Today, I'd put stuff on the list like Nexus Ops, Fortress America, Conquest of Nerath, and maybe Cry Havoc... stuff like that. :-)
I was surprised to not see Imperial. Apart from being an absolute genius of a game in its own right, it looks like Risk and it feels like you're a level above players who play Risk - they could be there as your marionettes, thinking they play Risk but actually being manipulated without knowing it ;)
Interesting video. I am surprised axis and Allies was not mentioned and even expected it to be the last one he mentioned till it was not but Memoir 44 highly recommend. It focuses more on tactics than grand strategy playing individual battles instead of whole wars. I thought the star wars one was interesting. I really want to try risk Europe and only recently discovered it. Also I would like to try risk Mythology. Risk is more simplistic which is good and bad. Complicated games a lot of people don't like so your family may not want to play a hard game that u love. A perfect example is Merchants and Marauders. This game goes in detail of piracy or u can be a merchant and win that way all be it a bit more boring. Highly recommend but my family thinks its too hard. Also cad games a great one is Citadels. Also I don't want to have to many types of Risk and not play them. My brother has so many versions of Monopoly, and a lot don't get played. He is a monopoly guy and I am a Risk guy and even our lives have gone in those directions. I am a military man and he is more into sales law and investing. I know better or worse are subjective but Risk will always be either on of if not my favorite game. Others include memoir 44 the civil version of memoir 44 citadels settlers of catan, dominion, Carcassonne, Merchants and Marauders, Robert Kyosokis financial game, and the disease one where u try to beat the game.
Smallworld just doesn't do it as a Risk replacement for me. Cyclades does though! (I've yet to play Kemet.) Surprised Nexus Ops, Cry Havoc, & possibly Tigris & Euphrates or El Grande' didn't make this list.
Age of War is actually a rethemed version of a game called "Risk: Express," there are several Print-and-Play version out there, you basically just need to print out a few cards and get some D6s.
"Memoir '44" actually tries to take "all of the battles of WWII" and abstracts them so much, and dumbs them down so much, that they bear no resemblance to reality.
I know the guys think highly of M44 and good luck to them. I can also see it might be a move up for Risk players. However whichever way you look at it the game just plain isn't a "highly strategic game" that "recreates the major battles of WWII".
I am surprised about Twilight Struggle and Game of Thrones. Although not a fan of Smallworld, ok understand this one. I am surprised no Cry Havoc or Nexus Ops.
Think what a lot of the people commenting here are forgetting is that tom makes these lists to help people get friends and family to try new games, so if his choices seem to light or "dumbed down " that's probably the reason