25 for 2026
I threw my collection into the PubMeeple sorting engine and answered a few questions. The first was, "What games do I most want to play next?"
If I had a full day and a live opponent, what would I like to play on that day?
There's a comment section at the end, let me know what you're looking forward to. Log-in first, or just comment as a guest, I appreciate it all.
1 Thunder on the Mississippi: Grant's Vicksburg Campaign
-I got in a tiny bit of this last year, but just enough to make me know I wanted more
2 WWII Commander: Volume Two – Market-Garden
-New John Butterfield? No brainer, I'm in.
3 Brazen Chariots: Battles for Tobruk, 1941
-Like GCACW, I've been itching to finally learn BCS. Will this finally be the year?
4 Give Us Victories
-Some readers may be surprised to see this so high, or might not even know the game as it's from Di Simula, a very small Italian publisher. I got this game when it first came out in 2022, played it solo and enjoyed it, but it left me with a real urge to play it opposed.
5 For the People
-Strange that I haven't played this yet given the subject and designer, but I haven't. I'd like to do a round up of ACW strategic level games at some point, so this has got to be in the mix. Word is, if you can get your head around the river/riverine rules, you're good to go.
6 Stalingrad Roads: Battle on the Edge of the Abyss
-I was working on a piece about this game, playing it via VASSAL PBEM and solo on my table, and then the flood hit. It's been boxed up ever since. I haven't played any of the "Roads" games, and this one feels really approachable.
7 Axis Empires: Ultimate Edition
-Another game that I was playing via VASSAL PBEM when the flood hit. I might have been able to continue, but for me, playing this on VASSAL really needs a second monitor. I have that back up and running now, maybe my VASSAL opponent will be interested in starting back up.
8 The Guns of Gettysburg
-This I have played before, both solo and opposed, and it's one of my favourite games. It's here because it's been a few years and I want to play it again.
9 Our God Was My Shield: Jackson's Valley Campaign
-This is a fairly new game from John Theissen and Hollandspiele. He's done a few operational ACW games, and with this one, they finally realized they have a series, so published it with series and exclusive rules. His games are really cool in that the maps are large (as in, plenty of hexes) and the number of counters are few. That leads to a lot of maneuvering.
10 The Greatest Day: Sword, Juno, and Gold Beaches
-Another real shelf fo shame type game. I got a few of this series at a huge discount, but have yet to play them despite a willing VASSAL opponent. They look daunting.
11 Italy '43
-New Simonitch. And I've read a few books on the Italian Campaign lately, so this is right up my alley. Will he give us another volume with the Canadians?
12 Blue vs. Gray
-Another game I've played before that I love. And I've already got a VASSAL PBEM opponent lined up for January. Yeah!
13 1812: Napoleon's Fateful March
-Only one opposed play of this so far, but it was face to face and a great time. Can't wait to play it again.
14 Verdun 1916: Steel Inferno
-Another one where I only have a single F2F play. Not that it's on Rally the Troops, it should be no problem to play more.
15 Traces of Hubris
-I have yet to play any of the Traces games, and this is the one I intend to start with.
16 Prelude to Leipzig: Napoleon's Spring 1813 Campaign
-Another new game from Hollandspiele and John Thiessen. This time Napoleonics, but I think it may be using a lot of his ACW system.
17 RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940
-I don't play many solo games, but this is one I want to try.
18 Gettysburg: A Time for Heroes
-I only got a bit of solo play in before the flood hit and my collection was packed up. I'm looking forward to getting this out and exploring it more fully. Somewhat based on Maurice Suckling's Freeman's Farm, but considerably fleshed out.
19 Manassas
-I know there's a reprint of this in the works, but I managed to get a used copy last year, and have it with me (it's not locked up with the rest of the collection), so I can get to this sooner rather than later. I was inspired to get it from the love lavished on it on the We Intend to Move on your Works podcast.
20 Crisis: 1914
-I played this at Bottoscon in November and it was the game that got me interested in the Worthington fall sale. Can't wait to play it again.
21 Dien Bien Phu: The Final Gamble
-Probably still regarded as the best game Kim Kangar has designed, and the best game on this topic, I've only played solo. Maybe this will be the year I fix that.
22 Desert Blitzkrieg: Rommel's North African Campaign
-This one arrived late in the year. I played it solo, thought it had some good ideas, but I also have a few questions about it still. So hopefully I'll get an opposed play in.
23 Supply Lines of the American Revolution: The Northern Theater, 1775-1777
-From Amabel Holland, I missed this when it first came out and finally played it last year. An absolute banger.
24 Bayonets & Tomahawks
-I've played a few scenarios of this opposed and I just want to play it again. It's been a couple years.
25 France 1944: The Allied Crusade in Europe
-A fairly longtime resident on my shelf, I'm really curious to see how the combat matrix mechanic works.
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