War Games set in Ancient Rome | spotlightongames.com

ANCIENT CONQUEST: by R.J. Hlavnicka for Excalibre Games, 1975
The ancient world of the Near East is depicted, not with areas, but on a hex-grid with counters that contain combat and movement points. All of a player's nations are played together and can even combine in defense, thought not in attack. There is no economic mechanism, so no new pieces are received as a result of occupation, only scheduled reinforcements. times. Many of the point goals are for taking cities. There is no stacking except in cities. The only other way to score points is to destroy enemy combat factors. G
ANCIENT CONQUEST II: by Dennis P. O'Leary & R.J. Hlavnicka for Excalibre Games, 1978
A re-working of the immediately preceding game, the extensions include Persians and Greeks through Alexander. G
ANCIENT EMPIRES: by Steven Mathers (self published), 1998 G
ANTIKE: by Max Gerdts for Eggert Spiele & Rio Grande Games, 2005
Strategic level war across the Mediterranean, including Romans and also Greeks, Germans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Persians, Arabs, Egyptians and Babylonians. Review
BARBARIANS: by Keith Poulter, 1994
Series of scenarios on various Roman campaigns against their neighbors and invasions of the Empire. Quite similar to Eagles. Some scenarios are better than others, both in terms of balance and rules clarity. Grognards criticize the game a bit for not having enough detail, but the maps look wonderful regardless of possible inaccuracy and it is a good introduction to the topic.
Review More
EMPIRES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD: by Martin Wallace for Warfrog, 2000
General ancient world in a Mediterranean setting. [summary] [variant]
HISTORY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: by Marco Broglia for Udo Grebe Gamedesign, 2008
2-4 players
In seven game turns covers the period from 60 BC to 476 AD, obviously rather abstractly. Still there are 42 named emperor counters and 34 differently-named barbarian groups. Each player represents a nebulous Roman faction as well as a barbarian group. Players compete to control the most areas for the most points. Works best for four.
HISTORY OF THE WORLD: by Gary Dicken & Steve Kendall (the Ragnar Brothers) for Gibson/Avalon Hill, 1991
History of the world's empires from earliest recorded times to 1914. Most of the largest empires in the Seven Ages of Man sweep across the earth to score points. Although it has its unrealities and omissions, who can ignore such a grand sweep of all our yesterdays? [Millennial scenario] [background] [playback] G
IMPERATOR: by William L. Banks for 3W, 1998
Re-issue of King of Kings (immediately below). G
IMPERATOR: by Frédéric Bey for Vae Victis, 2001
Rome vs. all of the barbarians and usurpers which appear randomly. Map stretches from Scotland to Arabia and features area-movement. Combat is resolved via Combat Results Table. Appears in Vae Victis no. 42. A scenario in no. 43 simulates the period from Marcus Aurelius to Caracalla.
IMPERIUM ROMANUM: by Albert A. Nofi for West End Games, 1979
Various battles and campaigns from the Republic and Empire all the way to Justinian. Fascinating set of scenarios and maps, but the accounting necessary overwhelms attempts to play. G
IMPERIUM ROMANUM II: by Albert A. Nofi for West End Games, 1985
Revised version of the above. G
IMPERIUM ROMANUM LITE: by David Kershaw for DK Games, 1999
Simplified version of the above. Now uses area movement. Scenarios are "Octavian versus Antony and Cleopatra", "Justinian and the reconquest of the Western Roman Empire" and "Heraclius vs Chosrou and the Avars".
ITALIA: by Andreas Steding for Phalanx Games, 2006
Events in the Italian Peninsula from the 400 BC sack of Rome to 1080 AD. The history of the Italian peninsula, Roman Africa and Illyricum from the foundation of Rome to the consolidation of Julius Caesar in the first scenario and in the second, from the invasions of the Visigoths to the consolidation of Charlemagne.
KING OF KINGS: by William L. Banks for Good Industries, 1990
Includes scenarios including Roman wars.
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MARE MEDITERRANEUM: by Jean de Poél for Historien Spielegalerie, 1989
Trading around the ancient Mediterranean Sea from 300 BC.
Includes ancient Rome.
[Review: Kulkmann] [Rules: Game Cabinet] [Brettspiele]
MARE NOSTRUM: by Serge Laget for Descartes Editeur/Eurogames, 2003
Trading and fighting around the ancient Mediterranean Se.
Besides ancient Rome includes Greeks, Carthage, Babylon, Persia. Supplemented by a 2005 expansion kit: Mare Nostrum - Mythology Expansion. [Review]
PAX ROMANA: by Richard H. Berg for GMT Games, 2006
1-4 players
Europe from 300 BC to the end of the first century BC, emphasizing strategic operations, raising armies, colonization, fighting barbarians and maintaining political stability at home. Scenarios include conflicts against Carthage, Greeks, Seleucids, etc. Components: one map, 55 cards, 400+ counters, various play aids and charts.
PENINSULA ITALICA: by Camelot, 1993
Wars between tribes in Italian peninsula from earliest memory to conquest by Rome. G
REPUBLIC OF CARTHAGE: by Rick Heli, 1998
Carthaginian Senate from first expansions right down to the Third Punic War (and beyond?).
[Website]
REPUBLIC OF ROME: by Richard Berthold for Avalon Hill, 1990
Roman Senate from the first Punic War to the end of the Republic. An Illuminati-style influence game with a negotiation and shared empire building game layered on top. Three games in one (with a probable duration to match). Intrigue in unending complexity with subtleties probably unrealized by most players. Very historical. [analysis] [errata] [timeline] [summary] [war summary] [variant] [background] Review: Grognard Review: Game Cabinet G
VI AGAINST ROME: by John Sutcliffe for 3W, 1994
Card-driven war game along the lines of We the People offering a variety of strategic scenarios. G

Third Century BC:

BARBARIAN: by Daniel A. Fournie for GMT, 2008
for 1-2 players
Module intended for use with SPQR includes five battles: Lautulae, 315 BC - Rome v. Samnites
Tifernum, 297 BC - Rome v. Samnites
Sentinum, 295 BC - Rome v. Samnites and Gauls
Telamon, 225 BC - Rome v. Gauls
Cremona, 200 BC - Rome v. Gauls and Ligurians

First Century BC:

CAESAR XL: by Joseph Miranda for Victory Point Games, 2008
for 2 players
Julius Caesar vs. Pompey and the Senate. The XL of the title refers to the 40 cards and also 40 square counters in the game. Each unit is a legion or leader, each turn about six months. The color, point-to-point map is just 11x17".
DAS ENDE DES TRIUMVERATS: by Max Gabrian & Johannes Ackva for Lookout Games/Z-Man Games, 2005
Players take on the role of one of three leaders in ancient Rome: Caesar, Pompeius, or Crassus. This is the German edition. Review
THE END OF THE TRIUMVERATE: by Max Gabrian & Johannes Ackva for Lookout Games & Z-Man Games, 2005
Players take on the role of one of three leaders in ancient Rome: Caesar, Pompeius, or Crassus. This is the English edition.
Review
ROMAN CIVIL WAR: by Joseph Miranda for Decision Games (Strategy & Tactics no. 157), 1993
Gaius Julius Caesar versus Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and the Senate.
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First Century AD:

NERO: by Richard Berg for Phalanx, 2002
3-4 players
Game length for The Year of the Four Emperors 69 A.D. is 90-120 minutes .

Third Century AD:

BARBARIAN, KINGDOM AND EMPIRE

by Erik Wilson for Icarus Games, 1983; re-published by Excalibre
Multi-player wargame set in ancient Roman and post-Roman periods. Fascinating idea has players begin as barbarians, reach critical mass, transition to a whole new set of rules and units as a kingdom, then transition again into an empire with another new set of rules and units, then when this becomes decadent, re-cycle into a new barbarian horde. Players can go all day long and see who has done the best during a single cycle. There are also more structured scenarios which depict more historical situations. Map employs area movement and includes cities and income. Roads confer a movement bonus. Very satisfying overall. Later re-done independently as RISE AND FALL.
Review [analysis] [scenario chart]
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CONQUEST OF THE EMPIRE

by Lawrence Harris for Milton Bradley, 1984
Re-issue of VI CAESARS with plastic pieces. G

CONQUEST OF THE EMPIRE

by Martin Wallace and Lawrence Harris for Eagle Games, 2005
Includes two games which can be played with the same board and pieces. The first is a re-issue of the original game of the same name (see above) with changes to the catapult rules; the second is a new game by Maritn Wallace based on his Struggle of Empires. Pieces are still plastic.

IMPERIAL GOVERNOR

by Ken Broadhurst for Philmar, 1979
Playable by 3-6. Features a hexagonal grid map which includes Ireland and northern Arabia. Players collect income, buy and maintain units and use leaders to move their armies. Unoccupied areas can be colonized and there are many random events, most of which affect the Romans who begin the game in prime position. Map looks rather unusual with a misshapen Black Sea and strangely-placed Italian boot. G

LEST DARKNESS FALL: ROME IN CRISIS, 235-285

by Ty Bomba and Joseph Miranda for Decision Games, 2006
Strategic level game for two with one playing the Romans and the other barbarian Germanic tribes, Parthia, Palmyra and rebel forces from within the empire. Appears to have nothing to do with the great time travel novel, Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp.

RISE AND FALL

by Karsten Engelmann for EMS, 1989
Multi-player wargame is an unauthorized reworking of BARBARIAN, KINGDOM AND EMPIRE. The idea of progression from barbarians to kingdom to empire is preserved, but now there are considerably more units and much more dicerolling. Combat is simplified, being tased on the "to hit" roll rather than a combat results table. Presentation is much nicer with larger, nicer counters and a mounted board. While the basic scenario is set in the ancient Roman era, there are others that cover later periods. Vikings are included for example. This version is probably more accessible while the original more historically-accurate. Either one is an stimulating experience.
[chart] [analysis] G

ROMA

by Marco Donadoni for International Team, later by Editrice Giochi, 1986
In this style of Risk, this is set around Mare Nostrum, id est the ancient Mediterranean littoral. Both land and sea-based units are included, as are some elements of diplomacy. The advanced rules permit simultaneous movement. Later re-published by Editrice Giochi after International Team went out of business.

VI CAESARS

by Lawrence Harris for The Citadel, 1982
Interesting light wargame in which at least six different would-be emperors contend over the ancient Roman empire. Area map is divided into the historical provinces of the empire as it stood in Trajan's time, i.e. including Dacia. Pieces include caesars, generals, infantry, elite infantry, catapults, cities, capital cities, fortified cities, short roads and long roads. Players choose their capital from one of Hispania, Italia, Macedonia, Galatia (south Asia Minor), Egyptus and Numidia. The sequence of player is Income, Move, Combat, Purchase. Income is produced based on values printed on the board. Movement is by land or sea, one or two areas per turn, except that one may travel infinitely by road. Combat is resolved via tactical display, the winner in each column being the side with the highest die roll added to the number of combat factors. The overall strategic situation is apparently meant to reflect that of the period just prior to Constantine's rise to power, but very tenuously. Roads and catapults are overly powerful. The roads that players build would have already existed. Island provinces like Sardinia-Corsica are much too valuable. Good points are that the rules are all of two pages, the map does provide all of the historical names of the various provinces and the game flows well with a fun feeling. Later re-published with plastic pieces as CONQUEST OF THE EMPIRE, part of Milton Bradley's GameMaster series.

ROME ET CARTHAGE

by Jean-René Vernes for Parker Brothers, 1954; also published under titles: Cartago, Mediterranee, Mediterranean
Two to four players based in Rome, Carthage, Constantinople and Alexandria struggle for dominance of the Mediterranean basin. Map is of the point-to-point variety and pieces are stand up plastic figures. Combat is resolved by simultaneous revelation of traditional cards. Not strongly historical. Bruno Faidutti

Fourth Century AD:

ALARIC THE GOTH: by SSG
Light wargame about the invasions of Rome by the Goths. A bit too abstracted to be truly interesting. Companion to ATTILA THE HUN.
Review
ATTILA THE HUN: by SSG
Light wargame about the invasions of Rome by the Huns. A bit too abstracted to be truly interesting. Companion to ALARIC THE GOTH.
ATTILA: SCOURGE O' GOD: by XTR (Command no. 47)
The invasions of Rome by the Huns. G
BARBARIANS: by Neal Zimmerer for Yaquinto, 1981
The sack of Rome. G
BARBARIANS: by Camelot, 1993
for 3-6 players lasting 4 hours
A fast game on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire starting from 350 AD. Players take on the roles of either Romans or barbarians. Different troops with different combat capacities are available, their effectiveness depending on terrain. Barbarian tribes pillage the Roman provinces while Romans recruit (and maintain) legions and fleets with tax monies. Victory conditions vary on the player's.
Review (Italian)
Review (Italian)
Review (Italian)
DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: by Terrence Donnelly, for Wargames Research Group, 1972, for Ariel, 1977
In 375 a Germanic tribe called the Ostrogoths had been peacefully existing in what is now southern Russia when their kingdom was destroyed by ferocious Huns riding out of the East. This set off a chain reaction causing Goths and Vandals tribes to attack Gaul and Britain. Eventually some of them reached Spain and even Africa. Very nice, elegant concept, but flawed due to near-perfect strategy for the Romans and almost no chance for the Vandals.
Review G
FALL OF ROME: by John Michael Young for SPI, 1973 (Strategy & Tactics no. 39)
Strategic, solitaire game in which Rome tries to hold off invading barbarians. G
FALL OF ROME: by Decision Games, 1997 (Strategy & Tactics no. 181)
Re-issue of the above SPI title. G
GERMANICA: Sub-game, part of KAMPF UM ROM - HUNNEN, RÖMER und GERMANEN
KAMPF UM ROM - HUNNEN, RÖMER und GERMANEN: by Gerhard H. Kuhlmann for Kuhlmann Geschichtsspiele, 1995
for 3-4 players aged 16 and up
Actually two games in one, the other being called GERMANICA by Hartmut Witt.
MARCH ON ROME: by Schutze Games, 2002
Set during the collapse of the empire.
MARCH ON ROME: by Lloyd Krassner & Alessandro Crespi for Warp Spawn Games, 2005
Up to six players fight over the empire's provinces, amid the barbarian invasions.

Single Theater:

Pyrrhus:

PYRRHIC VICTORY: LEGION VS. PHALANX, 280-275 B.C.: by Mike Markowitz for XTR Corp., 1992
for 2 players
This is a variant for I AM SPARTACUS and a copy of that game is required to play. Covers Pyrrhus' attacks on Rome. It is also possible for Carthage to participate.
Punic: CARTHAGE: THE ANCIENT WORLD: VOL. II: by Richard Berg for GMT, 2005
Covers the 20-year First Punic War campaign and a shorter scenario for the opening moves on Sicily.
HANNIBAL: by Laurence J. Rusiecki for Histo Games, 1969
The map includes part of North Africa and Sicily as well as the Italian peninsula. Each turn represents a year. Subsequent editions were published in 1972 and 1973. It is claimed that this is the first war game to feature combat in the hex rather than across a hex side. Also the first of many games to sport this title.
HANNIBAL: ROME AND CARTHAGE IN THE SECOND PUNIC WAR 219 -202 BC: by Glenn E. Kidd for Aulic Council, 1983
This one simulates the non-player Senates of each side which tend to limit the player's actions. Seventy-six action cards are used to try to bend one's Senate to one's will.
HANNIBAL: THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN: by P.L. Hollinger for Simulations Canada, 1983
As the title says, Hannibal's Italian campaign. Includes rules for sieges, recruitment, and Roman elections.
HANNIBAL: ROME VS CARTHAGE: by Mark Simonitch for Avalon Hill Wargame for two on the Second Punic War is fairly light compared to a traditional wargame. It uses the system begun with We, the People including point-to-point movement and plenty of event cards. In addition it has battle cards used to resolve combat. Probably the most successful game in the series. Because of the luck of the draw issues, it may not always be very good history, but it does work well as a game of maneuver and counter-maneuver. People are already beginning to develop standard openings, strategies and tactics which is much akin to the playing of Chess. And they're using chessclocks as well.
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HANNIBAL: THE SECOND PUNIC WAR: by John Sutcliffe for Decision Games, (Strategy & Tactics no. 141), 1991
Uncomplicated wargame of the Second Punic War for two using the House Divided system for movement and unit promotion. Not bad, but sometimes feels too abstracted. There are rules problems as well. Play this one with some of the web-suggested fixes or try the next game below. G
HANNIBAL ANTE PORTAS: by Robert Sypek, Piotr Pawlowski & Leszek Filipowicz, 1994
for 2-3 players
"Hannibal at the Gates" is a strategic level game on the Second Punic War, including infantry, cavalry, fleets and elephants. Each game turn is supposed to represent a day. Battles are fought out on a separate battle board.

Individual Battles:

Multiple Eras:

ANCIENTS

by William L. Banks for Good Industries/3W, 1990
Rules and scenarios for ancient battles, adapting miniatures systems and small plastic pieces to a board demarcated by a hexagonal grid. A companion game to King of Kings (itself later republished by 3W as Imperator). G

ANCIENTS II

by William L. Banks for 3W, 1992
Re-issue of the above.

CENTURION

by Albert A. Nofi for SPI, 1971 (Strategy & Tactics no. 25)
Very early war game for SPI simulates 17 battles from 106 BC against the Numidians to 552 AD versus the Ostrogoths. Spartacus, Caesar's Gallic campaigns, the Roman Civil War, the Roman invasion of Britain and Teutoburgerwald are all included. Counters represent about 500 men each and a game turn 15-20 minutes. G

CHAMPS DE BATAILLE: D'ALEXANDRE Á HANNIBAL

by Nicolas Stratigos, Théophile Monnier & Stéphane Martin for Vae Victis, 2000
Board game version of DBM (miniatures) rules. Includes counters for Romans in the periods of Camillus and the Punic Wars.

CHARIOT

by J. Young for SPI, 1975
Includes battles drawn from the Roman era. G

COMMANDS & COLORS: ANCIENTS

by Richard Borg for GMT, 2006
Two-player tactical battles includes some drawn from the Roman era. Supplemented by three expansion kits:

Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #1: Greece & Eastern Kingdoms
Commands & Colors Ancients: Expansion Pack 2: Rome and the Barbarians
Commands & Colors Ancients: Expansion Pack 3: The Roman Civil Wars

DELUXE SPQR by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 2008
Re-working of SPQR which collects together scenarios from many different modules all in one package. The complete list is thus:

Beneventum, Bagradas, Cannae, Zama, and Cynocephalae (from SPQR)
Baecula, Ilipa (from AFRICANUS)
Trebbia, Metaurus (from CONSUL FOR ROME)
Magnesia (from WAR ELEPHANT)
Heraclea, Asculum (from PYRRHIC VICTORY)
Muthul River, Cirta (from JUGURTHA)

[Buy it at Amazon]

FOUR BATTLES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

by Wayland Grace & Larry Baggett for Decision Games, 1992
Simulations of individual battles including Cannae, Pharsalus and Teutoburger Wald. G

FOUR BATTLES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD II

by Wayland Grace & Larry Baggett for Decision Games, 1997
Simulations of individual battles including Metaurus (Hasdrubal), Carrhae and Idivisto (Germans). G

FOUR BATTLES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD III

by Wayland Grace & Larry Baggett for Decision Games, 2000
Simulations of individual battles including Lake Trasimene, Menda, Boudicca and Adrianople. G

LEGION

by John Young for SPI, 1975
Part of the series of games that simulates tactical battles across the ages. Here the Roman legions can fight barbarians, Carthaginians or other Roman legions. Solitaire possibilities are included. G

LEGION

by Al Margolis for Fantasy Games Unlimited, 1976
Miniatures game on a grand tactical scale. Orders are written and simultaneously resolved.

LEGION

by Philip Sabin for Society of Ancients, 1997
A miniatures-style that is played on a hex board. Thirty-six different scenarios are presented.

MEN-AT-ARMS

by James F. Dunnigan for 3W (Strategy & Tactics no. 137), 1990
Includes Roman battles.
[more]

SPQR

by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 1992
Battles of Cannae and Zama (second Punic War); Cynoscephalae (Macedonian War); Beneventum (Pyrrhic War); Bagradas Plains (first Punic War). G

STRATEGY 1

by Redmond A. Simonsen, James F. Dunnigan, John Young & Stephen B. Patrick for SPI, 1971
Permits recreation of a series of conflicts from many periods throughout history, Including Roman battles. G

TRIREME

by Ed Smith for Decalset, 1973 (re-issued by Battleline; re-issued by Avalon Hill, 1980) Naval battles including several Roman-era ones. G

WAR GALLEY

by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT 1997
Operational wargame depicting naval battles during the Classical Greek and Roman periods. Most of the interest will be from Classical history fans and stems from the backgrounds given with the scenarios. As a game, there do not seem to be many different strategic approaches available and much of the game is more like riding along with events with a tactical decision or two along the way. The theme is stretched in ways one doesn't want to think about when the rules say things like "each ship counter actually represents four individual ships." The command and control rules are good insofar as they exist, but do not in reality seem to add much interest or difficult decisionmaking to the proceedings.
Review [summary] [movement] [notes] [background] [scenarios]
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Pre-Punic Wars:

PYRRHIC VICTORY: by Mark Herman and Richard Berg for GMT, 1993
Pyrrhus' "victory" over the Romans.
THE RISE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC: THE ANCIENT WORLD, VOL. I: by Richard Berg for GMT, 2003
Scenarios for the Samnite Wars, the invasion of Pyrrhus and the first 3 years of Hannibal.

1st Punic War:

CHICKEN OF THE SEA: by GPG, (Gamefix no. 3)
Naval battle during the first Punic War. G

2nd Punic War:

AFRICANUS: by Mark Herman and Richard Berg for GMT
Two battles won by Publius Cornelius Scipio in Spain during the second Punic War prior to invasion of Africa: Baecula, 208 BC and Ilipa, 206 BC.
CANNAE: by Historien Spielegalerie, 1986
for 2-4 players
Rome's loss to Hannibal in the second Punic War.
Brettspiele
CANNAE: by IES
Rome's loss to Hannibal in the second Punic War.
CONSUL FOR ROME: by Mark Herman & Richard Berg for GMT, 1992
Battles of Trebbia and Metaurus in Italy during the second Punic War. Expansion kit for the game SPQR.
HANBA'AL: AMBUSH AT THE TREBBIA: by Glyn R. Sparkes for battle-market, 2007
Battle of Trebbia as published in battle-market magazine.
ROME AT WAR I: HANNIBAL AT BAY: by Stephen Jackson for Avalanche Games, 2000
Includes five battles at moderate complexity: The Tower (Masinissa lures Hanno's Carthaginian cavalry into an ambush by Scipio's heavy cavalry at the Watchtower of Agathocles), Great Plains (Scipio tries to force Hasdrubal to retreat into the interior), Cirta (Laelius and Masinissa pursue Syphax' Numidians), Zama and Tunes.
RÖMER GEGEN KARTHAGER: by Hausser, 1970
Based on the battle at the Metauro in 207 BC, where Hannibal lost against Gaius Claudius Nero. Units can move one to three spaces and battles are resolved by simple dice rolls, modified by unit strength and terrain. The aim is to kill the opponent's leader or to capture his "flag-space". Said to be a rare collector's item.
ZAMA: by Wayland Grace & Larry Baggett for Decision Games, 1992
Final battle of the second Punic War.

Late Republic:

THE CONQUERORS: by Richard Berg for SPI, 1977
Rome after the Second Punic War, specifically the Second Macedonian War vs. Philip V and the Syrian War against Antiochus. G
DICTATOR: by Mark Herman & Richard Berg for GMT, 1995
Battles against (1) Jugurtha and the Numidians; (2) the Cimbri, Teutones and Ambrones; and (2) Mithridates of Pontus. Expansion kit for the game CAESAR: THE CIVIL WARS.
I AM SPARTACUS: by Mike Markowitz for XTR, 1992 (Command no. 15); re-published in Command Magazine Japan, 2002 (no. 43)
Spartacan revolt in the southern Italian peninsula. Includes 14 pages of rules, 189 counters and a map. G
JUGURTHA: by Mark Herman for GMT, 1998
Battles of the Jugurthine War: The Muthul River, 109 BC and Cirta, 106 BC.
WAR ELEPHANT: by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 1992
Battles against the Seleucids: Raphia, 217 BC and Magnesia, 190 BC.

1st Triumverate:

ALESIA GREAT BATTLES OF HISTORY: by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 2005
Alesia as part of GMT's Great Battles of History series.
ALESIA 52 B.C., THE JURASSIAN HYPOTHESIS: by Frédéric Bey for Canons en Carton, 2005
This wargame has a point of view, namely a discussion of which was the actual siege described in Caesar's writings. Maps of the two sites are presented and the player can play both sites and decide which fits the narrative more accurately. (Has anyone considered the possibility that Caesar made most of it up?)
ALESIA 52: by HC (Vae Victis no. 21)
Gaius Julius Caesar's taking of the Gallic stronghold. G
CAESAR'S EPIC BATTLE OF ALESIA: by R. Bradley for Bradley (re-published by Avalon Hill, 1976)
Wargame about Gaius Julius Caesar's taking of the Gallic stronghold. Fascinating situation as Vercingetorix and the Gauls are besieged inside Alesia while Caesar himself is surrounded by yet more Gauls, whose actual locations are hidden. The Gauls are going to strike somewhere, sometime, but where and when?
Review G
CAESAR IN ALEXANDRIA: by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 2001
Julius Caesar's conflicts with the Egyptians in 47 BC.
GALLIC WARS: by Lloyd Krassner & Alessandro Crespi for Warp Spawn Games, 2005
Battle game for two realized using cards.
PHARSALUS: by Game Designers Workshop, 1977
Battle of the end of the civil war between Gaius Julius Caesar and Pompey. G

2nd Triumverate:

ACTIUM: by Historien Spielegalerie, 1995
for 2-4 players
Tactical naval battle between Octavian and Antony with Cleopatra.
Brettspiele

First Century AD:

JERUSALEM 70 AD: by Lloyd Krassner & Alessandro Crespi for Warp Spawn Games, 2005
for 2 players
Card game representing the Jewish revolt. Each player uses his own set of cards.
ROME AT WAR III: QUEEN OF THE CELTS: by William Sariego for Avalanche Games, 2007
Nine scenarios on Vespasian and the Boudiccan revolt: The Medway (43), The Thames (43), The Fall of Camulodunum (43), Rape of Maiden Castle (45), Hit and Run (47), Last Stand at Carsws (51), A Woman Scorned (60), Search and Destroy (73), Celtic Twilight (84).
SIEGE OF JERUSALEM: by B. Sinigaglio, Fred Schachter & Steve Weiss for Historical Perspectives (re-issued by Avalon Hill 1989, then by MMP), 1976
Taking of Jerusalem during the reign of Vespasian. G

Decline:

LIMES: by Martin Schlegel, unpublished
Card game of Teutonic tribes trying to overcome Roman walls.
ROME AT WAR II: FADING LEGIONS: by Stephen Jackson for Avalanche Press, 2002
Includes the following battles: Strasbourg (357 AD), Tigris, Ctesiphon, Megara, Phrygia and Sumere (all in 363), Nacolia (366), Argentum (376), Ad Salices and Dibaltum (377), Adrianople (378).

Byzantine Reconquest:

CATAPHRACT: by Richard Berg and Mark Herman for GMT, 1999
Major battles during Justinian's attempt to reconstitute the West Roman half of the Empire. A Cataphract was a heavily-armored cavalry soldier who could also fire arrows, the ultimate mounted armored warrior of the ancient world. G

Other Topics:

The Arena:

ARENA

by Trevor Blake for Countermoves, 2002
for 2 or more players
This Christians vs. Lions game is downloadable (volume 1, issue 2).

ARÈNE

by Bruno Faidutti for Jeux et Strategie, 1986
for 2-6 players
Published in the French magazine Jeux et Stratégie #41, includes two games:

BEN HUR - chariot race
SPARTACUS - gladiators fighting in the arena

BRUNCH AT THE COLISEUM

by Inner City Games
for 2-8 players
Playing the roles of slaves, gladiators or lions, players have a limited number of actions, e.g. run, eat to recover strength, pick up items, attack, taunt, throw a limb into the crowd, beseech the gods or work the crowd for food or weapons.

CHRISTIANS AND LIONS

by Steve Davidson and Douglas J. Woods for Omicron Games Company, 1982
1-3 players.
In the arena.
Includes 28-page booklet, 8.5"x11" mapboard and 100 counters uncut.
Reviewed in Fantasy Gamer #4.

CLASH OF THE GLADIATORS

by Reiner Knizia for Rio Grande Games, 2002
Essentially a dice game with some board tactics on a hex board. Supports 2-5 players.
Review

GLADIATOR

by Michael Matheny for Avalon Hill, 1981
In the arena. G

GLADIATOR: MEN VS. ANIMALS

by John Lewis & Daryl A. Shirley for Bearhug Publications, 1979
In the arena.

GLADIATOR: MEN VS. MEN

by John Lewis & Daryl A. Shirley for Bearhug Publications, 1979
In the arena.

GLADIATORS

by Hugh T. McGowan for Fantasy Games Unlimited, 1975
In the arena.

GLADIOLUS

by Andy Gittins for Society of Ancients, 1992
for 2 players
Card game simulation a fight between two arena gladiators. Each player is represented by a miniature or counter on a map and has cards appropriate for his fighting style. Play is "you go - I go" in sequence. Six different types of gladiators area available.

KAMPF DER GLADIATOREN

by Reiner Knizia for Hans im Glück, 2002
Essentially a dice game with some board tactics on a hex board. Supports 2-5 players.
Review

LIONS AND GLADIATORS

by Lloyd Krassner & Alessandro Crespi for Warp Spawn Games, 2006
One player represents the gladiators, the other the lions in this dice game.

LUDUS GLADIATORIUS

by em4miniatures, 2005
Gladiatorial game with 5 pre-painted miniatures who fight it out on a hexagonal board. Each fighter comes with a different set of special moves.

LUDUS GLADIATORIUS 2

by em4miniatures, 2007
Can be used as an expansion to the original game (above) or as a standalone. Adds more figures, rules and a campaign system.

MORITURI TE SALUTANT

by Bill Lucas for Gladiator Miniatures/Black Hat Miniatures, 2008
2-8 players
Miniatures rulesbook for gladiator combat. Played on a hexagonal grid and employs twenty-sided dice to resolve combat. There are twelve different types of gladiators who each have different abilities. A meta-system posits players as owners of gladiator schools in which each school tries to become the most successful.

VOX POPULI

by Francis Pacherie for Tilsit, 1999
by Clash of Arms, 2000
for 3-6 players.
Players represent Roman notables. Each has his own stable of gladiators.

Chariot Racing:

ARÈNE

by Bruno Faidutti for Jeux et Strategie, 1986
for 2-6 players
Published in the French magazine Jeux et Stratégie #41, includes two games:

BEN HUR - chariot race
SPARTACUS - gladiators fighting in the arena

BEN HVR

by Peter Perla, self-published
2004
3-6 players
A 7-lap race playable in 60-90 minutes permitting swerving and whipping of opponents. Players take turns moving via simultaneous play of movement cards. Inertia is modelled by having players give up an endurance chip each time they change speeds by more than two. There are rules for whipping opponents. Lane changes are accomplished via special swerve cards. Curves are rated for their safe speeds which are not exceeded without consequence. Drivers who fall off their chariots may run to another and try to supplant its driver. Desk-top published, monochrome with color borders. Also included are 12 chips, die, lap marker, 12 action cards, a paper chariot and driver, 12 fate cards and three-piece map. L

BEN HVRT

by James Ernest for Cheapass Games, 1996
Chariot-racing game featuring auctions of cards such as chariot improvements, die roll modifiers or better drivers.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS

by Michael Matheny for Avalon Hill, 1980
Chariot racing.
Review G

CIRCUS MINIMUS

by Dean Essig for The Gamers, 2000
Less complicated version of the Avalon Hill CIRCUS MAXIMUS.

HIPPODROME

by Gary Graber for Minden Games, 2006
3-5 players
An 11" x 25" map permits five-lane chariot racing. Uses a standard deck of cards to regulate movement, whipping and ramming.

HIPPOMANIA

by Lloyd Krassner & Alessandro Crespi for Warp Spawn Games, 2005
Card game of chariot racing for up to four. Chariots and drivers have varying capabilities.

Miscellaneous:

GLORY OF ROME: by Taurus Ltd., 1976
Strategic, small map metal miniatures game covering the Punic Wars period, including periods between the wars. Includes leaders, who arrive and depart per a schedule. Combat is via CRT.
IDES OF MARCH: by Neal Zimmerer for Mayfair, 1981
Mark Antony attempts to rescue Julius Caesar from Brutus and the gang before it's too late.
O GUERREIRO: by Antonio Marcelo for Riachuel Games, 2003
"The Warrior" simulates combat in the age of swords with a diceless system. Modules include "Village of the Brave Ones", a combat between Picts and Romans and "Sea of Blood" where Greek and Phoenician pirate galleys attack Roman merchants.
POMERIUM: by Steven Cranmer for Warp Spawn Games, 2001
Solitaire game set in the period AD 50-150. As the emperor has just died, the player attempts to become the new ruler. The term pomerium refers to the area of the capital into which it was illegal to bring troops.

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Roman History and Culture:

Bibliography:

Cornell, T.J. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c.1000-264 BC) (1995)
Crawford, Michael Hewson, The Roman Republic (1993)
Gruen, Erich S., The Last Generation of the Roman Republic (1995)
Hamilton, Edith, The Roman Way (1993)
Langguth, A.J., A Noise of War: Caesar, Pompey, Octavian and the Struggle for Rome (1994)
Livy, The War with Hannibal (1965)
Liddell Hart, Basil Henry, Scipio Africanus/Greater than Napoleon (1994)
Polybius, The Rise of the Roman Empire (1980)
Rodgers, William Ledyard, Greek and Roman Naval Warfare; A Study of Strategy, Tactics, and Ship Design from Salamis (480 B.C. to Actium) (1964)
Scarre, Christopher, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome (1995)
Scullard, H. H., A History of the Roman World 753-146 B.C. (1991)
Shotter, David, The Fall of the Roman Republic (1994)
Solomon, Jon, The Ancient World in the Cinema: Revised and Expanded Edition (2001)
Atlases:
- Cornell, Tim, John Mathews, Jim Cornell, Atlas of the Roman World (1983)
- Kinder, Hermann and Werner Hilgemann, The Anchor Atlas of World History (1974)
- Scarre, Christopher, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (1995)
Books on Roman Daily Life

Also ...

Society Games Set in Ancient Rome
Roman Music to play by
Films Set in Ancient Rome (at least 145 of them if you include television series) at the Internet Movie Database

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