Axis and Allies
$44.99
Axis & Allies at a Glance
| Game Type Wargame, Economic, Area Movement, Territory, Dice Rolling, Team Based | Play Time 3+ Hours | Skill/Complexity (3.2 - 5) Medium |
| Age 12+ | Publisher(s) Avalon Hill | Published 1981 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 2 - 5 | Cost $44.99 + |
| Our Rating 9/10 |
About – Description
Axis and Allies the board game was originally created in 1981 by Larry Harris and is suitable for up to five players aged 12 and over.
It’s a game that is based around World War 2 and takes a minimum of two hours to play. The theme of the game is based on the Axis powers of Germany, Russia and Japan as well as the Allies of Great Britain, Russia and the USA.
This is a wargame that is aimed at those who enjoy a strategy game while it was declared the top-selling physical wargame in 1996.
Who’s it best suited for?
Axis and Allies is a game that is aimed at players who enjoy deep, strategy based games that require a tactical approach and a significant commitment when it comes to the time it takes to play it.
Skill – Complexity
This is a game that is rather complex to play and as it is aimed at players who are aged 12 and over, it does require a certain level of knowledge and experience in playing these kinds of games. This is a wargame and so, it could help players if they have some kind of interest in World War 2.
The game is made up of a number of different aspects such as tactics, strategy, economics and teamwork and therefore it could be considered a hard game to play.
Set Up – Gameplay & Basic Rules
When it comes to set up, Axis and Allies takes as long as 30 minutes, proving that this is a complex and intricate game. Included in the box are a game board, dice, 410 military pieces, 80 plastic chips and 2 parts sheets.
The game is based around a turn structure which involves:
Prior to each player taking their turn, they have to declare how they will spend their industrial production certificates. They can purchase new units, improve units or even repair damaged structures.
Players will take control of a country and its military forces as well as the economy during the war. They will then have to plan attacks and take their forces into territories where battles are taking place while also resolving conflicts. Using the likes of infantry, armor fighters, bombers, battleships and aircraft carriers, each unit works in a number of different ways but players have to work as a team in order to create offenses and determine how to use their production points. Players can also risk production resources in order to create a super technology that could be used to win the war.
When it comes to combat this is split into different types and rounds and at this point attackers and defenders roll the dice to determine which units will carry out attacks on the opposition. Should the number that is rolled be less than or equal to the rating of the unit’s attack or defense, the unit can then attack a unit of their choice.
The winner is the team of players that have conquered key territories and holds them until the game ends.
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
Many different versions of the game have been released throughout the years. This includes the classic, Pacific, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Guadalcanal and WW1.
There have also been a number of expansions released including enhanced realism rules, Global War in 1948, The Arab Israeli Wars, Middle East Combat and many others.
Likes & Dislikes
- Many players enjoy the complexity and strategy required to play as a team and defeat the opposition while hardcore players enjoy the way in which the games mechanics and consider it top notch wargame within its genre of its time.
- This original classic version opened the doors to future editions that really improved on the game (i.e, Europe 1940, Pacific 1940, and 1942.).
- Players are finding that although this is a good game to play, the setup time takes too long and the complexity of the game can leave some players losing interest while the rules are thought to be quite difficult to follow.
- Relay value is not so great. After a few games you soon know what’s coming next.
- You need the right group of 5 players to make it a very good game, although it does also make a good 2 player game.
Final Thoughts
This is definitely a game that is aimed towards the more advanced player but the intricacies and the complexities surrounding it make it a game that is certainly worth playing.
You wouldn’t go out and buy this edition though now as the faults have been observed and the newer issues published have improved the game a lot. People mare more likley buy this for the nostalgia or as a classic collectable than as a new play.
It takes time, requires a long set up but the tactics behind the game provide players with a true middle weight board game experience.
