Stratego
$29.99
Stratego at a Glance
| Game Type Bluffing,Deduction, Fighting, Memory | Play Time 45 mins | Skill/Complexity (2 - 5) Light |
| Age 8+ | Publisher(s) Hasbro and others | Published 1946 |
| Categories 2 Player Game / Strategy | Players 2 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 7/10 | Cost $29.99 + |
About – Description
Stratego the board game was first released in 1946, although it does have a history that dates back to 1910 in France and was known as L’attaque, this Stratego is slightly different.
This battlefield strategy game was created by Jacques Johan Mogendoff and is suitable for players aged 8 years and over.
It has been made for two players only and takes around 45 minutes or more to play.
There is an International Strategy Federation that has a governing body with a World Championship held annually.
Who’s it best suited for?
This strategy game is suited for families, couples and two friends getting together. Children from the age of 8 can play it.
It could also be considered to be a good choice for players who prefer games that involve fighting and battles, and war games.
It may even be considered to be educational in a sense as it requires children to memorize and learn certain aspects of the game.
Skill – Complexity
Stratego is not a game that requires a huge amount of skill and is slightly below average in complexity terms for a strategy game. However, players do have to make calculated decisions with every move.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Setup can take around ten minutes and in the box, you will find 40 gold-embossed red playing pieces and 40 silver-embossed blue playing pieces. There is also a board, with early sets containing painted wooden pieces or plastic pieces.
The aim of the game is for players to protect their own flag and capture the flag of their opponent.
Players will need to place their men, bombs and a flag in secret positions on the game board and that means that players have to think about defensive and offensive tactics.
Players begin by alternating their moves with the red player moving first. Each turn players can only move one piece and they must move a piece.
In the middle of the board are two areas that are forbidden to enter.
All pieces have to move vertically or horizontally, except for the Scout, while flags and bombs cannot be moved.
As each player has an army and a bomb, the army is used to steal the flag and protect your flag with the bombs adding an additional challenge to the game. Players can attack opponents pieces and when they are attacked they are removed from the board. If a player lands on a bomb then that piece is removed from the board.
The winner is the first player to make their way across the board to steal the flag of their opponent.
This how to play video is very useful…….
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
Stratego has been released in many countries and a number of different editions have also been released. Among these included a Travel Edition released in 1994 and a 50th Anniversary Edition.
There are three main themes which includes the Original (original play, not look and parts), Conquest and Waterloo.
There have also been themed editions released including Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, Marvel Comics and Star Wars.
Likes & Dislikes
- Players love the way in which this game is a timeless classic and is simple enough to set up and play.
- It’s a still a game that looks great and plays brilliantly and as it is suitable for such a young age, it is great for families.
- Some players have found that although the rules are simple.
- As with many newer versions of old classics the details may differ or even the quality, which are important to many people. Putting the stickers on the characters and them falling off has been a common issue mentioned to us, and the lack of quality compared to the older versions.
Final Thoughts
This is a game that really has grown through the ages. A quick game that requires strategy, memory yet is easy to play, ensures that it still continues to appeal to many.
