It is already an early December and the Christmas season is quickly approaching – when I write and publish below material, it is not a full month away. I truly hope, that will be that part of the year during which you will be able to enjoy the time with your families and find time for the great hobby we all share together: boardgames!

Previous years materials:
2023 new releases
2023 all time classics
2022 new releases
2022 all time classics
2021 new releases
2021 all time classics
2020 new releases
2020 all time classics

To help you with this, as every year since 2020, I will come with some suggestions for Christmas presents – what is the better time of the year than that one for such gifts! Now, what I plan and have in mind is presenting a selection based on the games released in 2024. Important condition! Only those titles I personally had chance to play. Also, preferably not out of print – thus I am always providing link where you can get the game.

By the way, if you would like to check on the Video format of below list, see below:

I am fully aware that there are many other war and conflict themed titles which can be recommended. Unfortunately, I did not have chance to play them all – there are simply too many releases! So, without further delay, let us look at the selection!

1) Burning Banners from Compass Games

About the game: In essence, this is a fantasy wargame for two to six players. It is really fast playing and intuitive, and features a whopping 29 scenarios, of various size, length and complexity. They range from short campaigns with two Kingdoms and one map, to the entire 12-year war, in which six kingdoms battle over four maps. Possibility to play with Basic and Advanced Rules, as well as with one of the six featured factions (Goblins, Orcs, Army of the Night, Dwarfs, Fjordland and Eastern Empire) allows for endless hours of great joy!

My impressions: The game is an immense fun to play – a wargame in fantasy world, with astonishingly beautiful graphics, asymmetric forces, tons of scenarios, a lot of dice rolling, hitting, destroying, etc. We enjoy it very much – I think this is clearly visible on my blog and channel. Highly Recommended!

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

2) Rebel Fury from GMT Games

About the game: Rebel Fury is a low-to-moderate complexity wargame focusing on the campaigns of the American Civil War. This is Volume 1 in the series and focuses on four 1863 campaigns (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga) and the opening of Grant’s 1864 drive toward Richmond (The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse).

This latest creation of Mark Herman brings a lot of new, interesting mechanics. First and foremost, each scenario has separate set of counters, and each map accommodates two battles. It is very quick to set-up, quick to play and deeply interactive. The density of counters in each scenario is low, allowing you to see and experience the big picture of the battle. Units are portrayed at the Infantry/Cavalry division level.

My impressions: I really liked that design from Mark Herman. It is surprisingly light, quick and engaging. The beautiful components – look at the maps! – are additional bonus. Also, having six battles in the box makes this a great “price to performance” purchase. The new mechanics and solutions proves themselves well and are definitely a fresh solution in wargames world. Definitely worth a try!

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

3) Traces of Hubris from VUCA Simulations

About the game: Traces of Hubris is a two-player game that simulates the German Case Blue (Fall Blau) summer offensive in southern Russia during the second half of 1942. The goal was to “cut off” the Volga at Stalingrad and to capture the Caucasus oil fields. The Axis player must eliminate the Soviet forces and break their defense lines in order to reach his objectives. The Soviet player must do everything to defend the homeland, and hold until he gets a chance to strike back.

My impressions: This title follows the footsteps of its predecessor, Traces of War, which I enjoyed immensely. The rulebook is pretty straightforward, rules well explained and at the same time they create wide tactical and strategical choices. The historical topic is very interesting and focuses on much broader scale than usual Stalingrad games.

The chit-pull mechanism makes this game not so fixed and allows for different narrative each time. At the same time this is enormously solo-friendly title. Overall, the game made a pretty positive impression on me, and I simply liked it. It is thematic, quick, exciting, and beautiful.

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

4) A Gest of Robin Hood from GMT Games

About the game: A Gest of Robin Hood was designed by Fred Serval and published from GMT Games. In this two-player, COIN-adjacent game, we will have possibility to lead that legendary character and his Merry Men against the vile Sheriff of Nottingham and his Henchmen! Or… we can do it we other way round and try to capture the legendary Robin Hood!

This is an ideal entry point to the COIN system – we have only two players, relatively low complexity of the game with a family friendly theme that plays in one hour and introduces all of the key concepts found in the COIN series.

My impressions: That game takes an incredibly recognizable mainstream theme – Robin Hood – and uses it to bring more players to our hobby – wargames. It does it splendidly, with top-notch components and graphics (just look at the map!), great asymmetry, short time to play and easy to grasp rules.

However, even experienced COIN players will find some novelty here like new hidden movement mechanics – where is Robin Hood? What kind of carriage is Sheriff bringing to Nottingham – full of gold or maybe a trap? The streamlined sequence of play – adjusted to two sides only – shows, that COIN-adjacent games might be played with that number of players. Definitely, check this out!

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

5) ARCS from Leder Games

About the game: Arcs: Conflict and Collapse in the Reach is a sharp sci-fi strategy game for 2–4 players, set in a dark yet funny universe. Be prepared for many dramatic twists and turns of events as you launch yourself into this galactic struggle. How will you play? By seizing the initiative and dictating the game tempo; by declaring ambitions and scoring points for it; and of course by crushing your foes who will standing in your path!

My impressions: These are exactly ARCS! I finally had a chance to play this fantastic game during the long, autumn evenings and quickly was hooked by it. Is it a mean game? Of course it is – you plan how to get the points at the expanse of opponents! Is it an engrossing title? – well I got attached to it from the start and very much liked mechanics and design! Will I play more? Definitely! Highly recommended!

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

6) Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945 from Revolution Games

About the game: Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945 puts the player in charge of the attacking and far more mobile American side while the game system handles the defending and largely static Japanese side. Each turn presents new and unique challenges for the player in the form of random events, uncertain supply deliveries, and unknown Japanese area strengths and defensive strategies.

The game has very quick set-up which is different each time you play; there are several optional rules which can really spice-up the game – but also, most probably, make it more challenging. And what is important for wargamer who loves history, there is a lot of background information!

Overall, the game made a pretty positive impression on me and I simply liked it. That was a well designed and developed sequel to Stalingrad, which brought a lot of fun as well as sometimes frustration at not being able to crack particularly well positioned defense. Highly recommended and the next installment in the series is soon to come.

More materials about game – both articles and video. Enjoy!

Summary

I hope this small selection of games published in 2024 inspires you, dear readers, as you plan your Christmas gifts. I had a fantastic time with every title mentioned and can wholeheartedly recommend them. Stay tuned! In two weeks, I’ll be sharing another article featuring All-Time Classics that you should definitely consider. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!