SPIEL, also known as Essen Spiel, is a major annual board game convention held in Essen, Germany, typically in October. It draws thousands of global attendees, including publishers, designers, and tabletop gaming fans. This will be my fifth time attending the fair.

Visitors can explore a diverse range of board games, join workshops, and compete in tournaments. The event is a key platform for publishers to unveil new titles and preview upcoming releases, fostering a lively space for networking and celebrating the board gaming community. It’s a must for tabletop enthusiasts.

While not primarily focused on conflict games – such as historical, political, or wargames – some Europe-based publishers will showcase these at SPIEL 2025. In this article, I’d like to highlight a few intriguing titles you can check out (and perhaps play!) at the event.

This is also forum to meet Dear Friends and Colleagues – both publishers like Uwe from Sound of Drums, Wolfgang from Assault Games, Trzewik from Portal Games, Jaro from PHALANX or VUCA and NAC Wargames teams – as well as fellow content creators: Clio from Clio’s Board Games or Grant & Alex from Players Aid Blog. Can’t wait to meet you guys!

In the meantime let us see what the fair has for us in the area of wargames!

1) NAC Wargames / MasQueOca Group (Hall 3, Booth 3N300)

The Charge of the 3 Kings: Navas de Tolosa 1212

An epic clash between Christian and Muslim armies with a dynamic impulse-based game system that will delight even the most demanding strategists. In 1212, Alfonso VIII decided that it was time to take revenge for his defeat at Alarcos a few years earlier at the hands of the Almohads. Alfonso VIII of Castile requested the bull of the crusade for his fight against the Almohads, which meant that if he could not get the other Christian kingdoms to participate, he could at least make sure he would not be attacked from behind as he advanced south. The Pope grants this endeavor the status of a crusade, which results in knights and kings from other kingdoms and places in Europe joining Alfonso’s campaign, in addition to his neighbors on the Peninsula.

Each player has 5 formations and a deck of tactical cards and a deck of strategic cards. During his turn, the player will receive tactical and strategic cards and will activate 3 of his formations, each in a different impulse and alternating with his opponent. In each impulse you can play a tactical card, even in the opponent’s impulse if the card is a reaction card. Additionally, during any moment of the turn, the player can play a strategic card.

I had a chance to play several games on this historical event – in the end, this was one of the largest medieval battles in Spain which united several Christian kings. I am very curious of this title as it goes a step further from high level representations I have contact so far. With beautiful map & counters, with card events driving the play that will be really something very interesting to look into!

The Republic´s Struggle – Golpe a la Republica

The Republic’s Struggle is a thematic game with card engine for 2 players, set during the historical events that took place in Spain after the resignation to the throne of King Alfonso XIII, and the proclamation of the II Spanish Republic, in 1931. With the creation of the new regime, the struggle for power between the different social, political and ideological sectors increased, which gave rise to continuous changes of political power, alterations of the public order, armed uprisings and violent acts, carried out by the numerous ideological factions of the moment; which culminated in 1936, in a failed military uprising. The failure of this coup d’état originated the Spanish Civil War.

This seems like a super thematic and still quick to play game on the Spanish Civil War – a conflict which was used by conflicted ideology blocks as a proxy war. Will definitely be glad to try it!

Berlin 1945 (La Caida del Reichstag)

Berlin 1945 (Fall of the Reichstag) is a two-person card-driven wargame that recreates the Battle of Berlin April 24 – May 2 1945, the last great battle and the end of World War II. One player represents the German army and the other the Soviet army. The final chapter in the destruction of Third Reich began on April when Stalin unleashed the brutal power of 20 armies, 6,300 tanks and 8,500 aircraft with the objective of crushing German resistance and capturing Berlin.

The depleted German forces put up a stiff defense, initially repelling the attacking Russians, but ultimately succumbing to overwhelming force. The Soviet army surrounded the city slowly tightening its stranglehold on the remaining defenders. Fighting street-to-street and house-to-house, Russian troops blasted their way towards the city’s center.

The Soviet army must reach the Reichstag and defeat the defending German troops at that area by outnumbering them by at least 2 to 1. The German player must defend the city and prevent the arriving Soviet troops from taking over the Reichstag (German Headquarters).

I appreciate siege-themed boardgames and always try them with pleasure. It is not easy to simulate the static nature of such warfare but as with Von Manstein’s Triumph, I really hope and expect that the publisher did a great job here too! Will check!

Asturias 1936-1937

Wargame of the Asturias Front in the Spanish Civil War. Asturias 1936-1937 can be played on full campaign or one of the three scenarios: Insurrection, Grado Corridor and Final Offensive. Asturias was the last Loyalist stronghold in the Northern Front, so the Nationalist player will try to break the defensive lines and reach Oviedo and Gijon to win this game.

The board shows the Asturias province a point-to-point map, and the counters are battalion-size units. The Nationalist player will count with the help of Colonial units, also Italian and German planes.

This is completely new title for me, another which touches the topic of Civil War in Spain. It has point to point map, with pretty fluid front and multiple pockets of resistance behind it. That was a very hectic conflict and that game seems to present this. I shall check it out.

2) Sound of Drums (Hall 3, Booth 3V120)

Battle Commander: Volume I

Battle Commander is a new wargame system whose intent is to replay historical 18th-19th century battles. It features a fresh framework focused on providing two key play aspects: command decisions and playability. Eventually, the system is planned to expand into other similar eras, such as the American Civil War.

It uses a granular cube-pull activation system for all game phases (player movement, combat, rally, card draws, etc.) and in interactive Combat system using Event cards. No Dice! There will be six Battles per volume, more or less in chronological order, that’ll cover the Napoleonic wars from start to finish. A series about the American Civil War is also in the works. The package will be done deluxe, with three two-sided mounted map-boards, painted-on wood pieces (no stickers), large scenario set-up cards, a 3D Army mat, and numerous bonus features.

This is game I am really looking forward to. Interesting theme, beautiful components, great designer – Carl Paradis plus relatively easy rules to play. We soon should see the final product.

We already did an interview with Carl, so if you would like to learn more about the game check below:

Enjoy!

Neither King Nor God

A strategy game for 4 players in Europe in the Age of Renaissance. Mercenaries in the 16th century didn’t believe in a religion common to all of their comrades nor did they follow faithfully one and the same ruler. They didn’t care about confession nor country borders. They only followed the sound of drums and fought for whoever paid the most.

This version is a “pilot” to the huge and epic 5 player version that will be published in 2026. You lead one of four factions that played an important role in Central Europe: England, France, the Papacy and the Italian City States in its vicinity or The German Holy Roman Empire.

To win the game you need to control a certain number of regions and need to maintain or convert a certain number of centers to the confession of your faction. Victory conditions for each faction are different and as some factions aim for a certain confession in the centers, they help their opponents fulfilling their victory conditions. In addition to that the English player may win the game if the continent is overrun by the troops of the Ottoman Empire.

Really juicy title about the conflicts in the Era of Renaissance; four player – with epic version adding the fifth one planned for 2026 – area control, several victory conditions for each side and quick, dynamic and brutal play. Seems very interesting and worth checking.

Operation Valkyrie

Operation Valkyrie is a solitaire game that simulates the events immediately after the attempt to kill Hitler on the 20th of July 1944, when the military coup was attempted to take control of the Reich. The player will control the effort of the conspirators against the Reich forces controlled by the game system.

Each turn the player draws cards that provide him with action point or events to use for his cause or that is used against him by the bot. The player needs to control critical locations on the map in order to gain control over Berlin and overthrow the regime. The player is under enormous time pressure, as the bot becomes stronger with each round of the game.

This game is planned for 2026; it is a solitaire title and we do not know too much yet about it – Essen Fair will be perfect plays to provide more information for you guys. Stay tuned!

The Great Escape

The Great Escape is an exciting cooperative WWII game where players try to successfully escape their POW from Stalag Luft III. Designed by Philip duBarry. In the Great Escape, you and your fellow air force officers will follow in the footsteps of the prisoners of Stalag Luft III, as you attempt to dig tunnels under the wire and escape.

This will require exceptional timing, resourcefulness, and some luck. Outsmart the guards and carry on the war in the only way you can. If you help twelve prisoner pawns escape before the Gestapo locks down the camp, you and your comrades will have won the game. Each turn you have action points and with these action points you dig tunnels, move your pawns or collect valuable resources.

Another recently announced game from Sound of Drums – this time cooperative wargame about escape from the German POW camp. In essence, concept which I believe should get a boardgame about long time ago! We also do not have too much information about it yet so I will try to get some more details.

3) Assault Games (Hall 3, Booth 3V120)

Assault Sicily 43: Primosole Bridge Expansion

Primosole Bridge is an expansion which takes you into the heart of the fighting at the Simeto river in July 1943. Play a single battle or dive into its extensive dynamic campaign in an epic struggle between British Red Devils and German Green Devils for this key strategic target.

Primosole Bridge offers you the opportunity to fight tactical battles with historical units. Know the strengths and weaknesses of those units and use them to decide the battle in your favour. The unique dice system ensures action-packed gameplay. Combine this expansion with Gela Beachhead and no game will be the same.

My Dear Friend Wolfgang does not stop and develops his Assault system ongoingly; the recent beautiful and interesting addition – Primosole Bridge – is first expansion to larger game which Assault Sicily 43 is. It finished its KS recently and I hope to try it during the fair with the author!

4) PHALANX (Hall 3, Booth 3L500)

Punica: Rome vs Carthage

Set during the Punic Wars (264–146 BC), PUNICA allows players to command either Rome or Carthage in a contest of military might, territorial dominance, and cunning cardplay. The Romans seek steady expansion through disciplined ranks and sheer persistence. Carthage relies on its wealth, maneuverability, and the daring tactics of generals like Hannibal Barca. Both factions feel distinct, with asymmetrical starting positions and access to different regional advantages on the map.

At its heart, Punica is a blend of area control and hand management, designed to offer strategic bite without requiring hours at the table. The compact playtime (20 minutes) makes it perfect for tournament play, travel, or as a high-stakes warm-up between longer sessions.

Ancient themed wargame with Rome! Count me in! This is my favorite period in history and I simply love all the wargames connected to it. Will definitely stop by to play this game!

A Bridge Too Far

Take part in one of the most dramatic airborne operations of the Second World War. In this paragraph-based game you step into the role of a Polish paratrooper from the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, dropped into the chaos of Operation Market Garden. Through his eyes you will relive the tension, the courage, and the doubt of a soldier fighting far from home.

Every choice matters. Do you follow orders to the letter, or trust your instincts in the heat of battle? Do you risk lives to hold the line, or pull back to save your men? Your path will be shaped by hard decisions, moral dilemmas, and the unforgiving reality of war. This is not only a story of battles fought, but of loyalty, sacrifice, and the resilience of those who believed their struggle could change the course of history.

I was waiting for this game to be published; honestly, I personally had a small contribution here as I linked designer (Jose) with PHALANX development team and it seem that this turned into a successful project. The story in this paragraph book is from first person perspective (Polish paratrooper from the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade) and I can’t wait to test this in practice.

5) Portal Games (Hall 3, Booth 3J120)

Race to Berlin

Race to Berlin is a game portraying the last months of World War II in Europe as Western Allied armies cross the borders of the Reich after forging the Rhine and the mighty Red Army prepares for its final offensive toward Berlin.

Players take on the roles of Soviet and Allied commanders, competing to capture strategic regions of Germany and ultimately claim the capital of the Third Reich. The game was first released in 2015, and this Portal Games’ edition features significantly improved components, a revised rulebook, and some rule adjustments based on experience with the first edition.

Another title to which I am personally attached 🙂 It started crowdfunding campaign right in the middle of Tariff crisis. However, not only it was funded, but as Portal games promised – will be available at Essen.

PS. A small sneak-preview – the system is being further developed by designer, Krzystof Dytczak – and the next installment will take us to South-East Asia…

Neuroshima Hex (English 20th anniversary edition)

Neuroshima Hex! is a strategy game set in the post-apocalyptic world of Neuroshima, a Polish role-playing game. Each player leads one from multipel armies (initial ones were : Borgo, Hegemony, Moloch, and Outpost).

Besides a new stunning cover art and new artwork on the tiles, this version introduces new exciting modules, including:

  • Structures, which allow players to add terrain elements to the board with special rules.
  • Leaders, which allow players to choose a commander for their army before the game, granting unique tactical advantages during the game.
  • Battle Atlas, a scenario book where each page presents a unique tactical board with dedicated rules! Players will try to stop machines from building factory, fight in alliance against Moloch marching towards them, or fight crazy battle on the terrain of an old theme park with a carousel and other surprises!

This is game I had pleasure to play since its first edition. I even organized tournament with the friends! I am so glad that through all those years this title evolved, new armies and rules were added and today we can celebrate 20th anniversary edition!

6) Osprey Games (Hall 2, Booth 3M600)

General Orders: Sengoku Jidai

Take command of feudal lords in tense battles for control during Japan’s Sengoku period in an exciting sequel to General Orders: World War II. General Orders: Sengoku Jidai pits two competing daimyo against one another in a fight for control over crucial battlefields in 16th-century Japan.

Deploy your commanders to seize powerful advantages, secure valuable supply lines, and capture well-defended forts — all while protecting your vulnerable HQ. This standalone game introduces new strategic waterways, ships, and devastating siege weaponry across two battle maps. From award-winning design duo David Thompson and Trevor Benjamin, this compact two-player game combines the dynamism of a wargame with the cut-throat decision-making of worker-placement games.

General Orders gets a new installment – a beautiful, thematic, neat & quick game set in medieval Japan. As a reviewer I had a chance to work with the early copy and I must stay – this is a steep improvement from the first game in the series. There will be possibility to play it during the fair so make sure to try it!

We already did an interview with David, so if you would like to learn more about the game check below:

Enjoy!

Line of Fire: Burnt Moon

A group of black-hat hackers known as POSIWID plots to hijack the moon Io and hold the entire Jovian power grid to ransom. Standing in their way are the ultra-corporate LFA, the constructors of the lunar energy facilities. Both sides have engaged a fleet of ROV – advanced remotely-operated robots — to battle across the treacherous landscape. The machines are activated. Initiate combat sequence. The battle for Io has begun.

Line of Fire: Burnt Moon is a standalone two-player card game that fuses the lean deck-building of the award-winning Undaunted series with fast-paced lane battling. Sharp decision-making and clever positioning combine in a nail-bitingly tense, endlessly replayable, and lightning-fast experience.

Undaunted in the form of a pure card game? This is exactly Burnt Moon which takes place in the same world as Undaunted 2200: Callisto. This is very interesting take on this series, pretty quick to play and beautifully looking. Good to check on your own!

Here we also had a pleasure to interview David and learn so much more about this game – check this out:

Enjoy!

7) Salt & Pepper Games (Hall 3, Booth 3A400)

Onoda

Recreate the experiences of soldier Hiroo Onoda during his stay on Lubang Island — thirty years of adventures, danger, comical situations and tragic moments, life and death and, above all, a demonstration of the resilience of human beings in adverse conditions — in the solitaire game Onoda.

During six rounds of variable duration, you have to obtain a number of resources that will allow you to finish the turn without suffering penalties. In each round, you will also undertake a mission, earning honor points for it. During your adventures, you will experience some of the events that the real-life Onoda had during his stay in Lubang. If you manage to overcome the six rounds without going insane due to paranoia or dying due to ill health, it will be time to see whether you will be recognized a hero or fade into oblivion.

Published already some time ago, this is a game about incredible story – a soldier who did not give up for thirty years after the WWII was finished. As a solitaire experience you will have chance to lead Hiroo Onoda during all those years. Will you survive? To be seen!

Habemus Papam

In Habemus Papam, players take on the roles of Cardinal factions, each representing distinct interests within the Catholic Church. Your mission? To influence the election of the next Pope by supporting a candidate whose traits align with your faction’s public profile — covering their stance on the church, age, personality, and origin — while secretly pursuing a hidden agenda that might conflict with your stated goals.

Strategic use of influence is at the core of the game. This resource serves dual purposes; influence is the currency for playing powerful cards and swaying the vote, but it’s also your points, so spend it wisely. Each round, you gain more influence by advancing your interests through candidates who garner widespread support, but negotiation is crucial. Forge alliances, eliminate threats, and outmaneuver rivals to secure your faction’s dominance. Deduction plays a vital role because uncovering the hidden motives of others can shift the balance of power.

Ok, you got me – this is not fully a wargame. But believe me – conflict is here. When I saw that game from Pako Gradaille I knew I want it. This is super interesting topic and I wondered why nobody created such a game before. This is going to be a must-check point on my game map in Essen.

8) Mighty Boards (Hall 3, Booth 3K315)

For the Gods!

As a seafaring builder in ancient Greece, in For the Gods! you’ll navigate the archipelago, constructing towering monuments to the gods and vying for control of sacred islands.

For the Gods! is a strategic area control game in which every stone shapes your path to victory. The rules are simple: Sail the seas to establish new temples or strengthen existing ones. Along the way, collect God stones and unleash their divine powers at the right moment. With twelve unique God powers, each game offers fresh strategies and dynamic gameplay, ensuring high variability.

I found that title just couple days ago and it immediately draw my attention. Super interested what David Thompson has for us here. There is limited amount of materials for this game online so far so trying it live will be best way to share more information and impressions. Definitely can’t wait!

Summary

This is just a short list of conflict-based games, including wargames, political, and historical titles. I’m confident there will be more to discover, and I’ll share updates from SPIEL 2025 when I attend. I hope this selection sparks your interest and introduces you to some of the latest, exciting, and innovative designs. Have fun!