Battleship board game

Battleship board game

by The Beast!

(Boardgame Beast HQ)

Click to search for Battleship board games on Amazon!Click to search for Battleship board games on Amazon!Game:
Battleship
Board game manufacturer:
Milton Bradley/Hasbro
Number of players:
2

Quick verdict

The Battleships board game is a classic two-player game of basic strategy and luck, set in a naval war scenario. Its shallow learning curve and satisfying gameplay make it suitable for family members of all ages, though repeated playings will make the novelty wear off. Expect to grow tired of it before your kids!

The game and gameplay

Battleship is a simple board game. You’ll need to guide younger players for the first couple of plays, but the Battleships board game is a sure-fire hit for most age groups.

Click here to Put Your Foot Down: submit your OWN Footprint Rating and leave comments for this game!Ships come in sizes from tiny two-square tugs to giant five-square destroyers. Each player takes time to set up their ships in the starting positions of their choice (in the computer versions, you must program your positions into the computer before play can begin).

Then each player takes turns announcing a square, identified by letter and number, ex. “A4”. The opponent announces a miss or a hit and the first player marks the square on his side of the board with a white peg for a miss and a red peg for a hit.The winner is the first player to sink all five of his opponent’s ships.

Pros and cons

The obvious con of the Battleship board game is the reliance upon luck. The 10 x 10 grid provides 100 squares to aim at; 15 of those squares will be occupied by a portion of the enemy’s ships. Simple math says it will be a hit every six shots or so.

Click to read our Battleship Fleet Command computer game review. Fun for all the family!However, getting to know your opponent over repeated playings means you can get a handle on their preferred technique. Spread out your ships widely, or group them together? You’ll be surprised how predictable your “admiral” friends become!

The game can actually get very tense when it’s a close-run finish, with both of you near to defeat and victory.

The electronic Battleship version is definitely more fun, with lovely digital “NEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW” sounds of the torpedo, followed by an eerie silence for a miss or a grin-making explosion for a hit.

Nothing’s quite so satisfying as sticking a shell in the middle of your enemy’s destroyer and watching their face fall as you proceed to pick it off, while they struggle to find any of your boats!

Battleship is a board game with limited appeal to older players, but a Battleships board game tournament, with players facing each other in a league setting or knockout cup, will be a fun way to pass a wet Sunday, making the game a good family experience.

The verdict

The Battleship board game is a very good game to bridge generation gaps: grandpa can play with the little’uns without any loss of enjoyment from either side. Its long-term appeal is limited, though, as the game lacks variety.

Boardgame Beast gives Battleship three footprints out of five. Click here to leave comments and submit your OWN score for this game!

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