Like the idea of world domination? Try the classic Risk board game
Game:
Risk
Board game manufacturer:
Parker Brothers
Number of players:
2-6
QUICK VERDICT
The Risk board game is superb, easy to understand, yet complex and fairly different every time you play. There's strong replay value, though it's best played intermittently as it does lack some long-term variety. Over-familiarity can breed contempt.
Risk is an absolute classic. It’s had numerous updates over the years, including a very minor board change that had major implications on gameplay and has since been removed.
In the past few years, Risk has been updated at least twice, which seems a bit excessive for such a well-known game. Imagine somebody redrawing Monopoly’s icons and redesigning the playing pieces, and you’ll see what we mean by If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The latest version that we own (pictured here) is probably now at least one update old. There’s also some Risk board game spinoffs starting to emerge, as manufacturers realise that collectors are multiple-purchase customers.
As we catch up with the various different versions of Risk, we'll treat each of them on their own merits, but also allow for a 'culture shock' factor for fans of the original game (a large part of the target market) who come to new versions with great expectations.
The game
Risk board game of world domination for 2-6 players. It's probably best described as a strategy wargame. Though the chance element (represented by the initial distribution of territories, dice throwing and, to a lesser degree, card drawing) does have a major impact on the outcome, a good tactician will consistently beat a weaker thinker.
On the board, the world is divided into six continents: North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australasia. Each continent has its own colour scheme.
There are 42 countries or states, with the smallest continents containing just four each and the larger ones having many more. Each country or state is represented on a Risk card; there are two additional Joker cards in the deck of 44.
Each player receives an equal share
of the Risk board game world's territories in a random deal.
This
dictates the tone of the game, as a fortunate player may be dealt a
very strong initial presence, while unlucky opponents have a fragmented
holding.
Turns begin with re-inforcements based on your holdings on the board. Bonuses are awarded for holding an entire continent: the larger the continent and thus the more points of entry to defend against, the greater the bonus for holding it. Any player who forms a set of cards may also cash it in for a powerful one-off extra boost to troop re-inforcements.
During their turn, players can attack a neighbouring state or country using one of their armies. This battle is represented by throwing dice. The attacker has the advantage of throwing up to three dice versus the defender's two, while the defender wins any tied scores. If the attacker destroys an entire enemy presence, he then occupies the new territory with a portion of the attacking army.
And that's it for the mechanics!
Risk is a very simple basic concept, with plenty of room for creativity
and strategic thought.
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