I have been hesitant in the past to write about my excitement for upcoming games, partly out of a fear of getting absorbed into the Cult of the New but more so because it can be very hard to know when a given game might come out. The publication pipeline is at best vague and there is always the risk of delays or unexpected interruptions to production. I find it easier to not get too excited about games until I can grab them with my spindly hands. Still, I am not immune to hype and this year I thought I’d indulge myself a little and write about the ten* games I’m most looking forward to that should be coming out in 2024. As an addendum, to show that I’m not all about that new cardboard smell, I’ve also added a list of the five games I already own that I am the most excited to hopefully get to the table this year.
This list is ordered by how confident I am the game in question will actually come out in 2024, from “already shipping and arguably published at the end of last year” to “BGG says 2024, so fingers crossed!”
Most Anticipated Games 2024
Tanto Monta: The Rise of Ferdinand and Isabella by Carlos Diaz Narvaez (GMT Games)
Here I Stand is the only wargame to survive my multiple previous attempts to get into historical gaming, which were ultimately abandoned with the games sold off. I clung to it desperately even though it was the least likely game for me to play. I think it was worth it, though, because my eventual two plays of Here I Stand have been glorious. The release of a prequel game that only requires four players, not Here I Stand’s overwhelming six, has me more excited than maybe any other game this year. I cannot wait to get this to the table. The amazing art by Iván Cáceres is a real cherry on top of what looks ot be a very promising cake.
Banish All Their Fears by David Fox and Ben Hull (GMT Games)
The promotional material for this one remained pretty quiet right up to its release but despite a lack of information my excitement has grown, much to my own surprise if I’m honest. The system seems to promise a focus on army formation and limited maneuver, trying to represent the restrictions that tactical doctrine of the time dictated. While its approach is very different, I have a similar excitement for it as I did for The Flowers of the Forest with its command restriction imposed by limited movement and written orders. I guess I like the misery of trying to make an early modern army do what it’s supposed to.
Norman Conquests: Men of Iron Vol. V by Ralph Shelton (GMT Games)
We don’t need to linger on this one. I’ve written more about Men of Iron than I have literally any other game. Another game in the series was always going to have my attention.
Sedgwick Attacks by Claude Whelan (Revolution Games)
I’ve said before that Blind Swords is a series that is quickly growing in my estimation and rising to the top of my pile of favorite systems. The two entries scheduled to come out in Q1 2024, this and Prelude to Vicksburg by Stephen Oliver, have caught my attention. Prelude to Vicksburg is on a rarely covered battle, which I always like, but Sedgwick Attacks’ choice to cover a less glamourized part of Chancellorsville and to do it in one counter sheet means it has a slight edge in terms of my excitement. I am really looking forward to both games, though.
Halls of Montezuma by Kevin Bertram and Gilberto Lopez (Fort Circle Games)
Kevin Bertram’s The Shores of Tripoli is my most played game of the last two years. It’s a satisfying and quick playing card driven game and a really excellent piece of design. Halls of Montezuma is a sort of sequel, taking the core of Tripoli’s systems and adapting them to another period in American history that deserves more attention. It also adds more of a political dimension, which is always great to see. Given Fort Circle’s consistently great production and thorough development work, how could you not be excited?
Seljuk: Byzantium Besieged by Justin Fassino (GMT Games)
I have an obsession with Levy & Campaign so obviously at least one game in the series had to make my list. I am also interested in Joe Schmidt’s Henry, but Agincourt isn’t my favorite campaign, and it is the potential changes introduced in Seljuk that has me the most excited at the moment. The asymmetry of Byzantines vs. Turks and the difference that conflict offers from existing L&C subjects makes it look like a very promising entry in the series. I like it when people take an established series and twist it into something new and it looks like Seljuk will be doing that.
Cuius Regio: The Thirty Years War by Francisco Gradaille (GMT Games)
I have a long standing interest in the Thirty Years War that has long lingered in the background of my life as I remain unable to indulge it as much as I would like. I enjoyed reading Peter Wilson’s history of the war some years ago, but I have yet to try any games on the topic. Cuius Regio looks like a really interesting take on the whole war as an operational hex and counter game (both things I like), plus it has gorgeous art. What’s not to like?
1812: Napoleon's Fateful March by Brian Berg Asklev Hansen (Vuca Simulations)
There is a real risk that this year is the one where I finally get sucked into Napoleonics. I’m resisting it in no small part because I already have too much on my plate. At the same time, Vuca is a publisher who I’m always keen to see what they’re making. Their focus on 20th century conflicts has meant that I’ve rarely taken the plunge to play their games, though. With their upcoming trip back to the Napoleonic period I’m finding it increasingly hard to resist the twin siren calls of Vuca’s production and Napoleon’s campaigns.
Libertadores del Sur by Keith Hafner & Matt Shirley (Legion Wargames)
I know very little about this game if I’m honest, but an operational game about wars of independence in South America just sounds really interesting. I love to see more games important topics that wargaming has often neglected. The latest Legion Wargames update said that they hoped this game would come out in 2024, so I’m taking their word for it. Hopefully it’s good and does the subject matter justice!
1066: Year of Destiny by Geoff Noble (Legion Wargames)
One of my eternal gripes with games about the Battle of Hastings is that I don’t think you can really understand what happened in England in the year 1066 without factoring in the earlier invasion by Harald Hardrada. 1066: Year of Destiny takes what is usually portrayed as a two sided conflict and splits it into three players and I couldn’t be more excited to see how it turned out.
Edit: Pax Penning by Matilda Simonsson (Milda Matilda Games)
OH MY GOD I FORGOT PAX PENNING! I don’t know how I forgot this one. A lovingly made and very interesting looking game in the neat package that somewhat defines the Milda Matilda aesthetic. I’ve not always been the biggest fan of Pax games - I admire the design but don’t always click with them - but when I heard about how you can steal victory from another player I saw this game jump up several steps in my anticipation for games this year.
Top 5* Most Anticipated Games I Own
These are all games that I already own but for one reason or another I haven’t played them - or even read the rules. I’m not making any sort of new year’s resolution saying that I will definitely play them, but if I don’t play at least half I will be quite disappointed in myself.
Give Us Victories by Sergio Schiavi (Dissimula Edizioni)
Give Us Victories looks like it is composed of at least three games, but the classic hex and counter two player game of the Battle of Chancellorsville is what I’m most excited about. It’s a gorgeous product and one that has clearly received a lot of love and attention from its designer, who also did the art and published it. My playing this will be contingent upon how much progress we make in We Intend to Move on Your Works, but I’m optimistic!
Musket and Pike Dual Pack by Ben Hull (GMT Games)
My most recent acquisition, I received it as part of the BGG Wargame Secret Santa this year, so it has barely sat on my shelves but that only enhances my enthusiasm. I’ve already expressed my excitement about the Thirty Years War as a topic and my interest in early modern tactical warfare, I feel like this is kind of a no brainer. Add on to that my love of double wide counters and it’s practically boiling over. I’m optimistic this will see table time this month.
OCS Korea: The Forgotten War by Dean Essig and Rod Miller (MMP Games)
One of my projects planned for Q3 this year is to play several operational games on the Korean War. I’ve bought a few in advance which will form the core of a fairly narrow study of the conflict. Much to my own surprise, OCS Korea is the one I’m thinking about the most. I never thought I’d play an OCS game, and I still have no interest in the many WWII entries, but something about this one calls to me. I’m as baffled as you presumably are.
Granada: Last Stand of the Moors by Jose Antonio Rivero (Compass Games)
The top of my shelf of shame - I’ve owned Granada since 2022 and still haven’t played it. A gorgeous production that adapts Sekigahara’s system to medieval Europe? I’m just embarrassed I haven’t played it yet and I really need to fix that. Part of my barrier is that I really want to play it in person - blocks online are never as good and it feels like sacrilege to do it to a game this pretty.
Glory and Glory II by Richard Berg (GMT Games)
Richard Berg is a divisive designer, but I maintain a general fondness for his work. I’ve adored Men of Iron but last year I bounced off of GBACW really hard. Glory is a much simpler take on the American Civil War from Berg and I’m really hoping it offers me something closer to the “Men of Iron but the Civil War” experience I was hoping for than GBACW did.
That’s my list, let me know what games you’re most excited for this year. One game that I didn’t include on my list is Field Commander: Robert E. Lee, because I’m not excited about it, but if you are interested in seeing me play and review that game as part of my series on solitaire games where you play the Confederates you can help make it a reality by supporting me on Ko-Fi at: