The best games set in the American Civil War🇺🇸⚔️ 2025

Players take on the role of General Longstreet during the desperate Confederate assault on July 3, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, known as Pickett's Charge. They must swiftly push their troops across deadly open terrain while balancing the need to regroup for another attack. With only five rounds to achieve their goal, players face the choice between death and glory as they race against time.

Battle Cry immerses players in the tumultuous era of the American Civil War, offering a low-complexity, highly modular board game experience. Through the strategic use of hexagonal tiles, players can recreate a variety of historical battlefields, bringing the conflict to life with an extensive collection of plastic miniatures representing infantry, cavalry, artillery, and leaders. The heart of the game lies in its innovative use of cards, which command troops across the battlefield's flanks and center, a system that would become the foundation for Richard Borg's acclaimed Command and Colors system.

Expect a thrilling journey through history, from gladiator battles to space wars. Players can test their skills and luck by reenacting famous battles or exploring alternate history scenarios, using simplified rule sets outlined in seven chapters. Each chapter covers a unique era, including ancient times, the era of horse and muskets, and modern warfare.

Freedom: The Underground Railroad is a compelling cooperative game that immerses players in the crucial historical period of the Abolitionist movement in the United States. Players collaboratively work to build up the movement's strength using cards representing notable figures and events from Early Independence to the Civil War. The game balances the challenging tasks of moving slaves to freedom in Canada and raising funds to sustain abolitionist activities. The presence of slave catchers on the board adds a tense and realistic element, as they seek to thwart the players' efforts.

From the first shots in Jumonville Glen to the surrender at Appomattox, players command either rebels or patriots. Engage in battles throughout various American conflicts, from the French and Indian War to the Civil War, focusing on skirmishes and raids. Each officer in charge can develop unique traits through their heroic actions or failures, shaping the course of their campaign.

Players take on the roles of a Unionist and a Secessionist during the crisis of 1860 that led to the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Utilizing a card-driven system, they compete for control over key political dimensions that influence the outcome of the game. After three rounds, the game culminates in a final crisis confrontation, where players reveal their moves to determine the winner.

Antietam 1862 is the first volume in the new battle series of the Civil War Brigade from Worthington Publishing, designed for a single evening of play. Players can reenact the crucial battle in Maryland, which marked the bloodiest day in American history, facing tough decisions as either the Confederate or Union forces. The game features simple rules and a fast-paced structure, with each strength point representing 100 soldiers and a map scale of 250 yards per hex.

Players command blue and gray units representing infantry, cavalry, and artillery formations from the historic Battle of Gettysburg on a detailed game board that reflects the actual battlefield terrain. They can choose to lead Gen. Robert E. Lee’s formidable Confederate Army or Gen. George G. Meade’s determined yet beleaguered Union Army. Players' decisions will determine whether history repeats itself or can be altered.

Players engage in the epic struggle of the American Civil War, focusing on the themes of slavery and states' rights. From the first Battle of Bull Run to Lee's surrender at Appomattox, each player commands either the North or the South, making strategic decisions that influence the war's outcome. The game board represents the United States, featuring key locations connected by transport lines, highlighting pathways to victory or defeat.

Take control of the major battles of the 18th and 19th centuries with Volley & Bayonet. Players can recreate epic battles from the black powder era, with each round representing an hour on the battlefield, but playable in just fifteen to thirty minutes. The game covers conflicts from the introduction of the socket bayonet around 1700 to the widespread use of machine and magazine guns by 1890, featuring battles and campaigns involving historical figures like Marlborough, Frederick, Napoleon, Lee, Grant, and Bismarck.