The Men Who Would Be Kings: Colonial Wargaming Rules*
* 
The Men Who Would Be Kings is a tabletop rules set for colonial skirmishes of the mid to late 19th century, from the Indian Rebellion to the Boxer Rebellion. It is aimed at wargamers who want short, frantic clashes in the Victorian spirit.
What is it about?
Large colonial battles were usually one-sided. The drama lived in the small, chaotic skirmishes where either side could win. Those are the fights this rule set recreates, full of Victorian adventure and larger-than-life figures like the real Fred Burnaby and the fictional Harry Flashman.
What makes it stand out?
- Light rules you can learn quickly
- Outcomes hinge on the quality of your officers
- Focus on British colonial wars against Zulus, Maori and others
- Also lets you field the empires of France, Germany and more
- Supports battles between rival native factions
Who is it for?
For wargamers who want an accessible, story-driven rule set and supply their own miniatures. Anyone expecting a board game with components in the box should look elsewhere, since this is purely a rulebook.
Conclusion
An approachable, atmospheric rule set for fans of historical tabletop battles. Traditional board gamers and anyone without their own armies will get little out of it.
- 👥 2 Players
- 🧒 12+ years old
- 🧩 Easy to learn
* We like The Men Who Would Be Kings: Colonial Wargaming Rules so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2026
- Position 12 in Best Games Set in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Position 26 in The Best Wargames with Rules That Only Support Two Players
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