Wars of the Roses: Lancaster vs. York
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 180 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.2 / 5
- Year
- 2010
About the game
Wars of the Roses: Lancaster vs. York recreates England's brutal 15th-century civil war, as two Lancastrians and two Yorkists draft cards granting control of towns, nobles, bishops, and royal castles. Income funds raising armies and bribing key figures to switch allegiance, while secret planning and simultaneous deployment determine who controls England and Wales' six regions. Ultimately, the faction with the most votes in Parliament crowns their heir as king, regardless of personal allegiance. It's a tense team-based struggle for the throne built on drafting, hidden deployment, and shifting loyalties.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editors like how this captures the treacherous, shifting-allegiance chaos of the actual Wars of the Roses through its bribery and secret deployment mechanics. The team-based structure with individual victory conditions creates interesting tension between cooperation and self-interest. It's a solid medium-heavy historical wargame for groups who enjoy political maneuvering as much as combat.
What we like
- Rich historical theme of shifting medieval allegiances and civil war.
- Secret, simultaneous deployment creates real strategic tension.
- Team-based play with individual winner adds interesting dynamics.
- Card drafting for towns and nobles adds meaningful early strategy.
Keep in mind
- Long playtime and moderate-to-high complexity for casual groups.
- Team dynamics require strong player communication to work.
- Bribery/allegiance-shifting mechanics can feel chaotic to newcomers.
Who it's for
Good for 2-4 players aged 13+ who enjoy historical political wargames with team dynamics, drafting, and hidden deployment.
