Andean Abyss
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 360 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.8 / 5
- Year
- 2012
About the game
Andean Abyss takes 1-4 players into 1990s Colombia, where Marxist guerrillas, drug cartels, right-wing paramilitaries, and the government battle for control across a colorful map. Each of four asymmetric factions maneuvers wooden pieces and plays dual-use event cards representing real historical paths, balancing population control, terrain, and intelligence. There's no hand management here: the focus is entirely on the map and anticipating what the next card flip will bring. As Volume I of the COIN series, it launched a whole line of asymmetric counterinsurgency wargames with a full solitaire system.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's wargaming editors regard this as a genuinely important design: the COIN series' asymmetric factions and unpredictable event cards create rich diplomatic and strategic tension rarely matched elsewhere. A serious commitment, but a landmark one.
What we like
- Pioneering asymmetric COIN system with four genuinely distinct factions.
- Full solitaire bot support for solo play.
- Richly thematic depiction of the Colombian insurgency.
- Dual-use event cards create constant, unpredictable strategic tension.
Keep in mind
- Six-hour playtime is a major time commitment.
- Steep learning curve for newcomers to the COIN system.
- Balancing four factions can be tricky when playing with fewer than four people.
Who it's for
Serious wargamers and history enthusiasts comfortable with asymmetric multiplayer systems; ages 14+, 1-4 players, fully solo-capable.
