Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 45-60 min
Age requirements: 14+
Set-up time: minimal

War Chest is a tactical, area control, bag-building game. Each player uses unique units to control the battlefield and win.

War Chest Rules Description:

War Chest has 16 different units with different abilities. You can draft units, deal them out randomly, or use predetermined teams. In a two-player game you start with four units, which have four or five chips. In a four-player game each player gets three units.

The game ends once one player (or team) places all their control tokens on the board. It is a hex based board and there are specific hexes where you can place your control tokens.

You start the game by putting two chips of every unit plus your royal coin into your bag. After mixing them up, you draw three of chips. Initiative is determined randomly.

On your turn you play one of the chips you pulled from the bag. They can be played face-up or face-down, on the board or in your discard area. How and where you play them dictates what you can do.

When played face-up on the board they may be placed onto any of your control tokens as long as there are no other matching units already on the board. If there is currently a matching unit on the board, you may stack the chip on top of it. You cannot plays chips face-down on the board.

Playing a chip face-up off into your discard area lets you take a maneuver or tactic with your matching unit on the board. Maneuvers include attacking an adjacent unit or moving one space. Tactics are different for every unit and some units don’t have them. When you attack another unit it removes one chip from its stack. Removed chips are out of the game.

Chips may only be played face-down into your discard area. When played this way you can recruit a unit from its supply. Recruited chips go into your discard area. They are added into your bag when it is empty. You may also take initiative when you play a chip face-down.

After all players have played all three chips, they draw three more from their bag. If it is empty they fill it with the chips in their discard area and continue drawing until they have three chips.

Once a player (or team) places all of their control tokens, they win.

Quick Review of War Chest:

War Chest is a tactical area control game that can be taught in minutes and enjoyed by a variety of ages. This game is fun for both veteran gamers and those new to the hobby. I like it slightly better with two instead of four players but both modes are worth trying out.

The game components are top-notch. The coins are heavy and feel great in your hand. You might need to read the rules twice though to be sure to catch the intricacies of the game play. The box is ok but I wish it wasn’t so deep. It can be hard to get the chip tray out.

This game is very accessible. I am not sure why the official age is 14+ as my 9 year old daughter got this fine. I have played a ton with my son and we have tried every unit with very little extra explanation needed.
You have interesting decisions to make around unit stacking, unit recruiting and which units to keep in your bag. Do you keep mostly one unit in your bag in order to activate it more often? Would you rather have a lot of units in your bag to avoid drawing the royal coin as often? IS making things more predictable with les coins in your bag helpful? You need to answer these questions, and the units you have and flow of the game can help direct your answers.

Be sure you are playing with the right number of control tokens. You use two less in the two player game. If you try using them all the game can drag. Also be aware not all units are equal. Some are better based on the other units you have and some seem better suited for the four player game.

If you are looking for a quick, easy to learn, tactical game, buy War Chest. It has good replay value and can be played and enjoyed with most anyone.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 6 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6