Board Games for the Pygmy Wars
I don't really get into boardgames much but, in the interest of completeness, here is a list. Many are quite old.
I'd like to thank Mark Cabaj for the first five reviews.
Strike of the Eagle
A block wargame covering the opening stages of the Polish–Soviet War in 1920, focusing on the southern and northern fronts. Using fog-of-war mechanics, players maneuver armies represented by wooden blocks whose strength and identity remain hidden until revealed in battle. One side commands the newly independent Polish forces under Pilsudski, the other the advancing Red Armies pushing west toward Warsaw. The game emphasizes bluff, deception, and planning over raw dice-rolling. Hidden objectives and simultaneous movement orders create constant uncertainty. It’s less about recreating every regiment’s position and more about capturing the nervous chess-like feel of a fluid, unpredictable campaign. The battlecards, counters and cards are very nice, and the directions are excellent.
More reviews at boardgame.geek.com
Triumph of Chaos 2.0
A much better iteration than the well intentioned, bug-filled first version, Triumph of Chaos 2.0 is a card-driven wargame that drops players into the messy, unpredictable Russian Civil War (1918–1921). One player commands the Bolsheviks, the other the motley White coalition of monarchists, democrats, and interventionist allies. Gameplay mixes military campaigns across the entirety of Russia with political maneuvering, foreign intervention, and shifting loyalties of minor factions. Decks of event cards fuel both historical and “what-if” twists, meaning Trotsky’s armored train might save the day—or anarchists might torch your plans. With sprawling maps, dozens of factions, and constant chaos, it’s part strategy, part history lesson, and part “hold on to your hat. A steep learning curve, but beautifully put together and the most comprehensive board game of the period.
More reviews at boardgame.geek.com
The Battle of the Nieman: 1920
An operational-level board wargame by a Polish developer that recreates the Polish pursuit of Bolshevik forces following the Battle of Warsaw. It covers Pilsudski’s west-to-east drive and the Red Army’s retreat and rearguard actions along the Nieman River. The game focuses on maneuver in open terrain, the fragility of supply, and the difficulty of coordinating multiple armies across a wide front. Compared to larger strategic simulations, it is more contained, highlighting the tension between aggressive offensives and desperate defenses. The map is very nice, and the orders of battle and counters detailed. Unfortunately, the ruleset is in Polish and the English version of the rules used for other WW1 battles sometimes difficult to follow.
More reviews at boardgame.geek.com
Semper Fidelis: Battle for Lwow 1918-1919
This is a tactical-scale board wargame set during the 1918–1919 Polish–Ukrainian War. It focuses on the bitter street fighting for the city of Lwów (today Lviv, Ukraine), where young Polish volunteers—the famed Lwów Eaglets—clashed with Ukrainian forces determined to secure the city for their new republic. The game uses area-based maps of the city, mixing military action with the shifting morale and stamina of irregular troops. It highlights asymmetry: poorly equipped but motivated Polish defenders versus a more organized Ukrainian force. Players wrestle with urban combat’s chaos, from barricades to sudden counterattacks, and cards that reflect historical events. Though it was published by the Polish Institute for National Remembrance – a nationalist leaning history institute – to commemorate 100 years of Polish independence, it is surprisingly balanced in its design and narrative for both sides. The rules and players cards are in Polish but Boardgame Geek has English translations for both.
More reviews at boardgame.geek.com
The Defense of Lwow
A beer and pretzel style, two-player board wargame set during the 1918–1919 Polish–Ukrainian War. Its title refers to the Polish 7th Air Escadrille (Kosciuszko Squadron), a volunteer unit founded in Lwów and made famous by its American pilots and its emblem combining Polish and U.S. revolutionary symbols. In the game, one player commands these fliers, tasked with disrupting Budyonny’s Horse Army before it can storm the city; the other directs the attackers pressing toward Lwów’s gates. Includes both a simple and more complicated version of the game that can be played several times in a sitting. Simple map and counters, and Polish, Spanish and English rules.
More reviews at boardgame.geek.com
Tsaritsyn 1919
English or French versions available. 20 pages booklet (rules and historical article), a player aid and 306 full-colour counters. The map is 42*60 cm (about 16*24 inches).The counters have to be cut and mounted (high quality Desk Top Game).
Scale : regiments or brigades. 1 hex = 4 km. 1 turn = 1 day.
To know more about price and orders, go here.
Rossiya 1917
I did buy Azure Wish's Rossiya 1917 (1996, F-S. Thomas). It's apparently the most detailed game covering the whole RCW and playing it gives one a good idea why the participants selected the strategies that they did. Not a quick game by any means, and you will want to hunt down the errata. Originally in French, but available in English.
Reds!
GMT's Reds! (2002, Ted Racier) is another grand scale strategic game, though not as complicated.
Russian Civil War
SPI's game (1976, J. Dunnigan) is much older, but appears frequently on eBay.
Rise of the Red Army
From the Guild of Blades (W. Sariego). (This may have been in S&T #211.)
Tank Action 1919
White Steel, Red Blood
200 miles from Moscow
Operation Elope
These games are all by Perry Moore: if his track record is anything to go by they will be a decent games but the underlying research will be doubtful. He certainly is inclined to add spurious armour and aviation to spice up his games.
The first two relate to armour entirely. The third (300 versts from Moskva, surely?) is on the Battle of Orel and looks mighty dodgy. Operation Elope was the northern intervention around Murmansk and Arkhangel, and that game appears in S&T #211.
White Eagle Eastward
Decision Games in S&T 156 (1992, T. Kane and C. Cummins) covers the Soviet-Polish war.
Red Star / White Eagle
GDW (1979, D. Williams) is again on the Soviet-Polish war.
Year 1920: Polish Soviet War
Intriguing looking (1997, Y. Fils).
Tatchanka
Published this 1977 (J. Bumpas), but printed very few copies, so you will be lucky to find one. It focuses on the Ukraine.
Tsaritsyn
Published in Panzershreck 13 is a small game of the White attack on Tsaritsyn.
Freikorps: Bolsheviks Attack Germany
Based on the premise that the Poles lost at Warsaw and the Soviets pressed on for Berlin. Apparently good enough to be reprinted as "Counter Strike #4" and readily available.
More Reviews
Here is another list, with some useful comments.