Stratego
Two hidden armies, bombs, a spy, and a flag to capture.
Who it's for
You like abstract duels with bluffing and memory, or you want a classic that two generations can share. Suits older children and adults at the same table.
Not for you if…
You want more than two players or a lot of variety. Play is only for two, and experienced opponents can outbluff you easily.
Vibe's take
Tense and quiet, like a slow bluff. You study the opponent's every move, remember who revealed what, and sweat when your marshal pokes at an unknown piece.
About this game
Stratego is two armies facing each other with their faces hidden. Each player sets up forty pieces with the ranks turned away from the opponent, then marches them into the middle. When one piece attacks another, both ranks are revealed, and the higher one wins. Bombs stay put and blow up almost anything, the Spy can kill the strongest piece but only when it attacks, and everyone is hunting for the opponent's flag. The first big surprise is how much you learn by remembering who attacked what. A bluffing, memory, and deduction game that has been entertaining kids and grown-ups since 1946, and it still holds up as a proper two-player duel.
Get it
By the numbers
Players
Duration
45 min
Ages 8+
Complexity
1.8 / 5 — LightBGG Rating
6.0/10
Rank #3,120
18k ratings
Published
1946
Designed by
Jacques Johan Mogendorff
Published by
Hasbro, Popcorn Games, Piatnik, (Unknown), Milton Bradley and 39 more
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