Virgin Queen

Fight the Wars of Religion as Spain, England, France or the other great powers in a huge card-driven strategy game.

Designer: Ed Beach
Publishers: GMT Games, Spielworxx
Editions by: Banana Games

The age of Elizabeth I and Philip II, 1559 to 1598, as a grand strategy game for up to six. Each player runs one or more of the great powers: the Ottomans, Spain, England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, or the Protestants, meaning the Dutch and the Huguenots. It is a card-driven game with dice, point-to-point movement and powers that differ from seat to seat. Virgin Queen is the sequel to Here I Stand, and more than half of its rulebook will feel familiar to anyone who has played that, though new systems stress how the late sixteenth-century conflicts changed. Expect a very long day, around seven hours.

Six asymmetric powers with their own goalsCard-driven campaigns and variable phase orderSequel to Here I Stand

Who it's for

You have a dedicated group, a free weekend day and a love for history, and you have already enjoyed Here I Stand.

Not for you if…

You want a game that fits an evening or a group with fewer than five. This needs a lot of time, and a thick rulebook.

Vibe's take

Epic and demanding. You are negotiating, scheming and rolling dice for hours, and the asymmetry makes every seat feel like its own game.