Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown
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The Frogames review

A two-player War of Independence: your deck grows as you take States

Three Redcoats pin your Militia in New York: you hide them, and the battle never happens.

Washington attempts to cross the Delaware as the American cause falters. One player leads the United States with Continentals and Militia, the other the British Empire with Redcoats and Fleets, fighting over 14 States.

On your turn you play cards to move and recruit, fight wherever units meet, take State cards where you have Loyalty markers, then draw back up to five. The American wins by placing 8 Independence markers, the British by eliminating every Continental.

Released in 2026, designed by Mariusz Rosik and Łukasz Włodarczyk, published by PHALANX. Artwork by Mihajlo Dimitrievski and Bartłomiej Jędrzejewski, with historical consultancy by Jason Matthews.

Game mechanics tap one to see other games that use it Only here: Hidden Militia that dodge battles

Category:Deck-building game · Wargame · 2 giocatori

At a glance

Why we like it. The map and the deck are tied together: to get a State card you have to bring your units there, so every move also shapes your future cards. The two sides win in opposite ways, and hidden Militia force the British to use their Fleets to chase an enemy that keeps slipping away.

Good to know. The cards have English text and symbols, and the exceptions for hidden Militia, Fleets and Benedict Arnold mean you'll want the rulebook close at hand for your first few games.

What kind of gameFrogScore Luckcard draws, but dice-free battles Strategydeck, Leaders and War cards Interactionbattles and a race for the States Pacelong turns, defender responds Replayability2 Events out of 5 per side Rated by Frogames · from the rules · what the levels mean

We set the levels by reading the rules, always with the same yardstick: a 3 means the same on every game.

Luckhalf and half
  1. you decide
  2. mostly you
  3. half and half
  4. often chance
  5. chance decides
Strategybuild for later
  1. one choice per turn
  2. plan a few turns
  3. plan half the game
  4. build for later
  5. the whole game is a plan
Interactionyou hit each other
  1. each to their own
  2. you compete for things
  3. you get in the way
  4. you hit each other
  5. you attack each other
Pacemedium turns
  1. lots of waiting
  2. long turns
  3. medium turns
  4. short turns
  5. you play together
Replayabilitya lot changes
  1. always the same
  2. card order changes
  3. part of it changes
  4. a lot changes
  5. every game is different
Rated by Frogames · from the game rules
When to bring it outFor two, on an evening of strategy
Players2

How to play

  1. Play and moveUse cards and Leaders to recruit, move units and repeat actions with colours.
  2. Fight in the StatesWhere units meet, add up their Strength and add a face-down card.
  3. Take State cardsWith a unit on the Loyalty marker, take the card: into your hand, the discard pile or the War.
  4. Complete your StrategyWin instantly by meeting the condition on one of your Strategy cards: Independence or Continentals eliminated.
Official rulebook (PDF) →

What’s in the box

1 game boardA map with 14 States, 4 Ocean Areas and the colonies of Quebec and Nova Scotia.
33 wooden units10 Militia, 7 Continentals, 12 Redcoats and 4 shaped Fleets.
48 Action cards20 basic cards and 28 State cards, half American in blue and half British in red.
28 War cardsEvents, Leaders and Strategies, paid for with cards committed to the War.
Cards in the box · 76
  • 20 basic Action cards (10 American and 10 British)
  • 28 State cards (14 American and 14 British)
  • 10 Event cards (5 American and 5 British)
  • 8 Leader cards (4 American and 4 British)
  • 10 Strategy cards (5 American and 5 British)

Questions about Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown

How do you win at Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown?

Whoever meets the condition on one of their own Strategy cards wins instantly. The American starts with 8 Independence markers and wins once they're all placed on the map; the British win if every Continental is off the board. Other Strategy cards in the War deck add alternative routes to victory. If both players win at the same time, the British win.

How much English do you need for Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown?

You need to be able to read English, as this is the English edition and the cards have written effects. Many effects also use symbols explained in the table at the back of the rulebook, but War, Leader and State cards carry text you'll need to understand during play.

Is Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown hard to learn?

The turn is clear, but there are plenty of exceptions. There are four phases (Action, Battle, Loyalty, Draw), but you need to remember rules such as hidden Militia, pinning units, movement along Fleets and the American Benedict Arnold, who must be activated every turn. The rulebook has a section devoted to commonly forgotten rules.

Does Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown hold up over many plays?

Yes, because part of the setup changes every game. The order of the State deck changes, and with it the available cards and Loyalty markers, as does each player's War deck: per side, 1 Strategy, 2 Events out of 5 and 2 Leaders. Playing both sides gives you two different ways to wage war.

Are there dice in Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown?

No, there are no dice. Battles are resolved by adding up the Strength of the units, the Leaders and one card played face down by each player; ties go to the defender. Luck comes only from card draws and the State deck.

Can you play Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown with more than two or solo?

No, the game is for 2 players only. One leads the United States in blue, the other the British Empire in red, and there's no solo mode.

The Frogames verdict
“Two armies that couldn't be more different, and a deck born from the map: every State you take changes your hand.”

Who is behind Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown

Who designed it, who drew it, who publishes it, and what else they made.

Publisher PHALANXAlso: Hannibal & Hamilcar
Designer Łukasz WłodarczykAlso: The Great Wall, Flick of Faith
Artist Mihajlo DimitrievskiAlso: Architects of the West Kingdom, Raiders of the North SeaAll 21 games illustrated →
All the BoardGameGeek data released 2026 · #0 overall · Powered by BoardGameGeek
Rating
7,62/10 · 8 ratings
Rank
#0 overall
Complexity
0,0/5
Year
2026
Designers
Mariusz Rosik, Łukasz Włodarczyk
Artists
Mihajlo Dimitrievski, Bartek Jędrzejewski
Categories
Carte
Mechanics
Action / Event, Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building
See the full page on BoardGameGeek →

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Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown in short. A 2-player game by Mariusz Rosik and Łukasz Włodarczyk, published by PHALANX in 2026. A game lasts 45–60 minutes, recommended age 14 and up. The two sides fight and win in opposite ways, and each player's deck grows with the States they reach on the map. English edition, available at Frogames.it

Back to Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown€29,99 · photos, price and cart
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The right sleeves for Independence: Patriots vs. the Crown
Cards in the box · 76
  • 20 basic Action cards (10 American and 10 British)
  • 28 State cards (14 American and 14 British)
  • 10 Event cards (5 American and 5 British)
  • 8 Leader cards (4 American and 4 British)
  • 10 Strategy cards (5 American and 5 British)

Untick the sizes you already have at home.

Froggy

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