€89,99
Border States
The Frogames review
Two-player Civil War bluffing: hidden Generals and contested States
You've revealed a 3-strength General, but underneath, face down, sits a block your opponent can't see. Will they place against you or elsewhere?
It's 1861: you lead the Union or the Confederacy, and you know wars are won with politics too. Your aim is to bring Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia over to your side by winning decisive battles.
Each round you recruit a General, stack two face down, reveal the top one and place them on the battles. The stronger front wins the Influence cubes, which push the State tokens. You win with 5 tokens in your Control area, or 4 of different colours, or on points after 5 turns.
Border States came out in 2022, designed by Stéphane Brachet and published by Shakos. Illustrations and graphic design are by Nicolas Roblin, with development by Julien Busson and Denis Sauvage.
Game mechanics tap one to see other games that use it
Only here: Two stacked Generals: one seen, one not
Category:Astratti
At a glance
Why we like it. Every round asks you to read your opponent: the revealed block decides who places first and where you can go, while the hidden one stays secret until the very end. You fight 15 battles in 45 minutes, and Ambushes can backfire on whoever played them.
Good to know. It's strictly two-player, and the bag decides which States are at stake in each battle.
What kind of gameFrogScore + LuckThe bag picks the cubes StrategyA recruitment row to manage InteractionSame fronts, shared totals PaceSimultaneous choices, then placement Replayability15 battles out of 17, 3 variants 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.
Luckmostly you
- you decide
- mostly you
- half and half
- often chance
- chance decides
Strategyplan half the game
- one choice per turn
- plan a few turns
- plan half the game
- build for later
- the whole game is a plan
Interactionyou get in the way
- each to their own
- you compete for things
- you get in the way
- you hit each other
- you attack each other
Paceyou play together
- lots of waiting
- long turns
- medium turns
- short turns
- you play together
Replayabilitya lot changes
- always the same
- card order changes
- part of it changes
- a lot changes
- every game is different
When to bring it outAfter dinner, for a 45-minute duel
Language dependenceMedio
How to play
Watch a game
Official rulebook (PDF) →- 1Recruit a GeneralTake a block from either end of your recruitment row.
- 2Stack and revealChoose two Generals face down, then you both reveal your top one together: the lower value places first.
- 3Place on the frontsPut your blocks on the battles shown by the revealed General, in the spaces next to the arrow.
- 4Push the StatesThe difference in Influence cubes moves the State tokens towards your Control area.
What’s in the box
20 General blocksTen red and ten blue, with their value and reachable battles on a sticker.
50 Influence cubesFive colours, one per State, drawn from a cloth bag.
20 State tokensFour for each of the five States, each with its own shape and colour.
17 Battle cardsEach with a name and an Intensity, which sets how many cubes are at stake.
Cards in the box · 29
- 17 Battle cards
- 10 Character cards
- 2 President cards
Questions about Border States
Can Border States be played with more than two?+
No, Border States is for 2 players only. One leads the Union, the other the Confederacy, and there are no rules for other player counts or for solo play.
How long does a game of Border States take?+
A game of Border States takes about 45 minutes. It's played over 5 turns of 3 rounds each, but it can end early with a sudden victory.
Is Border States hard to learn?+
A turn of Border States is quick to explain: recruit, stack two Generals, reveal one, place. The special rules are tied to a handful of specific blocks, such as Ambush and Siege, and to the Character cards.
How much English do you need to play Border States?+
This edition of Border States is in English, and the language dependence listed on BGG is moderate. The Character cards and blocks use symbols and numbers; the rulebook is in English.
Does Border States hold up over many plays?+
Yes, part of the setup in Border States changes every game. You use 15 of the 17 Battle cards and 4 of the 5 Character cards per side, the Generals come out in random order and the cubes are drawn from the bag; on top of that, there are 3 official variants.
How much luck is there in Border States?+
In Border States, chance decides what's at stake, not who wins the battles. The bag picks the Influence cubes for each battle, but the outcome depends solely on the total of the Generals placed, with no dice.
How does the Ambush work in Border States?+
The Ambush in Border States is worth 0 and eliminates a General next to it or opposite it. It can even hit one of its own player's blocks if there are no other targets; when revealed, it copies the reachable battles of the opposing General.
What are the Character cards for in Border States?+
The Character cards in Border States each give a one-off effect. They let you reveal an opponent's hidden block, place the Bible or the Artillery, change a reachable battle or add a General to a full front.
Do the Union and Confederacy play differently in Border States?+
No, in Border States both sides follow the same rules. At the start, 2 Missouri tokens begin towards the Union and 2 Delaware tokens towards the Confederacy.
Does Border States have variants?+
Yes, Border States has 3 variants in the rulebook: No Character cards; Deterministic, in which all the cubes are drawn; and War of Attrition, in which each State token moves once per turn.
Is Border States suitable for children?+
The Border States rulebook doesn't give a minimum age. It includes a section for parents and teachers that presents the game as a historical model with simple rules.
“Forty-five minutes of sizing up your opponent: every hidden General is a question waiting for an answer.”
Who is behind Border States
Who designed it, who drew it, who publishes it, and what else they made.
All the BoardGameGeek data · #9679 overall · #1412 tra i Wargame · Powered by BoardGameGeek +
- Rating
- 7,38/10 · 146 ratings
- Rank
- #9679 overall · #1412 in Wargame
- Designers
- Stéphane Brachet
- Artists
- Nicolas Roblin
- Categories
- Astratti
- Mechanics
- Betting and Bluffing, Deduction, Tug of War
- Language dependence
- Medio
Powered by BoardGameGeek
Border States in short. A 2-player game by Stéphane Brachet, published by Shakos in 2022. A game takes about 45 minutes; the rulebook gives no minimum age. It blends bluffing and tug-of-war: battles decided by revealed and hidden Generals shift five contested States. English edition, available at Frogames.it
Games like Border States
Each one tells you what it shares with Border States and what is different.
What’s holding you back?
€24,99
€24,99
€69,99pre-order
€74,99
€29,99
€109,99
€24,99
€34,99
€22,99
€44,99
Back to Border States€29,99 · photos, price and cart
↑
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.
