Belisarius’s War: The Roman Reconquest of Africa, AD 533-534

About this board game

Belisarius’s War is a two-player game playable in about 30 minutes, recreating the Roman Reconquest of Africa in AD 533–534. One player commands the Eastern Romans, while the other leads the Vandals in a struggle for North Africa and the islands of the Western Mediterranean.

The point-to-point map supports maneuver by forces representing elite regulars, tribal warbands, fleets, and militia. Each side brings distinct strengths to the conflict: fierce Vandal forces face disciplined Roman heavy cavalry, creating an asymmetric contest in which positioning and battlefield decisions matter.

Both players use a unique deck of Campaign Cards. These cards can generate recruits, provide movement abilities, grant special combat bonuses, and introduce historical events that shape the campaign. Cards such as Naval-Land Campaigns, Organize the Exarchate, Ambush, and Procopius add strategic possibilities to each game.

• Command either the Eastern Romans or the Vandals.
• maneuver across a map of North Africa and the Western Mediterranean islands.
• Use faction-specific Campaign Cards for recruits, movement, combat, and events.
• Resolve battles through a quasi-tactical combat procedure.
• Make use of special rules for Huns, rebellions, morale, and leaders.

Leadership can determine the outcome of a battle. Choosing the right commander for the right engagement may separate victory from disaster, especially when the Roman general Belisarius enters the struggle.

Released in 2012, Belisarius’s War offers a focused historical conflict for two players, combining campaign movement, distinctive military forces, event-driven cards, and tactical combat in a compact game of reconquest.