Cortes: Conquest of the Aztec Empire

About this board game

Cortes: Conquest of the Aztec Empire is a two-player grand-tactical board wargame about the epic three-month siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521. Designed for a 360-minute play time and released in 1993, it focuses on the climactic battle for control of Mexico.

The game presents a direct struggle between Spanish and Aztec forces. Its decisive conditions make the fate of Cortes central to the contest: if Cortes is killed or captured, the Aztec player wins immediately.

If Cortes survives, the Spanish player faces a different challenge. Victory requires keeping Spanish Loss Points below the critical threshold; gaining 17 or more points means the Spanish player loses, while fewer than 17 points results in a Spanish victory.

• Grand-tactical two-player wargame
• Covers the three-month siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521
• Includes rules for the distinctive subject of Human Sacrifice
• Contains 14 pages of rules, 144 5/8-inch counters, and a 22 × 34-inch map

The unusual inclusion of Human Sacrifice rules gives Cortes: Conquest of the Aztec Empire a distinctive place among historical board wargames. The compact rulebook, substantial counter set, and large map support an extended confrontation centered on survival, control, and mounting Spanish losses.

With its all-or-nothing condition for Cortes and its tightly defined Loss Points limit, the game creates a focused historical contest for two players. It is a dedicated, long-form wargame built around the struggle to decide the fate of Tenochtitlan.