King Philip’s War

About this board game

King Philip’s War is a two-player historical conflict game, released in 2010, with an approximately 120-minute playing time. It presents a simplified treatment of the New England Indian Uprising that brought the Puritans close to defeat.

The conflict was devastating for both sides. More than 6,000 Indians were slain or captured and sold into slavery, while over 2,600 Colonials were captured or killed. Countless Indian villages were burned, twelve Colonial settlements were completely destroyed, and six more were heavily damaged.

Players move forces across a point-to-point map representing the broad conflict. Rivers and settlements are positioned primarily for ease of play rather than geographic or historical accuracy, while only a handful of key settlements are named for historical interest.

• Approximately 2–3 months per game turn
• Point-to-point movement
• Forces reduced to infantry level for a simpler, quicker game
• High solitaire playability
• Low complexity level

The historical outcome was equally consequential: King Philip, the Wampanoag sachem Metacomet, was ambushed, beheaded, and quartered, with his hands sent to authorities in Plymouth as proof of his demise. Boston itself very nearly came under attack, while 1,200 homes were burned, 8,000 head of cattle were lost, and vast stores of food were destroyed.

By focusing on the major shape of the war rather than exact geography, King Philip’s War offers a more accessible way to explore this frequently overlooked chapter of New England history. Its reduced scale and straightforward presentation support a shorter, lower-complexity experience while retaining the conflict’s stark historical character.