The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750

About this board game

The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 is a solitaire wargame for one player, with an approximately 120-minute play time. Published by White Dog Games in 2020, it presents an “inside-out” take on the States of Siege style.

The game simulates the rise of the Umayyad Caliphate between 632 and 750 AD. Its AI controls the forces of the Muslim Caliphate, based in Mecca, which occupies the center position on the game map. As the player, you take the side of the many nations invaded by the Caliphate.

Your playable forces represent a broad collection of historical powers and regions, including Byzantium, Persia, Visigothic Spain, Nubians, Khazars, Armenians, the Chinese, and Indian states. This unusual perspective places the player among the states confronting the Caliphate’s expansion.

The game includes a compact set of physical components and historical reference material:

• About 77 counters
• One 11×17-inch map
• 50 event cards
• Numerous player aids
• Historical background materials

With its central position in Mecca and its AI-driven Caliphate forces, The First Jihad offers a focused solitaire treatment of a major historical period. The 632–750 AD timeframe, broad range of invaded nations, and supporting background materials give the game a distinct historical scope for players interested in the rise of Islam and the Umayyad Caliphate.