The Toledo War

About this board game

The Toledo War is a two-player card game about the 1835–36 border dispute between the State of Ohio and the Territory of Michigan, with a playing time of about 20 minutes.

Each round, players play three cards to gain political influence and work toward achieving their state’s goals. The cards are based on real historical people and events, connecting the game’s decisions to the unusual conflict at its center.

The dispute itself is a relatively obscure episode in American history. Even Michiganders and Ohioans may regard it as little more than a piece of trivia, making this game a focused introduction to an intriguing historical footnote.

• Players: 2
• Playing time: 20 minutes
• Core play: Play three cards each round
• Theme: The Ohio–Michigan border dispute of 1835–36

With its short play time and clearly defined card-play structure, The Toledo War presents a concise way to explore the political struggle between Ohio and Michigan. Its historical cards give the game a direct connection to the people and events involved in the dispute.

The Toledo War was released in 2019 as the fourth of Hollandspiele’s annual holiday mini-games. During Hollandspiele’s December 2019 sale, it was included as a free promotional item with any order of at least two games; it was later made available as a downloadable print-and-play game.