Conquest (board game)
Abstract strategy game blending chess with a map board.
Conquest is an abstract strategy board game for two players, designed by Donald Benge and first released in 1972. It blends elements of chess with a map board. The original edition used cardboard counters; later versions included plastic pieces, and a deluxe set featured pewter pieces plated in metals such as gold. The game is non-historical, focusing on point-to-point movement and capture. Sid Sackson described it as filling a niche between chess and hexagonal grid war games.
The board shows four islands connected by roads, sea lanes, and bridges. Each player begins with twenty land pieces—soldiers, elephants, chariots, and knights, each with distinct abilities—plus six ships. Pieces can be stacked; for instance, a soldier may ride a chariot, and both can board a ship. The goal is either to occupy all five spaces of the opponent’s capital city or to capture all of the opponent’s land pieces.
Players set up their pieces in and around their own capital. White moves first, as in chess. Landing on an enemy piece captures it, but any opposing piece within one or two moves of the capturing piece can attempt a recapture; after a recapture, the original player resumes their turn. Each player gets twenty moves per turn (ten on White’s first turn), distributed among pieces as they choose, limited by each piece’s movement allowance—a foot soldier moves two spaces, a chariot eight. A unit cannot move more than once per turn unless it captures or gives check, in which case the opponent may immediately recapture or parry. If a piece captures, it can move its full allowance again in the same turn if action points remain.
The game includes solitaire puzzles, which Jon Freeman considered essential for learning strategy.
Conquest was designed by Donald Benge of Burbank, California, and self-published in 1972. Two years later, Benge released a four-player edition, also called Conquest, playable as a free-for-all or with two teams of two. He later published Conquest Plus, adding catapults and siege engines. In 1977, Benge created Quest Chess, a chess variant based on Conquest’s principles. In 2006, Bütehorn Spiele (Buchholz Verlag) released a German edition, and Conquest Games issued Grand Conquest, which added camels, castles with moats, and movement into the fields between regular points. On April 6, 2007, Benge died in a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver, haltin
- creator
- Donald Benge
- year_first_published
- 1972
- field
- Board game design
- known_for
- Conquest, Quest Chess, Conquest Plus
- notable_recognition
- Selected as one of Games magazine's Top 100 Games in 1980, 1981, and 1982
Lore & Background
Donald Benge, of Burbank, California, self-published Conquest in 1972. Two years later, he developed a four-player edition, also titled Conquest, which could be played as a free for all or with two teams of two. Benge then published Conquest Plus, which introduced catapults and siege engines. In 1977, Benge developed a chess variant called Quest Chess, based on principles from Conquest. On April 6, 2007, Benge was killed in a traffic accident by a drunk driver, and publishing activities were suspended until the rights to the game were bought by Numbskull Games in 2010.
Reader's Guide
Conquest occupies a unique niche in board game history as an attempt to bridge the gap between chess and hex-grid wargames. Its point-to-point movement system, combined with stacking of pieces (e.g., a soldier mounting a chariot and both boarding a ship), offered novel tactical possibilities. The game received mixed critical reception: Donald Agosta called it 'fast moving and excellent for people who enjoy chess, backgammon, etc.,' while Jon Freeman criticized the capture/recapture rules for encouraging slow, defensive play and stalemates. Sid Sackson praised its clarity and flavor of battle, noting that rules could be learned in minutes and a game played within an hour and a half. The editors of Games magazine repeatedly selected Conquest as one of their Top 100 Games, stating it 'involves pure strategy and combination, yet it's virtually impossible to look more than a turn ahead.' A copy of Conquest is held in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play. Later editions, such as Grand Conquest (2006), added camels, castles with moats, and movement into fields between regular points, extending the game's legacy.
Did You Know?
- Conquest was first published in 1972 with cardboard counters, later evolving to plastic pieces and a deluxe set with pewter pieces plated in various metals including gold.
- Each player starts with 20 land pieces (soldiers, elephants, chariots, and knights) and 6 ship pieces.
- The game includes a set of puzzles for solitaire play, which Jon Freeman thought were essential to learning the strategies.
- A copy of Conquest is held in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play (object 116.76330).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Conquest and when was it first published?
Donald Benge designed Conquest, and it was first released in 1972 as a two-player abstract strategy game.
How does Conquest differ from chess or hex-based wargames?
Instead of a square or hex grid, Conquest uses a point-to-point map with roads, sea lanes, and bridges, giving it a movement system that Sid Sackson described as occupying the space between chess and hex wargames.
What does the game board look like and how many pieces does each side start with?
The board depicts four islands linked by roads, sea lanes, and bridges, and each player begins with twenty land pieces to maneuver across that terrain.
What piece materials have appeared across different editions of Conquest?
The original 1972 edition used cardboard counters, later printings switched to plastic pieces, and a deluxe version featured pewter miniatures plated in metals such as gold.
What notable recognition has Conquest received in the gaming community?
Games magazine selected Conquest for its Top 100 Games list in three consecutive years—1980, 1981, and 1982—cementing its reputation in the strategy-game canon.
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