Gamemaster (board game series)
Five war simulation games released by Milton Bradley starting in 1984.
The Gamemaster Series is a collection of five war simulation board games released by Milton Bradley between 1984 and 1986. The series is notable for bringing together titles originally published by smaller game companies, with each game later reissued under the Milton Bradley brand. Axis & Allies became the most commercially successful entry, while the series as a whole established a template for mass-market wargaming.
- publisher
- Milton Bradley
- years_active
- 1984–1986 (original releases)
- number_of_games
- 5
- designers
- Larry Harris (3 games), Mike Gray (2 games)
- most_successful_game
- Axis & Allies
- current_rights_holder
- Hasbro (for 4 of 5 games)
Lore & Background
The Gamemaster Series consisted of five titles: Axis & Allies (1984), Conquest of the Empire (1984), Broadsides and Boarding Parties (1984), Fortress America (1986), and Shogun (1986). The first three were designed by Larry Harris, the last two by Mike Gray, though neither designer was credited until later re-releases. Each game was initially published in limited runs by smaller publishers before Milton Bradley acquired the rights. Despite this, some modern reissues refer to the Milton Bradley versions as the 'first edition.'
Axis & Allies, a strategic-level World War II game, was the most successful, spawning revised editions, spin-offs, computer games, and a miniature wargaming series. Conquest of the Empire, set during the Crisis of the Third Century, featured a Caesar capture mechanic and an inflation system. Broadsides and Boarding Parties was a two-player tactical naval duel, the only game in the series without grand-strategy elements. Fortress America presented an asymmetrical invasion of the United States, while Shogun (later renamed Samurai Swords and then Ikusa) focused on feudal Japan with hidden bidding and randomized action selection.
Following the discontinuation of the Gamemaster branding in the early 1990s, Hasbro absorbed the intellectual property rights. In 1999, Axis & Allies was moved to Hasbro's Avalon Hill imprint, which later became a subsidiary of Wizards of the Coast in 2004. Shogun was also published by Avalon Hill under the title Ikusa. Conquest of the Empire was re-released by Eagle Games in 2005, and Fortress America was licensed to Fantasy Flight Games for a 2012 re-release.
Reader's Guide
The Gamemaster Series holds significance as a bridge between niche wargaming and mainstream board game audiences. By republishing titles from smaller designers under the Milton Bradley brand, the series brought complex strategic gameplay to a wider market. Axis & Allies, in particular, became a flagship product that sustained decades of revisions and expansions, influencing later wargame design. The series also demonstrated the viability of asymmetrical and historical conflict games in a mass-market context. Although Broadsides and Boarding Parties was never reissued, the other four games saw continued life through various publishers, with Axis & Allies remaining a staple of the Avalon Hill line. The series' legacy is evident in the ongoing production of Axis & Allies editions and the periodic re-releases of its companion titles, ensuring that the Gamemaster name remains recognized among board game enthusiasts.
Did You Know?
- Broadsides and Boarding Parties was the only Gamemaster title not subjected to subsequent reissues or revisions.
- Shogun was renamed twice: first to Samurai Swords in 1995, then to Ikusa in 2011.
- Fortress America's cover art was revised to remove Saddam Hussein while still under the Gamemaster Series.
- Axis & Allies was one of three board games re-released for Avalon Hill's 50th anniversary in 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gamemaster Series?
It's a set of five mass-market war simulation board games that Milton Bradley released between 1984 and 1986. Each title was originally developed by a smaller publisher and then rebranded under the MB label for wider retail distribution.
Who designed the games in the Gamemaster Series?
Larry Harris is credited with three of the five titles, while Mike Gray handled the other two. Their combined work gave the series a fairly consistent design philosophy despite the different subject matters.
Which Gamemaster game became the biggest commercial hit?
Axis & Allies far outpaced its four siblings in sales and eventually became one of the most recognizable wargames ever sold in mainstream stores. Its success essentially set the template for what a mass-market board wargame could look like.
How many games are in the series and when were they released?
There are exactly five titles, all shipped within a tight two-year window from 1984 through 1986. After that run, Milton Bradley did not add any further entries to the line.
Who owns the rights to the Gamemaster games today?
Hasbro, as the corporate successor to Milton Bradley, currently holds the publishing rights to four of the five titles. The remaining game's rights are managed separately.
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