RisiKo!

Lore & Background

RisiKo! derives from the 1957 French game La Conquête du Monde, better known worldwide as Risk. The first Italian edition dates to 1968, published by Milanese publisher Giochiclub, which distributed games of several European companies and mixed features of different versions. The name RisiKo! derives from the German version Risiko; the rules were almost identical to the French version, with some notes in the manual taken from the Anglo-American edition. Tokens were wooden cube-shaped. As in the first French edition, 3 dice were used for defense, initial forces were distributed more randomly, and players received one card at the beginning of their own turn as well as from conquering territories.

In 1973 Giochiclub published a new version with the same rules but introduced plastic tank-shaped and machinegun-shaped tokens (to represent one and five armies, respectively). In 1977 Editrice Giochi became the exclusive publisher of RisiKo! and renovated the edition by adopting new rules, among which target cards (before the only aim was to conquer the entire world), the nineteenth-century style planisphere as in the American edition (but with a border between Middle East and China), the random distribution of the initial territories and the balanced distribution of initial armies already present in the European editions. Flag-shaped tokens were introduced instead of machinegun-shaped tokens to represent 10 armies.

The board represents the world, divided into 42 territories across 6 continents. Each player receives a random Target card at the start, with secret missions such as conquering 18 territories with at least two armies each, or eliminating a specific opponent's color. The defender can roll up to 3 dice, giving them an advantage over the attacker, unlike most variants where the maximum dice in battle is 5 (3 attacker, 2 defender).

Reader's Guide

RisiKo! holds significance as the Italian adaptation of Risk that introduced secret target cards, a mechanic that shifted the game from pure world conquest to varied, hidden objectives. This innovation influenced later versions of Risk and other strategy games. The game's unique rules, such as allowing the defender to roll up to 3 dice, gave defenders a statistical edge, altering strategic play. The trading system, with cards featuring horsemen, soldiers, or cannons, and jokers, added depth to resource management. RisiKo! also reflects the evolution of board game publishing in Italy, from Giochiclub's early editions with wooden cubes to Editrice Giochi's standardized version with plastic tanks and flags. The game's legacy includes tournament play with 16 different Target cards and continued popularity in Italy, supported by official rules and a dedicated website. Its blend of European and American rule elements, along with its own distinct features, makes it a notable variant in the Risk family.

Did You Know?

• The name RisiKo! derives from the German version Risiko.
• In the 1977 edition, flag-shaped tokens were introduced to represent 10 armies.
• The defender can roll up to 3 dice, giving them an advantage over the attacker.
• In tournaments, there are 16 different Target cards that display the territories visually.