Chaos Arena (1992)

About this game

CHAOS ARENA is a two player fantasy board game of SKILL, CARNAGE and SHEER BLOODY CHAOS where you take on the roll of MAGICK USERS in an all out duel to the death within the DECAYING and DEMON infested walls OF the CHAOS ARENA, floating FIVE THOUSAND FEET in THE fetid air. As a MAGE you are aided by a WARBAND of MERCENARIES and SLAVES to help you DESTROY YOUR ENEMY! To win you must simply... KILL THE OTHER WIZARD! Chaos Arena is a tactical simulation of armed conflict (war) made within the great tradition of classic two player beat-em-up board games like chess and hnefatafl, but set in fantasy world (quite possibly a disc). Chaos Arena has, unlike the static and linear chess, a random factor added to it. This takes the form of dice, chaos cards and a choice of spells to alter the flow of the game. Because during conflict - just as in life - nothing is static and linear. And so, while playing, you'll have to learn to change your tactics to suit the altered conditions of the game as it progresses.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.4/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 10 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.