Honestly, this is a little earlier than expected, but Gary (Ardwulf) Mengle posted on the CSR Awards Facebook group about this time yesterday (I've been on FB semi-hiatus for the last month or so, so thank you, Tom for the heads-up), announcing the winners of the Charles S. Roberts Awards for 2024. If you're interested, read on.
What follows is essentially a reprint of a previous post announcing the nominees, but with the category winners highlighted. I've also added the inductees to the Charles S. Roberts Wargaming Hall of Fame, which this year has included the late Rodger B. MacGowan.
On a selfish note, I'd just like to add that – to the best of my knowledge – this is the only place on the Internet you will find the complete list of CSR nominees for 2024 with their Boardgamegeek page links, All part of the service, folks.
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The Charles S. Roberts Awards for Excellence
in Conflict Simulation Games - 2024 Winners and Nominees
PERIOD AWARDS
Awards for the best game released in calendar year 2024 within a specific historical period.
Best Ancients Game
For a 2024 game set in the ancient period, including late antiquity, in the period roughly from deep antiquity through 800 CE.
Baetis Campaign, 211 BC. Designer Dan Fournie, published by RBM Studios.
Beware the Ides of March. Designed by John Theissen, published by Hollandspiele.
WINNER: The Fate of All. Designed by Fabrizio Vianello, published by Thin Red Line Games
History of the Ancient Seas I: HELLAS. Designed by Karl Hausser, published by Sound of Drums.
Rome, IInc.: From Diocletian to Heraclius. Designed by Philip Jelley, published in Against the Odds #61.
Best Medieval Game
For a 2024 game set in the medieval period, before the decisive use of gunpower, in the period roughly 800-1500 CE.
A Gest of Robin Hood. Designed by Fred Serval, published by GMT Games.
Norman Conquests: Men of Iron Volume V. Designed by Ralph Shelton, published by GMT Games.
Sword of Orthodoxy: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium. Designed by Ben Madison, published by White Dog Games.
WINNER: Tanto Monta: The Rise of Ferdinand & Isabella. Designed by Carlos Diaz Navarez, published by GMT Games.
Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India. Saverio Spagnolie, Mathieu Johnson, Cory Graham, and Aman Matthews, published by GMT Games.
Best Gunpowder or Industrial Era
For a 2024 game, set after the decisive use of gunpowder weapons through the age of industrial warfare, including the Renaissance, Age of Reason, American Revolution, and other topics prior to the start of World War II. Napoleonic, American Civil War, World War I, and World War II topics are excluded.
Banish All Their Fears. Designed by David Fox and Ben Hull, published by GMT Games.
Battle of Sekigahara Game. Designed by Stephen L. Kling, Jr., published by The Historical Game Company.
WINNER: Cowpens 1781. Designed by Pascal Toupy, published in Vae Victis issue #176.
Europe in Turmoil II: The Interbellum Years. Designed by Kris van Beurden, published by Compass Games.
Imperial Bayonets: For Liberty & Lombardy. Designed by Matthew Ward and Ray Weiss, published by CSL.
Best Napoleonic Game
For a 2024 game, set in the period 1789-1815, and treating topics related to the French Revolution or Napoleonic Wars.
1812: Napoleon's Fateful March. Designed by Brian Asklev, published by VUCA Simulations.
Alliance. Designed by Tom Dalgliesh, Grant Dalgliesh, and Bruce McFarlane, published by Columbia Games.
WINNER: I, Napoleon. Designed by Ted Raicer, published by GMT Games.
Napoleon's End. Designed by Kevin Zucker, published by Operational Studies Group.
Winter's Victory. Designed by Mark Hinkle, published by New England Simulations.
Best American Civil War Game
For a 2024 game, set during the American Civil War, or dealing with its immediate causes or aftermath.
Gettysburg 1863. Designed by Grant Wylie and Mike Wylie, published by Worthington Publishing.
WINNER: Rebel Fury. Designed by Mark Herman, published by GMT Games.
Shiloh: The First Day. Designed by Steve Carey, published by Revolution Games.
Tattered Flags: Into the Whirlpool. Designed by Hermann Luttmann, published by Blue Panther.
Thunder on the Mississippi. Designed by Joseph M. Balkoski and Chris Withers, published by Multi-Man Publishing.
Best World War I Game
For a 2024 game treating World War I or related conflicts, in the period 1914-1919.
Caporetto 1917. Designed by Andrea Brusati, published by Europa Simulazioni.
Italia1917-1918: A Farewell to Arms. Designed by Stéphane Sénéchal, published by NUTS! Publishing.
Mud & Blood. Designed by Stefan Ekström and Magnus Nordlöf, published by Three Crowns Games.
WINNER: Schutztruppe: Heia Safari 1914-1918. Designed by Dennis Bishop, published by Compass Games.
Note: after subsequent review, Aces High was deemed ineligible for the 2024 CSR Awards, as it is not yet released. It will be eligible in the year of its
release.
Best World War II Game
For a 2024 game treating World War II or related conflicts, in the period 1937-1945.
Old School Tactical: Volume 4: The Italian Theater. Designed by Shayne Logan, published by Flying Pig Games.
One Hour World War II. Designed by Clint Warren-Davey, published by Worthington Publishing.
WINNER: Panzer North Africa. Designed by James M. Day and Fernando Sola Ramos, published by GMT Games.
Stalingrad Roads: Battle on the Edge of the Abyss. Designed by Nicolas Rident, published by NUTS! Publishing.
The Greatest Day: Utah Beach. Designed by Tom Holliday, published by Multi-Man Publishing.
Best Modern Game
For a 2024 game dealing with a post-World War II, post-1945, Cold War (including the Korean and Vietnam conflicts), or Post-Cold War topic, up to the modern day.
'85 Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires. Designed by Mark H. Walker, published by Flying Pig Games.
Operation Bøllebank. Designed by Nicola Saggini, published by SNAFU Design.
WINNER: Purple Haze. Designed by Bernard Grzybowski, published by PHALANX.
Rifles in the'Nam. Designed by Gottardo Zancani, published by Tiny Battle Publishing
MODE AWARDS
Awards for the best game released in calendar year 2023 using a specific mechanical or design mode.
Best Strategic Game
For the best 2024 strategic-level treatment of a conflict. In general, a strategic game will model the whole of a conflict, possibly (but not necessarily) also including related concurrent or near-concurrent conflicts. Such a game may model military, political, social, and/or economic factors within the confines of the conflict that is its topic. Determination of eligibility will be made by the Nominating Committee on a case-by-case basis.
One Hour World War II. Designed by Clint Warren-Davey, published by Worthington Publishing.
WINNER: Burning Banners. Designed by Christopher Moeller, published by Compass Games.
Dune: War for Arrakis. Designed by Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello, published by CMON.
Europe inTurmoil II: The Interbellum Years. Designed by Kris van Beurden, published by Compass Games.
Red Dust Rebellion. Designed by Jarrod Carmichael, published by GMT Games.
The Other Side of the Hill. Designed by Carlos Fco. Márquez Linares, published by NAC Wargames.
Best Operational Game
For 2024's best treatment of a military campaign from an operational perspective. Operational, in this sense, is concerned with the planning and execution of campaigns. Such games often feature an emphasis on logistics, supply or other tempo-affecting constraints on the conduct of a campaign. Determination of eligibility will be made by the Nominating Committee on a case-by-case basis.
WINNER: Thunder on the Mississippi. Designed by Joseph M. Balkoski and Chris Withers, published by Multi-Man Publishing.
Luzon: Race for Bataan. Designed by Matsuura Yutaka, published by Multi-Man Publishing.
Baetis Campaign, 211 BC. Designer Dan Fournie, published by RBM Studios.
Caporetto 1917. Designed by Andrea Brusati, published by Europa Simulazioni.
Italia 1917-1918: A Farewell to Arms. Designed by Stéphane Sénéchal, published by NUTS! Publishing.
Stalingrad Roads: Battle on the Edge of the Abyss. Designed by Nicolas Rident, published by NUTS! Publishing.
Best Tactical Game
For 2024's best treatment of a battle or battles from a tactical perspective. Tactical games focus on specific battles or engagements and usually model small-unit firepower, equipment and maneuver, but “small-unit” varies by period and topic.
Rebel Fury. Designed by Mark Herman, published by GMT Games.
Cowpens 1781. Designed by Pascal Toupy, published in Vae Victis issue #176.
Tattered Flags:Into the Whirlpool. Designed by Hermann Luttmann, published by Blue Panther.
WINNER: Panzer North Africa. Designed by James M. Day and Fernando Sola Ramos, published by GMT Games.
Old School Tactical: Volume 4: The Italian Theater. Designed by Shayne Logan, published by Flying Pig Games.
Best New Edition of a Previously Published Game
For 2024's best revised or updated edition of an otherwise CSR-eligible game published in a previous Awards Year. To be eligible, the new edition must be a substantial revision or upgrade of the original, including but not limited to additional content, updated graphics, or rules revisions. Reprints are not eligible for this category for mere errata correction.
WINNER: France '40: Second Edition. Designed by Mark Simonitch, published by GMT Games.
Port Arthur. Designed by Yasushi Nakaguro, published by NUTS! Publishing.
Unhappy King Charles. Designed by Charles Vasey, published by PHALANX.
Air & Armor: Wurzburg. Designer Signature Edition. Designed by Bruce Maxwell, published by Compass Games.
Traces of Hubris. Designed by Tetsuya Nakamura, published by VUCA Simulations.
Best Political, Social, or Economic Game
For 2024's best historical conflict simulation dealing primarily with a non-military conflict or a conflict primarily waged, within the bounds of the game, by non-military means.
Arabian Struggle. Designed by Nick Porter and Tim Uren, published by Catastrophe Games.
Crisis: 1914. Designed by Maurice Suckling, published by Worthington Publishing.
Europe in Turmoil II: The Interbellum Years. Designed by Kris van Beurden, published by Compass Games.
WINNER: Red Dust Rebellion. Designed by Jarrod Carmichael, published by GMT Games.
The Republic's Struggle. Designed by Teo Álvarez, published by NAC Wargames.
Best Solitaire or Cooperative Game
For 2024's best conflict simulation designed to be played primarily in a solitaire or cooperative mode.
Atlantic Sentinels. Designed by Gregory M. Smith, published by Compass Games.
WINNER: I, Napoleon. Designed by Ted Raicer, published by GMT Games.
Manila: The Savage Streets. Designed by Michael Rinella, published by Revolution Games
Rome, IInc.: From Diocletian to Heraclius. Designed by Philip Jelley, published in Against the Odds #61.
Viva Mexico:The Mexican Revolution 1910-1920. Designed by David Kershaw, published by White Dog Games.
Wolfpack: The North Atlantic Convoy Struggles. Designed by Mike Bertucelli, published by GMT Games.
Best Hypothetical Game
For 2024's best conflict simulation with a topic that is contrafactual, contra-historical, alternate history or hypothetical, set in any period.
WINNER: Next War: Iran. Designed by Mitchell Land, published by GMT Games.
Close The Atlantic: World War Three. Designed by Michael Raymond, published by Blue Panther.
The Enemy is at the Gates. Designed by Adam Starkweather, published by Compass Games.
Invasion: Malta. Designed by Vance von Borries, published by Legion Wargames.
Best Wargaming Magazine
For 2024's best wargaming magazine containing coverage of wargaming, or otherwise specifically relevant to a wargame or wargames. This award is to recognize the quality of the magazine, and any included wargames should be judged separately in their appropriate categories.
WINNER: C3i
CAPSTONE AWARDS
Singular Awards for individual or achievement granted annually by the Charles S. Roberts Awards.
The Redmond A. Simonsen Memorial Award for Outstanding Presentation
For a 2024 game exhibiting excellence in all aspects of presentation, including the quality of the rules, packaging, art, components, physical systems design, playing surface, and visual interface.
A Gest of Robin Hood, published by GMT Games. Graphics by Robert Altbauer, Terry Leeds, and Chechu Nieto.
WINNER: Burning Banners, published by Compass Games. Graphics by Christopher Moeller.
I, Napoleon, published by GMT Games. Graphics by Jacques Onfroy de Bréville and Domhnall Hegarty.
Winter's Victory, published by New England Simulations. Graphics by Antoine-Jean Gros and Mark Hinkle.
Undaunted 2200: Callisto, published by Osprey Games. Graphics by Roland MacDonald.
The James F. Dunnigan Award for Playability and Design
For the designer who, in 2024, has through excellence of design, had the most positive impact on playability and elegance in the field of conflict simulations.
WINNER: Mark Herman
The Chad Jensen Memorial Breakthrough Designer Award
For the new designer or design team whose first or second game was released in 2024, who best exemplifies emerging excellence in design, and who has not previously received this Award.
Valentin Crespel, Andy Loakes, and Yves Roig, for Gettysburg: A Time for Heroes.
WINNER: Carlos Diaz Narvaez, for Tanto Monta.
Saverio Spagnolie, Mathieu Johnson, Cory Graham, and Aman Matthews, for Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India.
Clint Warren-Davey, for One Hour World War II.
The Charles S. Roberts Game of the Year
For the game that best exhibits the highest standards of excellence in design and execution for the Awards Year 2024.
I, Napoleon. Designed by Ted Raicer, published by GMT Games.
Rebel Fury. Designed by Mark Herman, published by GMT Games.
WINNER: Panzer North Africa. Designed by James M. Day and Fernando Sola Ramos, published by GMT Games.
Tattered Flags: Into the Whirlpool. Designed by Hermann Luttmann, published by Blue Panther.
Thunder on the Mississippi. Designed by Joseph M. Balkoski and Chris Withers, published by Multi-Man Publishing.
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I've also lifted the following directly from Gary's announcement, as the Hall of Fame inductees have never been included in the popular vote, but are awarded by a subset of the board.
The
Board is also delighted to announce the new inductees to the Charles S. Roberts
Wargaming Hall of Fame, as determined by the Hall of Fame jury (Robert Carroll,
Brant Guillory, Dan Pancaldi, and Gary Mengle):
Frédéric Bey, for his long career of varied designs, including multiple CSR nominations
and helping lead a wargaming renaissance in Europe.
Samuel Craig Taylor, for his innovative wargame designs which have stood the test of
time, and includes a number of enduring classics.
Danny Parker, for his lifetime of scholarship and design work within one of
wargaming's most popular but competitive topics.
Additionally, by unanimous agreement of the CSR Board of Governors, Rodger B. MacGowan is hereby inducted into the Charles S. Roberts Wargaming Hall of Fame. Rodger's designs still set the standard for wargaming graphics. Rodger's contributions to the wargaming hobby and industry are both unquestioned and difficult to equal, and so numerous that they need not be renumerated here. Indeed, CSR leadership would have already inducted him save for his express wish to abide by Charles Roberts' wishes regarding the Awards. His passing in early 2025 affected the Board and all wargamers very deeply; the Awards would not exist today without his guidance and mentorship, and the Board and the CSR team intends to continue this aspect of Rodger's legacy.
