Conquistador: The Age of Exploration – 1495-1600

Get ready to embark on an epic journey with Conquistador: The Age of Exploration – 1495-1600, a classic wargame that transports you to the 16th century. Here, you take on the role of one of Europe's major powers – Spain, France, England, and in some editions, Portugal – with the goal of exploring and conquering the New World, both North and South America. The game is a true historical simulator, immersing you in the era's atmosphere with its mechanics and historical figures. Your country needs to accumulate as much wealth, land, and prestige through actual discoveries to be crowned the victor. The original 1976 SPI version, published in Strategy & Tactics magazine #58, was for 1 to 3 players, with Spain, France, and England as the main factions. Interestingly, it even included rules for Portugal or German bankers as a fourth player, but without the physical components. The Avalon Hill edition, released in 1982, expanded to 1 to 4 players, officially including Portugal with its own counters. This version came with a mounted map and a bookcase box, a luxury for its time! Later, a variant called "Fur Traders & Buccaneers" added Dutch, Danish, and slave units, showing how the game evolved and adapted over time. If you enjoy a good historical simulation with exploration, management, and combat, Conquistador is a worthwhile trip back in time.