Leaders - Board Game Review

Type of Game: Grid Movement, Open Drafting, Variable Player Powers

Number of Players: 2

Age: 10+

Designer: Hugo Frénoy

Artists: Xavier Gueniffey Durin

Publisher: Studio H

Hachette was gracious enough to provide Comic Book Yeti with Leaders to review.

There are plenty of different games that spark your interest for this Chess-style game, but Hachette, aka Studio H, crushed this 2-player abstract game that is easy to learn and has more than enough strategy to keep you coming back for more. Leaders centers on two kingdoms that exist in lasting peace. Although they never wage war, they regularly hold nonviolent duels to maintain their friendly relationship. At first glance, this may seem like an unusual premise for a chess-inspired game, given the genre’s associations with conflict and violence. Yet perhaps it is less contradictory than it appears. Some scholars have even argued that chess depicts an idealized world in which wars are fought without bloodshed.

CONCEPT AND GAMEPLAY

Leaders is played over a series of rounds until one of two conditions is met: two enemy characters are adjacent to your Leader, or all spaces adjacent to your leader are occupied by characters(enemies or allies). A turn is played out as such:

1. Action Phase: Choose up to one action for each of your characters: move to an adjacent empty space or use their active ability if your character has one

2. Recruitment Phase: Choose one of the available three character cards and place it in front of you where it will be subsequently placed in one of the empty recruitment spaces on your side of the board. You will skip the recruitment phase if you already have five character cards.

This is the process that is continuously repeated while playing the ultimate game of chess of not trying to put your Leader in a bad spot on the board(see below).

There is an expert mode available where all characters are available at the start of the game, which opens everything up for both players as the strategy of drafting your characters becomes more tactical and strategic, to say the least. Also, with the expert mode, there is a 'Banishment phase' at the beginning of the game where each player chooses one of the many characters that won't be able to be used for that game.

COMPONENTS

Let's talk about the different components that come with the game between the cards and the characters with bases. This is a very basic game component-wise so there isn't a whole lot of worry on this part as the characters with bases are very well configured, and the character cards are only shuffled at the beginning of the game. Any wear in tear could easily be avoided with some simple sleeves.

For a game that can be finished in roughly 15 minutes(or sooner if familiar with the game), this is the least of the concerns about anything that comes out of the box. Overall, the quality of the game gets an A for me, with the only worry that there could be some warping over time with the board.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have played this game a handful of times, and I'm intrigued by what it brings to the table for something quick. This is a true example of the rules being very simple to learn, yet the strategic depth reaches deeper than the rules suggest.

As I dive into two-player games more and more, this one will continue to hit the table. players who enjoy heavier complexity games, this may not get to the table as often.

Comic Book Yeti writer, Dan Nixon, is a big two player game fan. Let's see what he thought.

"I was able to demo Leaders at PAX Unplugged 2025 and what a pleasant surprise. The recruitment phase being part of your turn instead of a before game process is great. The different Champion cards add great variability to the game and leaves it ripe for expansions.

Another appreciated part of the game is the box. The standee storage drawer is perfect for quick setup and tear down. And the standees are a welcome and cheaper option to miniatures or tokens.

With the simple rule set and enough strategy to scratch a more in depth play, Leaders is a game I can't recommend enough. Break it out with both new and old gamers and with a fast play time you can easily play another round and still have time in your gaming session for other games."

Have you played this game on your table or even on BGA? If not, give it a try on BGA and see if it is the right fit for your group or even your significant other.

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