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Board Games with a Religious Theme
Part 1: Looking for strategy games which incorporate religion

by Erik Arneson

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• Part 2: More Religious Games
 
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Many players are familiar with games like Bible Pictionary and Bible Outburst -- party games with a direct tie to the Bible.

Bible-based games date back to at least 1890, when F.G. Decker and O.F. Decker produced a game called Bible Characters. Other companies later produced games like Bible Authors (1895), Bible Boys (1901), Bible Game of Facts, Places and Events (1922), Bible Lotto (1933), Bible Quotto (1933), Bible Rhymes (1933), Bible ABCs and Promises (1940), Bible Cities (1940), and Bible Quiz Lotto (1949).

But what about strategy games with a religious theme? A group of knowledgeable gamers helped develop the following list. (Most of the games on this page are currently available; page two features mainly out-of-print games.)

BibleMan, published by Talicor
Players try to rescue six children and deliver them safely to the town church. Rules for a basic version (children 3 to 6) and an advanced version (ages 7 and up) are both included.

Credo, published by Chaosium
An irreverent negotiation game about the politics of the Council of Nicea. Players debate what should be in the creed, using the influence of bishops and a little backstabbing to get their pet lines into the final product.

La Foi et la Glaive, published by Azure Wish
Players spread religion through dark-age Europe, controlling both a religious and a temporal power.

Left Behind, published by Talicor
Based on the best-selling novel, the game has two parts -- one in which players work separately to earn tokens and one in which they work together to defeat Carpathia.

Mad Monks and Relics, published by Simulations Workshop
Players are monks searching for relics (including the Holy Grail).

Redemption: City of Bondage, published by Cactus Game Design
Biblical heroes are challenged to rescue lost souls held captive by the evil hordes. Based on the Redemption collectible card game.

Solomon's Temple, published by Cactus Game Design
Players compete to build and furnish the Temple of Solomon while fending off Babylonian armies.

Next page > Narnia, Trailer Park Gods and More > Page 1, 2

If you can add any games to the list -- or provide more information about the games already included -- please post a note in the About Board Games Forum.

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