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Irrespective of generations, board games can connect friends and families timelessly. According to statistics, 78% of the adults of the US enjoy playing board games in their free time.
Out of all the classic board games on our plate, Risk and Stratego have gathered their fanbase. Keeping the luck factor aside, both the games test fortitude, cleverness, and implications of strategies of the players of either side.
Although the backdrop of both games is quite distinct, both include the context of land and armies. The players have to hold maximum land and armies to win the game.
Risk vs Stratego: Comparison
According to some people, Risk is a game of only Luck and Stratego is a game of strategy as the name suggests. But deep diving into it requires different skills and in-depth strategy to capture the game.
The simple and straightforward rules do not make the game simple rather you need to have carefully designed and deeply planned strategies to win.
Let’s examine what can be the basis for looking at both the games from different perspectives.
Risk vs Stratego: Strategy
As we talk about board games, we tend to discuss strategy more.
In Risk, the strategies are more static and clear. You do not need to customize your strategies more often.
Some of the timeless strategies of Risk are to build up your armies while keeping an eye on your border. It is quite convincing to hold continents with a lesser number of access routes which automatically decreases the number of attacks.
But In Stratego, demands carefully crafted strategies for the particular game which is distinctive. Even before the game starts, your ideas to create a Unique strategy should start.
Risk vs Stratego: Initial placement of Pieces
In Risk, the pieces are placed randomly in the beginning. The initial placement of pieces is nowhere related to the proceedings of the game.
But in Stratego, the initial placement of Pieces is the most crucial and strategic aspect of the game. It can decide the final verdict even before the game starts. That’s why you need to be careful and mindful about your preplanned strategies in Stratego.
Risk vs Stratego: Luck Factor
In Risk, starting from the initial distribution of territories, every roll of the dice is all about luck. Although it involves strategy and other skills, those are dependent upon what you get in the role. That’s why Luck plays a crucial role when we talk about winning the game of RISK.
Comparing this with Stratego, It hardly includes any luck to help you win the game. You can only guess about the placement of the bombs by your opponent which requires detailed observations. Apart from this, every single factor in this game is dependent upon the players.
Risk vs Stratego: Opposition
Irrespective of the game, knowing the strategies of the opponent gives confidence and a roadmap to create a new strategy for yourself.
In Risk, you have the freedom to know what your opponent is doing because it is clear in front of you. You can observe the weakness and strengths of other players and play accordingly.
But in Stratego, the blindness is all over. You have hardly any idea about the strategy of your opponent. Unless you use your soldiers to keep an eye on the formations of your opponent and observe them, it is impossible to know what your opponent is doing and why. This blindness makes the game complicated.
Risk vs Stratego: Diplomatic Behavior
Your diplomatic behaviour can help you win the game to some extent.
In Risk, the continuous shifting of territories to different players is the element of fun. The flow of power in each game can be shifted due to the plotting and backstabbing by different players among them.
Meanwhile, in Stratego, you need no diplomatic behavior. The only thing you can do is to carry a face without any expression which makes it difficult for your opponent when he probes you.
Risk vs Stratego: Skills Required
According to “A board game Education” By Jeffrey P Hinebaugh, both games demand different skills to win.
In Risk, you need to master negotiation, decision-making skills as it helps you hold your territory and attack others as well. As the name says, Risk is all about taking decisions while embracing the risks that come with the former.
But in Stratego, all you need is diplomatically designed strategies that are crafted keeping the possible moves of the opponent in mind.
Risk vs Stratego: The Idea of Loosing
In Risk, you have several chances to redeem your lost land back to you. Until no one captures the entire territory, you have the opportunity.
But in Stratego, once you lose any of your pieces, you are not going to get it back. So losing in Stratego leave no opportunities behind.
Risk vs Stratego: Time & Player Requirements
Risk can sometimes take up multiple days to finish the game as it requires one person to hold the entire territory. But in Stratego, you need to capture the opponent’s flag or hold all movable pieces of your opponent to win the game.
Risk is more fun when all the six players are playing although you can play it with two members as well. But in Stratego, a maximum of two players can be involved
Summing up,
According to Debate, 67% people of in the US say, “Stratego is better than Risk while others say the opposite”. The reason behind this is supposed to be the planning and strategy a player can apply to this game. While Risk depends upon the dice roll, winning Stratego is all about a preplanned and carefully thought roadmap.
In Stratego, you need to be one step ahead of your opponent both in the game and in your mind, to keep your flag safe while attacking him. That’s why people like this game more than Risk. To sum it up, both the games come with their pros and cons. They require distinct skills, offer fun in different ways, and are preferred by different people as well.
So despite their differences, both the games continue to remain on the list of favourite classic board games of all time.