Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Player-count sensitive
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Bluff with concealed generals, win influence from Civil War battles, and pull five border states toward Union or Confederacy control.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Read the full game description
Border States is a two-player bluffing and deduction game about the political struggle surrounding five pivotal states during the American Civil War. Each side commands the same set of general blocks and commits them face up or face down across three simultaneous battles. Winning fronts earns influence cubes that move Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and West Virginia toward Union or Confederate control. Players must read hidden commitments, threaten ambushes, and decide which battle matters most to the wider map. Control enough state markers for sudden death, or lead after five rounds.
