Arete
Molotov Cockatiel Games · 2025 · Strategy, Board Game, Wargame, Hex Grid, Tabletop
PC
Positive95% · 22
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About Arete
Conquer the Ancient World in Arete: The Battles of Alexander the Great!
Step back into the ancient world and lead your Macedonian army to victory with Arete, the immersive hex-and-counter wargame that brings the legendary conquests of Alexander the Great to life. Whether you’re a seasoned wargaming grognard or a newcomer to the battlefield, Arete offers a rich and engaging experience for all.The game follows his military triumphs from fighting alongside his father, the trailblazing Philip II, to his clashes with the vast Persian army of King Darius III and finally to his invasion of India as he sought to reach the “end of the world” in the East. Arete (pronounced “ah-reh-TEE”) is a Greek word that means a combination of “excellence” and “virtue,” and in Ancient Greece it held particular significance as a concept of being in constant pursuit of the greater good through one’s heroic deeds.Key Features:
- Solo Quick Game: Jump into the action and master the art of war. Challenge yourself against cunning computer opponents in meticulously crafted scenarios and relive the pivotal battles that shaped history.
- Solo Campaign: Embark on an epic journey through Alexander’s greatest battles. Progress through all eight scenarios and relive the legendary conquests. Check your grades to see how you stack up against the Macedonian king!
- Pass-and-Play: Enjoy the classic wargame experience with friends! Take turns commanding your troops in a local multiplayer mode that’s perfect for game nights.
- Online Play: Compete against players worldwide. Test your strategic prowess and rise through the ranks to become the ultimate conqueror.
- Tutorial: New to strategy games or need a refresher on ancient warfare? Arete’s tutorial will guide you through the basics to ensure you're battle-ready. Dig into the full rules if you want to review, gain a deeper understanding, or browse the combat tables.
- Challenging computer opponent with multiple programmed behaviors (attack, defend, march, etc.). Dice rolls are ALWAYS completely random. The challenge comes from the game's "brain."
- Rules and History: Dive deeper with the full rules of the game and delve into the rich history of Alexander the Great. Gain insights into his strategies and the historical context of each battle.
- Human-drawn Art: The game features eight exclusive, hand-drawn maps and dozens of hand-drawn counters. We will never use AI art in our games.
EIGHT Epic Scenarios
Relive Alexander’s greatest battles with eight scenarios, each on its own unique map and offering a distinct challenge:- Chaeronea, 338 BC
- Granicus, 334 BC
- Issus, 333 BC
- Tyre, 332 BC
- Gaugamela, 331 BC
- Persian Gate, 330 BC
- Jaxartes, 329 BC
- Hydaspes, 326 BC
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
A solid hex and counter wargame with a good AI, fantastic graphics, and a smooth user interface experience. The rules aren't so complex to turn off newer players, but you have to apply real strategy when you're playing. A real gem!3 found this helpful
Excited to learn and explore. Wish quality games like this were more popular! Somebody do a Twitch or a Stream or something for this gem! (Can you tell I'm old and non-technological from my nomenclature?) Though I suspect it's mostly old grognards, like - shout-out to the old wargamer.com crowd. That's where this should really be being talked up! And if you want more publicity/sales - maybe go in under the Matrix/Slitherine banner - other than (social?) media that's the other main way I thought you could begin to get the (positive) notoriety that this game deserves. All in all, very grateful games such as this are still being made at all! One desired update - a Save without Quitting Feature would be very helpful.2 found this helpful
If you are a fan of hex and counter games this is one you will enjoy. The system is like a 'simple battles'. The rules are clear and enforced well. The AI seems to play by the rules and puts up a fair fight. The graphic are well done for what they are meant to communicate. If a hex and counter thinking mans game is up your ally, this is worth the very fair price. Just do it. You will be happy, I am !2 found this helpful
Polished with a clean UI and UX, in an ancients wargame? Sign me up. This game scratches that itch, and the devs are responsive and engaged.1 found this helpful
A great hex and counter wargame with good AI.1 found this helpful
Even though this doesn't run quite right on my system and I had to get a refund, this game looks like it is definitely worth your time. Running Manjaro Linux this game did not like my OS. Buttons worked but the game refused to return to the last screen so I could choose something else. There are other issues but I am assuming this is because of my Linux system. More than likely it is. I was so hoping to play this further but it was not meant to be. I've not seen a war game with these battles anywhere and it shocked me. For this reason this game is a fast purchase for those that enjoy the BC days. These battles are completely overlooked or ignored by 90% of other war games and it is a shame. This makes this game a rarity for the history it brings to you. The graphics of this game are quite beautiful and navigation is simple. I never got far into the game itself but it looks like the dev put a lot of love into his labor. I am hoping down the road the dev can find a way to make this game run in Linux so I can have a chance to play it thoroughly. Once the Linux "blockage" has been removed I will for sure return to play. If you're a Linux player, you may want to avoid this game until …
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