Give me liberty or give me death! Gaming the American Revolution
Brian Morris
United States
Raytown
Missouri
2nd, 6th & 7th Wisconsin, 19th Indiana, 24th Michigan
24th Michigan monument at Gettysburg Pa.
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"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?...I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." -- Thomas Paine
Truth is there aren't a lot of games on the American Revolution. Not nearly as many as one would expect. If not for Clash of Arms and GMT there would be almost nothing being published similating the American Revolution in recent years. There are some however. Not a ton but they are out there.
One thing I noticed putting this list together is there were a lot of Revolution games made in and around 1976 for the Bicentennial with TSR, Avalon Hill and SPI getting in on the act. Then the subject quickly fades away with only a few notible titles here and there over the next 25 years. It's not until Clash of Arms and GMT start producing some games on the subject in and around 1998 that we really see a resurgence.
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Andrew Parkin
United Kingdom
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
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Certainly seem this battle's a popular one with game designers.
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Dana Zinsmeister
United States
College Station
Texas
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A colorful Richard Berg design of Saratoga.
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Dana Zinsmeister
United States
College Station
Texas
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A Dunnigan design with areas depicting major watersheds.
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Chris Kice
United States
Shorewood
Illinois
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EAC offers you the chance to change the course of the American Revolution. (What if the Dutch helped us instead of the French or the Boston Tea Party never happened?)
This is also a good game for history students since the dates of all the "prime" events are listed on the cards - it's not a game, it's a study aid... 
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Piergennaro Federico
Italy
Milano
Unspecified
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The battle of Yorktown
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Stephen Roney
United States
Ladera Ranch
California
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I am sure this is not quite the kind of game you are looking for, a children's game from 1960 tied to the Disney "Swamp Fox" shows, but it is the American Revolution, so here it is.
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From the publisher's web site:
Next in the BAR series is Monmouth Courthouse. This is the second game in this series to cover the American War of Independence. The game will use the same reduced strength point ratios as used in COA's Brandywine & Germantown. The game will include the standard battle, smaller scenarios covering segments of the battle, and a "what if" depicting a general engagement involving both armies. The game map and order of battle will be the most accurate ever on Monmouth due to the close assistance generously provided by Monmouth Battlefield State Park, New Jersey.
Currently on CoA P300 list for a release in 2007.
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Paul Sauberer
United States
Hendersonville
Tennessee
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Has map and counters or can be used with miniature rules
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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A DTP wargame from Markham Designs covering the battle of Hobkirk Hill, this was the first in a series on the US War of Independence.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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The second game in the series of the US War of Independence, this times on the battle at Cowpens.
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Mike Pratt
United States
London
Kentucky
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XTR's treatment of both the American War of Independence and the French and Indian War at the strategic level. Never played it, but looks interesting.
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Seth Owen
United States
Norwich
Connecticut
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This set of miniatures rules portrays American Revolution battles pretty well.
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Seth Owen
United States
Norwich
Connecticut
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More from Worthington Games in the Clash for a Continent line.
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michael c
United States
ASHBURN
VA
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Well I still have it. More than just the battle itself and I have not played it in over 30 years, so I have no idea how bad or possibly good it is or is not.
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David Pearsall
United States
Pikeville
North Carolina
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Several of the scenarios in this game relate to naval actions fought during the revolution. The birth of the US Navy is included!
The USS Constitution, USS Constelation even the very first US warship named the Enterprise (Battle of Valcour Island) is included.
The exploits of John Paul Jones can be gamed. Definately belongs on this list.
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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Incase any Revolutionary War buffs and BGG Newbies stumble on this geek list, this is now out. It is a redesign of We the People (my previous favorite game) and corrects the few flaws of the game and makes it better, faster, and more realistic.
(I added this because when I was a BGG Newbie, that's how I learned about We the People).
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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Here's another one to add to the list. A game about the Battle of Cowpens.
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Tanks Alot
United States
Fort Mill
South Carolina
www.facebook.com/HistoricalBoardGames
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Almost out, I have a feeling this on is gonna be a classic. Ive been watching the HBO miniseries John Adams lately, and I am so excited about this game. To think that revolutionary war used to be one of the most boring era's to me.
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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Here's a unique game: an AWI game about Spain vs. England. Another one in the GMT series.
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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The latest offering from Mark Miklos and GMT.
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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Another Richard Berg game that uses the Chainmail system and covers the fight at Freeman's Farm. Nice game -- not heavy. Definitely plays a lot better F2F than solo.
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Judd Vance
United States
Wichita
Kansas
Now when I say, "Who's the master?" You say, "Sho Nuff!"
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A Mike Joslyn game about the Southern Theater.
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Hilary Hartman
United States
Wilmore
Kentucky
My avatar was cross-stitched by my wife, Robin! She's cool like that, not to mention being one helluva ASL opponent.
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Just released in S&T, a Joseph Miranda design. I look forward to playing it soon.
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Well actually, the 'Dutch' DID help us and there's a very good SNES 'Game' upon this topic called: ''Liberty or Death''. In that, then there's the 'Dutch Merchant' who appears and provides excellent 'discounts' on items and it's random as to WHERE & WHEN he'll show up. If the game drags ON long enough, then you'd even 'see' Spanish Troops make their appearance in the 'Southern Theatre' of this as well. If you can obtain a copy of this 'Game', then I'd implore upon YOU to pick this UP and break out your 'Super Nintendo' for hours of 'Campaigning', while you can SAVE a couple of games to complete later on. 
Unspecified
Virginia
Raytown
Missouri
Unspecified
Virginia
Wargames are definitely about combatants. Who the combatants are depends a lot on the scale of the particular game. Games about individual battles tend to offer greater detail about the combatants involved, and counters may represent actual regiments, artillery batteries, Indian tribes or war parties, militia companies, and even battlefield leaders. If there is any significant represention of slaves, it would be at this level (Didn't the British raise a regiment of slaves? I don't know).
At the strategic level, there may or may not be representatiion of some groups, depending on their significance at that scale, and the designers' focus. Some of the strategic level games can be rather abstract in their handling of military units, political events and influence, etc. We The People, for instance, uses generic counters with factors representing so many troops, but the emphasis is on the historical generals, who are each rated for their relatives skill and proficiency.
Sophistication varies with the scale and complexity of the individual game. That is to say, some games are more sophisticated than others, but sometimes at the sacrifice of playability. Game selection would be dependent on the age and interest-level of the students you introduce it to. A game like We The People is probably easier to grasp, but more abstract than 13: The Colonies in Revolt.
The strategic games -- focused on the campaigning year after year -- tend to deal with it one way or another. In these games, influencing politics can be part of the player's strategic calculus. For example, the American player may have to win 3 major battles in order to trigger French intervention. Raising popular support also impacts recruitment, calling out militia, etc.
At the battle level, politics rarely come into play. Orders of battle are usually set. A victory condition may be tied to political objectives (For instance, attacking at Trenton on Christmas Eve, or winning the battle of Saratoga), but because most battles were over before politics had a chance to influence them between the first shot and last, they tend to be less relevent in the course ofthe game itself.
ASHBURN
VA
Mount Keira
New South Wales