REVOLUTIONS 1820 - 1880

Revolutions – France 1820-1880 is a political simulation and asymmetric wargame for 3 to 5 players.
It covers nearly 60 years of French political turmoil, from the Bourbon Restoration to the rise of modern ideological movements.

Players take control of major factions (Ultras, Orléanists, Bonapartists, Republicans, or Socialists) and fight to impose their vision of France through parliamentary influence, social control, and revolutionary uprisings.

Core mechanics

• Card-driven influence system
• Negotiation and diplomacy
• Asymmetric factions
• Area / society control
• Political tension management
• Dual conflict resolution (elections vs revolution)

Gameplay experience

The game constantly shifts between two arenas:

• institutional politics (assembly, voting, laws)
• street power struggles (riots, uprisings)

Players deploy action cards to influence key societal sectors (press, clergy, workers, elites, etc.), shaping national tension that can trigger either elections or civil war.

Goal

Outmaneuver opponents and steer France toward your ideological victory before rival factions succeed.

Key data

• 3–5 players
• 14+
• 120–240 min (BGG & publisher range)
• Publisher: Fellowship of Simulations
• Designer: Laurent Rix
• Type: Wargame / political simulation
• Languages: English/French

Highlights

• Deep political simulation with strong theme integration
• High player interaction and negotiation
• Asymmetric factions with distinct objectives
• Two victory paths: democratic or revolutionary
• Strong historical immersion in 19th-century France

Notes

• Long, demanding playtime
• Heavy emphasis on diplomacy and social manipulation
• Best suited for experienced strategy gamers