5 New Battles Added!
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Conquer the World as 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.
THIRTEEN Epic Scenarios: Relive Alexander’s greatest battles with eight scenarios, each on its own unique map and offering a distinct challenge:
• Chaeronea, 338 BCE
• Haemus, 335 BCE (New!)
• Lyginus, 335 BCE (New!)
• Pelium, 335 BCE (New!)
• Granicus, 334 BCE
• Issus, 333 BCE
• Tyre, 332 BCE
• Gaugamela, 331 BCE
• Persian Gate, 330 BCE
• Jaxartes, 329 BCE
• Arigaeum, 327 BCE (New!)
• Hydaspes, 326 BCE
• PLUS Alexander vs. Alexander, a perfectly balanced 2-player scenario
Plan your moves, outsmart your opponents, and change the course of history with every decision you make.
Download Arete today and become a legendary conqueror!
Lead your empire, rewrite history, and achieve true greatness with Arete: The Battles of Alexander the Great.
This is an excellent app that I hope does well. Mobile is a great platform for hex and counter wargaming and this app perfects it. However, as far as wargames go, the systems are simple and draw inspiration from WW2 wargames such as Simonitch’s series and ASL. This makes the battles not feel quite ancient, as units are fluid and highly mobile. For example, on the battle of Issus, my strategy involved crossing the river with a flanking force and clearing a path, which my main army ended up backing over. This essentially meant that I ended up on the Persian bank with Persians attacking my lines from my side of the river. It was fun, but ancient armies weren’t that mobile generally. I like the Field of Glory system of movement as it allows both cool tactics like crossing a river but still feels like the army has inertia that needs to be fought.
Developer Response
Thanks for the great review! In the battle of Issus the river was fordable and within the game it does slow down units, more infantry than cavalry. There’s also a -2 penalty for being in the river during combat (ranged and close). This typically gives the non-fording side a turn or two to react and move and take considerable advantage positioning-wise. This to me mirrors historical accounts accurately, but may not mirror some other ancients wargames. Other battles, other rivers are different (even within the game).
High Production Value
GrumpyAPMech
Just finished my first battle and was compelled to write a review. This is a game I have been wanting on iOS for a long time. I love hex and counter war games (Squad Leader, Band of Brothers) and this game scratches that itch. I was a little worried it would be hard to play on my iPhone, my eyes are not what they were when I was younger. I had zero issues playing the game or reading the text. The UI is outstanding and makes the play seamless. The game itself is a lot of fun and mirrors tradition H&C board games. Definitely the best $10 I have spent in a long time. Congrats to the developer for such a well made game. He will be getting my money for any future games he develops.
Developer Response
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Makes me so happy to see fellow wargamers enjoying Arete, and especially happy to know everything is seamless and readable.
Excellent game!
Marathon Mel
Great to get hex and counter gaming on my phone and this game delivers. The tutorial makes it easy to learn and start playing quickly. Good variety in the scenarios and the AI is always challenging. I just went through the campaign for the first time and can’t wait to do it again to try to improve my grades. More of these games please!
Terrific Game!
HenriWhitehead
I played through the campaign twice, and I had fun every minute. I appreciate that games like this exist. It captures what I love about analog hex and counter wargaming but in digital form. It’s also has a great solo system. I really wish there were more games like this in the App Store.
Developer Response
Thank you so much for the kind words, Henri! I’m so happy you’re enjoying it.
The developer, Vasilios Kalpakoglou, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
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The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
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The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Vasilios Kalpakoglou
Size
196.7 MB
Category
Board
Compatibility
Requires iOS 14.1 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 14.1 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 14.1 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 14.1 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 13.1 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
