Last modified October 18, 2025 by Jarjar

Overview
The Anarchy takes place in England in the 12th century, following the death of King Henry I in 1135. A conflict then erupts between Stephen of Blois, who has himself crowned king, and Empress Matilda, the rightful heir to the throne. This war of succession, which lasted fifteen years, was a period so chaotic that it literally took its name: the Anarchy.

In the game, each player embodies a nobleman loyal to King Stephen. They must develop their domain, build fortifications, recruit troops, defend themselves against the Angevin armies loyal to Matilda, and launch assaults or sieges using constructible war machines.

The Anarchy is a strategic, rich flip & write game on steroids. It is part of Garphill Games' Ancient Anthology series, alongside other historical titles such as Legacy of Yu et Ezra and Nehemiah.

The illustrations are by Sam Phillips, who shares a surname with Shem Phillips, the publisher, possibly suggesting family ties at Garphill Games.

My first impressions
First of all, a very impressive game on the table, which immediately catches the eye and whose depth and richness are immediately perceived! I have played a multitude of flip & write and roll & write games, but this one clearly ranks among the most ambitious of the genre. From the first turns, I was immediately hooked: I loved the variety of choices and the multitude of possible paths. Yes, it is a little confusing at first, but oh so satisfying once the mechanics are assimilated. It is impossible to be everywhere, so from one game to the next, we explore different paths, each as fun as it is pleasant to discover.

It's also a lot of fun to build your castle in 3D with all these pieces! You can tell that a huge amount of development work has been done. Definitely a step above its predecessor. Hadrian's Wall, although a little more subject to chance.

The game is highly strategic, demanding, and quite complex. You have to think about many elements in parallel: defending fortifications, advancing enemies, developing your domain, as well as the multiple interactions between the different possible actions.
The random factor (enemy attacks, maps, events, etc.) forces you to constantly adapt and react to the unexpected. The game requires rigorous management and careful planning, where the tension and satisfaction are particularly well rendered.

Decisions are tight and often heartbreaking, forcing difficult trade-offs: certain actions require specific types of workers, resources, or even well-thought-out combinations of buildings and characters.

Finally, I really appreciated the historical references integrated into the rulebook, an always welcome addition, which demonstrates the care taken by the authors and reinforces the thematic immersion.

Modes and Scenarios
And there are plenty of challenges! Six game modes are available. In normal mode, the task is far from easy. 20 solo scenarios are offered, quickly putting your brain to the test: from the very first, you'll have to seriously rack your brain to complete them. They can be played independently or in campaign mode, one after the other, with several historical references.

RULE POINT
>> Towers do not defend against attacks that target walls.

TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 3 (solo and 2 players)
Best player configuration: 1-2
Price paid: $115 CAN (French version)
Level: experienced player (BGG complexity: 3.92/5)
My best score: 62

MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The look of the game on the table not only attracts attention, but also highlights the richness of its multiple choices.
>> The variety of possible actions and the many avenues to explore offer great strategic freedom.
>> It's great fun to build your own castle!
>> There are many beautiful and good possible sequences.

I liked less :
>> Maybe a bit long for a flip & write.
>> Scenario #1 is very difficult; it seems to me that a simpler start, with a gradual progression of difficulty, would have been more appreciated and, at least, more motivating to continue.
>> High price (effect of PRICES? :/) especially for the French version, given the size of the box, but the richness of the game compensates for it in a way.

The Anarchy offers an immersive game, offering great tactical depth and a rich theme. A huge amount of work has been done in its development, without a doubt one of the best flip & write games on the market!

FUN FACTOR 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂