In the past few decades board games have gone a long way from the mechanics of classics like Monopoly, Ludo and Uno. Thanks to modern technology and the growing popularity of self-publishing thousands of new board games are hitting the market each year all around the globe.

And one particular game with Slavic roots managed to win the hearts of hardcore and amateur gamers from all over the world – the Bulgarian gem called Battalia.

What is Battalia?

Also known as Battalia: The Creation, it’s a strategic board game for 2-4 players. The game is set in a mythical world where four nations (The Bärfolk, The Emberians, The Islanders and The Cloudborn) and their armies are engaged in a constant battle to rule over the lands of the fictional place called Battalia.

In a nutshell, it’s a game of adventure, strategy, deck building, terrain building, resource management and competition. Packed with vivid artwork, detailed minifigures and tons of maneuvers to choose from, Battalia has become a favorite game for players of all ages.

Self-published through the Bulgarian publisher Fantasmagoria LLC and manufactured by the German board game leader Ludo Fact, the game is an outstanding example of how a bunch of Slavs can take over the world with a brilliant idea.

In the beginning they were just Slavs…

Battalia is the brainchild of a group of Bulgarians spread across the world. Over the course of several years they polished their idea and launched a campaign on the popular crowdfunding website Kickstarter. Albeit unsuccessful at first, the campaign raised over €20,000 Euros and got the word out. Shortly after cancelling the first campaign, the Bulgarians launched a new one, this time offering new advantages for those willing to donate to their project.

The campaign managed to raise the whopping $104,884 USD against the asking funds of $50,000 USD. Retailers picked up the game and Battalia: The Creation started its journey beyond the borders of Kickstarter.

Why the sudden success?

Armed with social media managers, 2D and 3D artists, graphic designers, animators and lots of creativity, the Bulgarians created a game that doesn’t only provide entertainment, but actually promotes analytical thinking and strategic actions.

Furthermore, they included a vast variety of mechanics, which became a winning formula. With so many options to choose from, different strategies to consider, lots of interaction between players and stunning visuals, the game was tailored to impress everyone. And what truly makes it so successful is the fact that casual gamers can also enjoy it without having spent years playing Dungeons & Dragons and other complicated board games.

Last, but definitely not least, the Slavs took the time to offer versions of the game in numerous languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian/ Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Czech, Croatian, Russian, Ukrainian, Hungarian and Bulgarian.

Brave New World

Fantasmagoria’s 15 minutes of fame didn’t burn out after the success of Battalia: The Creation. The team of Bulgarians keeps producing new stuff, supported by the endless pool of Battalia fans from near and far.

Up to present day they have ran another extremely successful Kickstarter campaign for the expansion pack Battalia: The Stormgates. It managed to overfund with a total of $114,155 USD against the asking goal of $40,000 USD. Apart from this expansion, there’s a plethora of smaller expansions and add-ons based on minifigures, rounding it to a total of 13 additions to the core game.

Moreover, Fantasmagoria opened its own physical store in the capital city of Sofia, which is open all week long. But that’s not the only place you can get Battalia. Retailers from all over the world are constantly re-supplying it in multiple languages due to the ever-growing demand. So if you’ve never heard about it, go check it out. You won’t be disappointed.