Pax Pamir: Second Edition is a historical strategy game set in 19th-century Afghanistan. In Pax Pamir, players assume the role of nineteenth century Afghan leaders. The leader attempts to forge a new state after the collapse of the Durrani Empire. Western histories often call this period “The Great Game” because of the role played by the Europeans who attempted to use central Asia as a theatre for their own rivalries. In this game, those empires are viewed strictly from the perspective of the Afghans. Who sought to manipulate the interloping ferengi (foreigners) for their own purposes.
For generations the Durrani Empire held the region together. Now, their authority has collapsed. Rivals both old and new have emerged from the shadows. It’s up to the players to see if a fledgling Afghan state might come into being.
In terms of game play, Pax Pamir: Second Edition is a pretty straightforward tableau builder. Players spend most of their turns purchasing cards from a central market, then playing those cards in front of them in a single row called a court.
Playing cards adds units to the game’s map and grants access to additional actions that can be taken to disrupt other players and influence the course of the game. That last point is worth emphasising. Though everyone is building their own row of cards, the game offers many ways for players to interfere with each other directly and indirectly. Players navigate tribal loyalties, foreign powers, and internal rivalries to emerge victorious.
