The Ultimate Wizard Battle Game List

I've been thinking about compiling this list for a long time... there are a LOT of games out there involving wizard battles; for the sake of argument, let's consider candidates for this list to be games that prominently feature magic being used directly against players, basically a magical death match. I am missing many, many games, so help me flesh this out. Perhaps then we can rank them.

1. Wiz-War
2. Epic Spell Wars
3. Mystery Wizard
4. Mage Wars
5. Zimby Mojo
6. Wizard
7. Magic: The Gathering
8. Frostgrave
9. Summoner Wars
10. Codex
11. Harry Potter duel game (?)
12. Ashes
13. Magic the Gathering: Arena of the Planeswalkers
14. Sorcerer (1975)
15. Sorcerer (2019)
16. Black Rose Wars

The original Wizard, from Metagaming (alongside Melee, Ogre, and G.E.V)?

Waiting for the elephant in the room *finger drumming*

I believe there is a card game about wizards.

I was just thinking about revisiting Mage Wars, but I’ve got boxes and boxes of unopened Magic boosters with more on the way. Talked myself out of it pretty fast.

Summoner Wars? IDK.

I don't personally think Summoner Wars counts, but I'll add it if there is a consensus.

Summoner Wars definitely belongs. Ashes too.

I've been calling Magic wannabes "wizard fights" for a while now, but most of them aren't really worth mentioning. I honestly can't even think of any to add right now.

I'm gonna rank the games here that I've played enough to form opinions on, because why not. Wiz-War gets excluded because one play ages ago isn't enough.

Zimby Mojo - A celebration of conflict in game form. Tough to table, but worth it.

Mystery Wizard - The second half of Zimby Mojo turned into an entire game. A simpler alternative that's no less funny.

Summoner Wars - One of the best wizard fight games ever made. Huge character spread, deck construction, strategies, etc.

Magic: The Gathering - The classic. It's been outdone by now, but respect where it's due.

Mage Wars - Similar to Summoner Wars but overwrought with keywords, status effects, and assorted wackiness.

Ashes - Started strong, then Asmodee happened and Plaid Hat floundered. Now it's overwrought and no one plays it.

Epic Spell Wars - This game fits on this list thematically, but it's definitely not doing the same thing. As a Munchkin alternative it's pretty damn good.

There’s Codex and the new Harry Potter dueling game.

I guess Magic the Gathering: Arena of the Planeswalkers should be in there.

I would rather play Heroscape, but there's no way around it; Planeswalkers checks off all of the boxes.

I've never played, but Sorcerer (2019) seems to fit the bill too.
Sorcerer (1975) certainly makes the list.

drewcula wrote: I've never played, but Sorcerer (2019) seems to fit the bill too.
Sorcerer (1975) certainly makes the list.

I thought that Sorcerer (1975) was about guys driving a truckload of nitroglycerine on rough roads in the Andes.

Black Rose Wars should probably be in the discussion, as well. I've played it once, not as good as Wiz War, but it has some interesting decisions.