Para Bellum: Free Ancient History Card Game
Si vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war.
Para Bellum is a free ancient history card game that puts you in command of one of five civilisations. Build your culture, deploy your armies, and siege the enemy's walls before they siege yours. No downloads, no sign-ups, no cost. Just a browser and a plan.
Play Para Bellum
Opens in a new tab. Best on desktop.
Five Civilisations. Five Ways to Fight.
Every faction in Para Bellum plays differently. Disciplined legions, berserker hordes, ancient empires, tactical cunning, or blood sacrifice. Pick the one that suits you.
Mediterranean
Greece and Rome. Hoplites and legions that fight harder together. Hold the line, then push through.
Barbarian
Celts and Vikings. Cheap, fast, relentless. Hit the walls before the enemy knows what's coming.
Near Eastern
Persia and Babylon. Siege towers, war chariots, and Immortals that refuse to stay dead.
Far Eastern
China and Japan. Samurai, ninjas, and dragon warriors. Outthink them, then overwhelm them.
Mesoamerican
Aztec and Maya. Sacrifice your own warriors to fuel devastating attacks. High risk, high reward.
How to Play
1
Build Culture
Play villages each turn to generate Culture, the resource that funds your war effort. More villages, bigger armies.
2
Deploy and Attack
Spend Culture to play units and issue orders. Send your armies forward. Block the enemy's. Every card tells you exactly what it does.
3
Breach the Walls
Reduce the enemy's walls from 10 to 0 before they do the same to yours. Unblocked attackers hit hard.
Full rules available in-game via the Help button. No card game experience needed. Vegetius would approve.
Prepare for war.
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