Gruntz Teach & Playthrough – Tactical Warfare in a Tiny Box

Review by Lincoln Hoppe: The Game Bard

INTRO

Join me as I teach my wife Page how to play Gruntz, then watch us battle it out on the tabletop! This tactical WWI-themed game from Allplay packs an incredible amount of strategic depth into one tiny box. And yes, it has magnets.

“There is so much game in this small box, it’s mindblowing – the tactical and strategic possibilities they unleash with such a simple ruleset are immense.”

Gruntz board game components showing wooden meeples

What Happened in Our Game

Paige came into this game as a complete newcomer to Gruntz, and I had the advantage of having played twice before. But that didn’t stop her from absolutely crushing me!

The game moved quickly – about 18 minutes of actual gameplay – but every single turn was packed with tactical decisions. We both missed opportunities, overlooked threats, and had those satisfying “aha!” moments when a perfect move revealed itself.

The Captain leadership mechanic proved to be a game-changer. Being able to move entire squads of Gruntz by moving the Captain created some really dynamic battlefield pushes. Paige used this brilliantly in her final winning move, coordinating her forces to capture my headquarters.

Aircraft added another layer of complexity that we both underutilized at first. Those bombing runs and fighter sweeps can devastate your opponent if you’re paying attention to the flight paths – and equally devastating if you’re NOT paying attention (which I learned the hard way).

Key Moments

The turning point came when Paige deployed her truck strategically and started using the bomber lanes I had foolishly left open. I was so focused on the ground battle that I completely missed the aerial threat until it was too late.

We both agreed that the game feels deceptively simple when you’re learning it, but once you’re playing, it transforms into this beautifully woven web of cause and effect. Every move your opponent makes opens up new possibilities while closing others.

Gruntz board game components showing wooden meeples, magnetic vehicle attachments, and compact game board with WWII tactical gameplay elements

Final Thoughts

This teach and playthrough really showcased what makes Gruntz special. The rules are easy enough to teach in minutes, but the strategic depth keeps revealing itself turn after turn. Paige picked it up quickly and was making sophisticated tactical decisions by mid-game.

The fact that this entire experience – teaching, playing, and having a blast – fits in a box smaller than two stacked sandwiches is just fantastic. I’m hungry.

If you’re interested in Gruntz, check it out on Kickstarter now! The campaign is live, and this small box game delivers epic tactical warfare that’ll have you plotting three moves ahead.

Video Preview/Review Link

by Lincoln Hoppe

Original Music by Lincoln Hoppe: The Game Bard

Review Copy Provided by Allplay

Publisher: Allplay, Bull Mansion Studio

Designed by: Carter Scott

Art by: Lorenzo Colangeli, Filip Gavril

Board Game Geek Page: Gruntz

My Board Game Geek Page: Lincoln Hoppe

Lincoln Hoppe

Lincoln a professional film & Television actor based in Los Angeles, California.

He has a family with 5 kids, and one of his joys in life is playing games together as a family.

He's on a mission to spread the love and mental health benefits of play and board gaming to the world.

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lincoln@thegamebard.com

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Gruntz by Allplay – How to Play & Full Playthrough | The Game Bard