Cuba Libre is the second volume in GMT's COIN Series, covering the 1956-1959 Cuban Revolution against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Players take on the roles of four distinct, asymmetrical factions—the 26th of July Movement, the Directorio, the Syndicate, and the Government—each vying for control of the island.
The Verdict
based on 13 reviews
“Cuba Libre is a great game and one I do not hesitate to recommend. A stunning package of simple yet top quality components, difficult decisions and history.”
“Choosing a favourite COIN game for me is a bit like choosing a favourite child for some people. I want to say I love them all equally, but I secretly love Cuba Libre the most.”
“Cuba Libre was an absolute blast to play, we just jumped in and started playing.”
“I love this game, I think it's fantastic, and, uh, yeah, I'll, I'll be playing this one again, but I want to play these other COIN games as well.”(12:05)
As though on cue, the second volume of the series bursts through the door, dressed in an army jumpsuit, drab olive field cap, and underwear over the top of the pants. It’s Cuba Libre, here to save the day!
The reviewer highlights Cuba Libre as an exceptional entry in the COIN series, praising its tight asymmetric design and compelling historical conflict that plays out brilliantly.
The reviewer praises Cuba Libre as a brilliant introduction to the COIN system, highlighting its manageable play time, well-designed rules, and phenomenal solo mode.
Whether you’re a history buff, a strategy game enthusiast, or just looking for something different for game night, Cuba Libre delivers. It’s clear that this game has earned its spot on my shelf, and I’m confident it will earn a spot on yours.
The reviewer presents a comprehensive playthrough of Cuba Libre, highlighting its engaging asymmetrical mechanics and strategic depth as an entry point into the COIN series.
Before we unpack the man, the myth, the legend, we talk about Cuba Libre, Gang of Dice, and Time of Empires.
“Cuba Libre is the natural entry point to the series due to its relative simplicity and focus on the core concepts of the COIN series. Later titles can diverge substantially from the norm that Cuba Libre represents.”(3:04)
“That was a great experience. Definitely, as introductory COIN Cuba Libre plays excellently. Not only the rules were pretty easy to grasp, but the area and number of choices limited enough for the guys to be able to quickly grasp what the best moves are.”
“Overall I enjoyed Cuba Libre quite a lot. It felt nice to sort of come home to a heavier war game with a lot of fun things going on. I loved the emergent narrative in the game, I loved the tough resource choices, and I think the event mechanic that drives the whole game is genius.”(4:47)
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