Global Mogul

Global Mogul is the sort of small economic game that does not ask for your whole evening, only a fair chance at the table. It is not perfect, and it does not pretend otherwise; for its running time and modest weight, though, it is much more agreeable than its reputation would have you believe.

At heart, it blends light area control with economy and production. You establish a presence in the places that matter, then use production to give that position a little financial momentum. This is no heavy simulation; it is a brisk exercise in deciding where your influence should spread.

That shared map is where the interaction lives. A region is not yours merely because you arrived first: other players want the same footholds, and they make you weigh an economic move against control of the board. The interesting decision is whether to pursue production or plant yourself exactly where somebody else would rather you were not.

The object itself is the awkward bit. Production quality is poor, which makes it less inviting to bring out, particularly on a Tuesday after work when one’s hands would quite like something better made. Even so, Global Mogul remains a pleasant, misunderstood little game: I will not ask for it often, but once a year, as an appetiser or a dessert, it is quietly excellent.