Kurt Vonnegut, widely recognized for his literary contributions, particularly Slaughterhouse-Five, also ventured into game design. His board game, GHQ, originally created in 1956, has now been published after nearly seven decades.
Following the moderate reception of his first novel, Player Piano, Vonnegut sought alternative ways to earn an income. Drawing on his World War II experiences, he designed GHQ, a strategy board game played on an 8×8 grid, focusing on military tactics.
Game designer and NYU faculty member Geoff Engelstein discovered the game’s rules in the Vonnegut archives at Indiana University. With the approval of the Vonnegut estate, Engelstein restored the game and updated its design, making it available to the public.
GHQ is a two-player strategy game where players use military units to capture the opposing headquarters. Originally intended as a potential training tool for military cadets, the game reflects tactical elements of modern warfare.
GHQ is now available at Barnes & Noble, featuring wooden pieces and a booklet with Vonnegut’s original design notes.
Source: Tabletop Gaming News
