Play Stratego Online

Stratego is a turn based strategy video game released in 1990 for MS DOS systems. It is a digital adaptation of the classic board game of the same name, developed and published by Accolade, Inc. The game presents a top down view of the playing field and falls into the board and party game genre, translating the physical game's mechanics into a computerized format.

Players control an army of forty pieces, which include a flag, five bombs, and various military units ranked from one to nine. The game begins with a setup phase where each player secretly arranges their pieces on their side of the board. Once placed, players take turns moving one piece per turn. Most units, except for scouts, are limited to moving one adjacent space per turn. The flag and bombs are immobile for the duration of the game. A core gameplay system involves moving a piece onto a square occupied by an opponent, which initiates combat. The piece with the lower numerical rank is removed from play, with the exception of bombs, which defeat any unit except miners. A key strategic element is that all pieces' identities are hidden from the opponent until combat occurs, requiring players to deduce enemy positions and strengths through observation and probing attacks.

Progression is structured around capturing the opponent's flag while protecting one's own. The game includes several features to support this gameplay. It offers three distinct board layouts that alter the terrain, such as lakes which are impassable spaces. Players can also choose from a selection of predefined starting setups, each offering different strategic advantages for army placement. For observation or learning purposes, the software includes a demo mode where the computer can play against itself, allowing players to study potential tactics and piece interactions.