PSC Games are releasing the retail versions of Rome & Roll and Britannia this weekend which lets you play out two very different historically based games, actually three but we'll get to that in time.

Rome & Roll // PSC Games

64 AD: Rome is burnt to cinders, in need of rebuilding. With the city weakened, distant settlements across the empire refuse to pay taxes and need reminding of the power of Rome. Emperor Nero gathers the most influential members of the city with a clear task: rebuild Rome and recapture the settlements. Each player will utilise their asymmetric abilities to do so and earn wealth along the way in this new, interactive, heavy, roll and write game.

The game is for one-to-four players and is a heavier take on the roll n' write genre where you will be drafting from a pool of dice to collect resources, construct towns, organise armies and create an empire worthy of the gods. Drawing your buildings Tetris-style onto the seven hills of Rome as you claim territories for yourself.

As well as the traditional building factor that you'll be used to from these kinds of games there are also alternative avenues to victory with ways to win through trading, conquering the colonies and crafting the mightiest Roman road network. You will also be able to take on the role of seven unique character classes which each come with different tactics and ways to approach gameplay.

Game Components // Sergi Sanchez Labrador (BGG)

The second game being released this Saturday is the classic strategy game of Britannia by Lewis Pulsifer.

Britannia // PSC Games

The game comes with options for play in both its classic format and the new duel edition. In the classic mode, you bring three-to-four players to the tabletop to fight out the bloody struggle for control of Britain during the time of the Roman Conquest all the way through to the eventual invasion and occupation by the Normans in 1066.

In the duel edition of the game, the rules have been tweaked to work for two players getting stuck into this epic conflict that spanned the centuries. The game is faster paced and suited to the two-player format in those cases, starting in 350AD and finishing in 1050.

Game Components // Britannia Classic & Duel

Depending on the number of players you have you can either play out the streamlined version of Britannia Duel with two players or if there are there or four players the classic game. In both games, Britannia is an epic game of strategy conquest as you attempt to carve out your kingdom across the British Isles while dealing with raiders and invaders from across the seas.

The full four-player game can take an evening to play though for the four-player game while the Duel can be fought out in 60-90 minutes, so if you and your friends want to spend an evening playing a massive game of conquest that will leave you talking as alliances are forged and broken Britannia is definitely a way to go.

Both Rome & Roll and Britannia take very different approaches to gameplay which is one of PSC Games great strengths, games aren't just the same style of strategy game being reskinned over and over. Players of both will find two (three) enjoyable games that have different feels to experience but are equally enjoyable at heart.

Will you rebuild the Eternal City or conquer the Isles?