GMT Games
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Board game publishing |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Gene Billingsley, Mike Crane, Terry Shrum |
| Headquarters | California , United States |
Key people | Tony Curtis, Rodger MacGowan, Mark Simonitch, Andy Lewis |
| Products | Wargames, card games, family games |
GMT Games is a publishing company specializing in wargaming, headquartered in California and established in 1990. The company is recognized for producing visually appealing games that range from intricate "monster games" to more accessible options designed for beginners. In addition to wargames, GMT also offers card games and titles suitable for family play. Prominent figures within the organization include Tony Curtis, Rodger MacGowan, Mark Simonitch, and Andy Lewis.
History
The name GMT originates from the initials of its founders: Gene Billingsley, Mike Crane, and Terry Shrum. Subsequently, Crane and Shrum departed to create the Fresno Gaming Association.
During the 1990s, GMT introduced the innovative "Project 500" (P500) pre-order approach, which initiates production only after a specified minimum number of orders is secured. This pioneering model played a crucial role in GMT's growth at a time when many other wargame publishers faced difficulties, and it has since become widely adopted throughout the industry.
GMT is particularly famous for the COIN series, which began with Andean Abyss, designed by Volko Ruhnke, a former CIA instructor. The COIN games depict four factions—guerrilla and conventional forces—vying for influence over local populations, with scenarios based on historical conflicts such as the Cuban Revolution, Vietnam War, American Revolution, and War in Afghanistan.
Their flagship offering, Twilight Struggle, is a card-driven strategic game that explores the dynamics of the global Cold War. Since 2018, GMT has ventured into digital formats by releasing Windows and mobile versions of titles like Twilight Struggle and Labyrinth: The War on Terror.
In 2019, GMT removed Scramble for Africa from its lineup due to controversies surrounding its theme.
Described by The Washington Post as "the modern hobby's highest-profile wargame publisher," GMT’s P500 system has been likened to a "Kickstarter before Kickstarter," empowering enthusiasts to directly impact production decisions. Wargamer Magazine acknowledges them as a "house-name in table-top wargaming," while VICE News emphasizes their position as one of the largest and most prosperous firms within the sector, boasting an extensive catalog.
Published games
Prominent titles released by GMT Games encompass:
- 18XX series – strategic board games centered on railway construction and investment.
- At Any Cost: Metz 1870
- Battle Line
- Chandragupta
- COIN series – card-driven games focused on counterinsurgency and irregular warfare.
- Combat Commander series – tactical World War II simulations driven by cards.
- Commands & Colors: Ancients – block-based tactical combat game with card mechanics set during the Classical Period.
- A Distant Plain: Insurgency in Afghanistan
- Dominant Species
- Down in Flames series – aerial combat card games including Rise of the Luftwaffe and Eighth Air Force
- Europe Engulfed
- Fields of Fire
- Here I Stand
- Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ?
- MBT series – simulations of a potential 1987 US-Soviet conflict in Germany, later expanded to incorporate British, West German, and Canadian units.
- Next War series – modern hypothetical conflict wargames.
- Panzer series – tactical World War II games set in Europe with four expansions.
- Paths of Glory
- Space Empires 4X
- Sword of Rome
- SPQR
- Twilight Struggle – Cold War-themed card-driven strategy board game.
- Wing Leader series – World War II aerial combat wargames featuring side-scrolling perspectives.
These offerings highlight GMT Games' significant influence within the strategy and wargaming market, playing a major role in their financial performance and competitive positioning.