A board game box cover for 'MELEE,' showing an animated knight riding a large bird-like creature, with cartoon-style castles and floating islands in the background. The game credits "Rikki Tahta" and "La Mame Games," with the logo of "Indie Boards & Cards" at the bottom right.

Melee

ByMichail

Melee

Melee is a board wargame designed by Steve Jackson and released in 1977 by Metagaming Concepts. It is a game of arena combat in which each player generates their character by purchasing Strength, Dexterity, and even equipment as part of a point-based character creation system, and then these characters fight using a tactical combat system involving six-sided dice. Melee was revived and re-released by Steve Jackson Games in 2019.

Why is Melee Popular?

Melee is considered one of the cleanest, simplest, and most understandable role-playing games around. It is the only one that doesn’t require a referee. Despite its atypicality, Melee is probably the best place for aspiring RPG players and designers to begin.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more. 

Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl