The Charles S. Roberts Awards (or CSR Awards) are given annually for excellence in the historical wargaming hobby. It is named after Charles S. Roberts the "Father of Wargaming" who founded Avalon Hill. The award is informally called a "Charlie" and officially called a "Charles S. Roberts Award". The Wargamer magazine called it "very prestigious".
Created at the first Origins Game Convention in 1975, the awards were the "brainchild of Canadian hobbyist John Mansfield." Originally the awards were the Origins Awards but were informally known as the Charles Roberts Awards and it was only in 1988 that Charles Roberts officially agreed to let his name be used. The split from the Origins Awards occurred in 1987, after Fortress America by Milton Bradley Company won an award. Fortress America was not considered a traditional historical wargame by the older members in the wargaming community. Prior to 2000, the awards were given at the Origins Game Fair. Since 2000, the awards have been given at the World Boardgaming Championships (formerly "AvalonCon"). The Award is managed by the Charles S. Roberts Award Committee with winners chosen by votes submitted by fans.
The Awards also include the Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame which recognizes game designers and producers that have made a significant and long lasting contribution to the contemporary board wargaming hobby.
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame—Age of Napoleon (Phalanx Games)
Best World War II Boardgame—Europe Engulfed (GMT Games LLC)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—Lock 'n Load (Shrapnel Games)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Ignorant Armies (Strategy & Tactics/Decision)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—Thunder on South Mountain (Blue Guidon)
Best Wargame Graphics—Ardennes '44 (GMT Games LLC)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—Against The Odds
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Panzerschreck (Minden Games)
Best Game Review or Game Analysis—Drive on Stalingrad, Paper Wars #50
Best Historical or Scenario Article—"Napoleon at the Berezina", Against the Odds Vol.1 No.4
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement - Rick Young and Jesse Evans, Europe Engulfed (GMT Games LLC)
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—Kevin Zucker
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame—Sword of Rome (GMT Games)
Best World War II Boardgame—ASL Starter Kit #1 (Multi-Man Publishing)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—Downtown (GMT Games)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Fortress Berlin (Against the Odds)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—Louisiana Tigers (BSO Games)
Best Wargame Graphics—Downtown (GMT Games)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—(tie) Against The Odds and Strategy & Tactics
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Panzerschreck (Minden Games)
Best Game Review or Game Analysis—no winner designated
Best Historical or Scenario Article—S&T Sedan, by Ty Bomba
Best Pre-20th Century PC Game—Rome: Total War (Total War Games)
Best 20th Century+ PC Game—Battles in Normandy (Strategic Studies Group)
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement—Lee Brimmicombe Wood for Downtown (GMT Games)
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—JD Webster
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame— Bonaparte at Marengo (Simmons Games)
Best World War II Boardgame—Empire of the Sun (GMT Games LLC)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—Twilight Struggle (GMT Games LLC)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Chennault's First Fight (Against The Odds #12)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—Death in the Trenches (Schutze Games)
Best Wargame Graphics—(tie) Empire of the Sun (GMT Games LLC) and Fire in the Sky (MMP/The Gamers)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—Against The Odds
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Panzerschreck (Minden Games)
Best Game Review or Game Analysis—Empire of the Sun Strategy Concepts (C3i #17)
Best Historical or Scenario Article—not awarded
Best Pre-20th Century PC Game—Crown of Glory (Matrix Games)
Best 20th Century+ PC Game—not awarded
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement—Ananda Gupta and Jason Matthews, Twilight Struggle (GMT Games LLC)
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—none
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame—Here I Stand (GMT Games LLC)
Best World War II Boardgame—A Victory Lost (Multi-Man Publishing)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—Winged Horse: Campaigns in Vietnam, 1965-66 (S&T #239)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—Battle of the Little Bighorn (Khyber Pass Games)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Golden Horde: Kulikovo 1380 (Against the Odds #18)
Best Wargame Graphics—A Victory Lost (Multi-Man Publishing)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—Against The Odds
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Line of Departure (Jim Werbaneth)
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement—Tetsuya Nakamura, A Victory Lost (Multi-Man Publishing)
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—none
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame—1914: Twilight in the East (GMT Games LLC)
Best World War II Boardgame—Case Blue (MMP/The Gamers)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—World at War: Eisenbach Gap (Lock 'n Load Publishing)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—Rosebud: Prelude to Little Bighorn (Khyber Pass Games)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Not War But Murder (Against the Odds #19)
Best Wargame Graphics (tie)—1914: Twilight in the East (GMT Games LLC) and Overlord: D-Day and the Beachhead Battles (New England Simulations)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—Against The Odds
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Line of Departure (Jim Werbaneth)
Best Game Review or Game Analysis—Against the Odds #19: "The Evolution of Cards and Wargames", by John Prados
Best Historical or Scenario Article—Against the Odds #19, "Not War But Murder: The Cold Harbor Campaign - 1864", by Michael Rinella
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement—Dean Essig, Designer, Case Blue and OCS series (MMP/The Gamers)
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame—Empires in Arms (Matrix Games)
Best 20th Century Era Computer Wargame—Guns of August 1914-1918 (Matrix Games)
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—none
Best Pre–World War II Boardgame—Warriors of God (Multi Man Publications, Inc.)
Best World War II Boardgame—Conflict of Heroes (Academy Games)
Best Modern Era Boardgame—Red Dragon Rising: The Coming War with China (Decision Games)
Best DTP-Produced Boardgame—June '44 (DDH Games)
Best Magazine-Published Boardgame—Iwo Jima: Rage Against the Marines (Operations, MMP)
Best Wargame Graphics—Conflict of Heroes (Academy Games)
Best Professional Wargame Magazine—C3i Magazine (RBM Publication)
Best Amateur Wargame Magazine—Line of Departure (Jim Werbaneth)
Best Game Review or Game Analysis (tie)—Empire of the Sun: Opening Strategy, by Mark Herman (C3i Magazine) and Top 20 Games – A Look Back by Steve Carey (C3i Magazine)
Best Historical or Scenario Article (tie)—Combat Commander: Variant Rules by Chad Jensen and John Foley (C3i Magazine) and Flying Colors: Trafalgar Campaign by Mark Barker (C3i Magazine)
James F. Dunnigan Award, To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement—Uwe Eickert
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame—none
Best 20th Century Era Computer Wargame—none
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME—none
Best Ancient to Napoleonic Era Board Wargame - A Most Dangerous Time: Japan in Chaos, 1570-1584, Multi Man Publications, Inc.
Best Post-Napoleonic to Pre–World War II Era Board Wargame - Battle Above the Clouds, Multi Man Publications, Inc.
Best World War II Era Board Wargame - D-Day at Omaha Beach, Decision Games
Best Post-WW2 Era Board Wargame - Elusive Victory, GMT Games
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame - Field of Glory, Slitherine
Best 20th Century Era - Modern Computer Wargame - War in the Pacific - Admiral's Edition, Matrix Games
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame - Struggle for the Galactic Empire, Decision Games
Best Magazine Game - Deathride: Mars-la-Tour 1870, Against the Odds magazine (ATO)
Best Desktop Published (DTP)/Print-and-Play Game - Zulus on the Ramparts!, Victory Point Games
Best Expansion or Supplement for an Existing Game - Panzerblitz Hill of Death mini-module Carentan, Multi Man Publications, Inc.
Best Board Game Graphics - Battle Above the Clouds, Multi Man Publications, Inc.
Best Professional Game Magazine - Battles magazine (by Olivier Revenu)
Best Amateur Game Magazine - Panzer Digest (by Gary Graber), Minden Games
Best Historical/Scenario Article - For the People – 10th Anniversary Variant Rules (C3i #23) by Mark Herman
Best Game Review or Analysis Article - Liberty Roads (Battles Magazine 2)
James F. Dunnigan Design Elegance Award - John Butterfield
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME - John Butterfield
Best Ancient to Napoleonic Era Board Wargame - Washington's War (by Mark Herman), GMT Games
Best Post-Napoleonic to Pre-World War 2 Era Board Wargame - The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 (by Javier Romero), GMT Games
Best World War 2 Era Board Wargame - Normandy '44 (by Mark Simonitch), GMT Games
Best Post-WW2 Era Board Wargame - Labyrinth: The War on Terror (by Volko Ruhnke), GMT Games
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame - Civilization V
Best 20th Century Era - Modern Computer Wargame - Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 (2by3 Games/ Matrix)
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame - War of the Ring Collector's Edition (by Roberto di Meglio, Marco Maggi, Francesco Nepitello), Fantasy Flight Games
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Computer Wargame - Mass Effect 2
Best Magazine Game - A Week in Hell (by Laurent Guenette), Battles magazine
Best Desktop Published (DTP)/Print-and-Play/Postcard Game - We Must Tell the Emperor (by Steve Carey), Victory Point Games
Best Expansion or Supplement for an Existing Game - Combat Commander: Battle Pack #3 - Normandy (by John Foley), GMT Games
Best Board Game Graphics - Normandy '44 (GMT)
Best Computer Game Graphics - Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 (2by3 Games/ Matrix)
Best Professional Game Magazine - Battles Magazine
Best Amateur Game Magazine - Line of Departure
Best Historical/Scenario Article - Joel Toppen, History of the Peloponnesian War (C3i #24)
Best Game Review or Analysis Article - Mark Herman, Washington's War, Art of Asymmetrical Strategy (C3i#24)
James F. Dunnigan Design Elegance Award - Labyrinth: The War on terror
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME - Richard Borg
Best Ancient to Napoleonic Era Board Wargame - Sekigahara (by Matthew Calkins), GMT Games
Best Post-Napoleonic to Pre-World War 2 Era Board Wargame - None But Heroes (by Dean Essig), Multi Man Publications, Inc. (MMP)
Best Best World War 2 Era Board Wargame- No Retreat: The Russian Front Deluxe Edition (by Carl Paradis), GMT Games
Best Post-WW2 Era Board Wargame - Lock 'n Load: Heroes of the Gap (by Pete Abrams, Mark H. Walker), Lock 'n Load Publishing
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame - Shogun 2 Total War
Best 20th Century Era - Modern Computer Wargame - Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame - Space Empires 4X (by Jim Krohn), GMT Games
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Computer Wargame - Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion
Best Magazine Game - Into the Bastards! - First tank battle (by Nicolas Rident), Battles magazine
Best Desktop Published (DTP)/Print-and-Play/Postcard Game - The Battle of Halle 1806 (by Dennis A. Spors, James Soto, Monte Mattson, Michael Neylan), LA Bataille ME Premier
Best Expansion or Supplement for an Existing Game - Advanced Squad Leader: Starter Kit Expansion Pack #1 (by Ken Dunn), Multi Man Publications, Inc. (MMP)
Best Board Game Graphics - Where The Eagles Dare MMP
Best Computer Game Graphics - Shogun 2 Total War
Best Professional Game Magazine - Battles Magazine
Best Amateur Game Magazine - Line of Departure
Best Historical/Scenario Article - To Script or Not to Script, that is the question? (Mark Herman C3i #25
Best Game Review or Analysis Article - Labyrinth, David Hughes
James F. Dunnigan Design Elegance Award - Adam Starkweather
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME - Ed Wimble
Best Ancient to Napoleonic Era Board Wargame: The Battle of Fontenoy (by Paul Dangel), Clash of Arms Games
Best Post-Napoleonic to Pre-World War 2 Era Board Wargame: Bloody April (by Terry Simo), GMT Games
Best World War 2 Era Board Wargame: Red Winter (by Mark Mokszycki), GMT Games
Best Post-WW2 Era Board Wargame: Andean Abyss (by Volko Ruhnke), GMT Games
Best Pre-20th Century Era Computer Wargame: Levee en Masse (by John Welch), Victory Point Games
Best 20th Century Era – Modern Computer Wargame: Battle of the Bulge, Shenandoah Studios
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame: Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game (by Jeffrey Kniffen), Fantasy Flight Games
Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Computer Wargame: X-Com: Enemy Unknown, Firaxis 2K Games
Best Magazine Game: Beyond Waterloo (by John Prados), Against the Odds magazine (ATO)
Best Desktop Published (DTP) / Print-and-Play / Postcard Game: City of Confusion: The Battle for Hue, Tet 1968 (by Paul Rohrbaugh), High Flying Dice Games
Best Expansion or Supplement for an Existing Game: Festung Budapest (by Bill Cirillo), Multi Man Publications, Inc. (MMP)
Best Board Game Graphics: The Battle of Fontenoy (by Charles Kibler), Clash of Arms Games
Best Computer Game Graphics: Battle of the Bulge, Shenandoah Studios
Best Professional Game Magazine: C3i, RBM Publications
Best Amateur Game Magazine: 1914 Dispatches, Oregon Consim Gamers
Best Historical/Scenario Article: 1914 – A postwar Solution for Austria-Hungary’s Mobilization (Michael Resch C3i nr 26)
Best Game Review or Analysis Article: For the People – Defending the Union (by Dave Dockter and Mark Herman), C3i Magazine
James F. Dunnigan Design Elegance Award: Dean Essig
Clausewitz Award HALL OF FAME: Brian Youse
NONE AWARDED
NONE AWARDED
NONE AWARDED
- formerly Swabbers
1987 to 2015 - Best Historical or Scenario Magazine Article
- only Honorable Mentions
1989 to 2015 - James F. Dunnigan Award for Playability and Design
To a Game Designer, Developer, Graphic Artist or Game for outstanding achievement in that year
- In 1989 and 1991 the game won the award.
These totals include awards for games, magazine games, game graphics and (for designers) the James F. Dunnigan award. Not included are awards for magazines, computer media and articles.
47 - GMT Games LLC
16 - Multi-Man Publishing
13 - The Gamers Incorporated
12 - The Avalon Hill Game Company
12 - Victory Games
10 - Decision Games
9 - XTR Corporation
6 - Simulation Publications Incorporated
6 - Against the Odds Magazine
5 - Game Designers' Workshop
4 - World Wide Wargames
4 - West End Games
3 - Clash of Arms
3 - Khyber Pass Games
16 - Dean Essig
13 - Rodger MacGowan
9 - Richard Berg
8 - Ted Raicer
6 - Mark Simonitch
6 - Joe Miranda
6 - Mark Herman
5 - Volko Ruhnke
4 - John Prados
4 - Ted Koller
4 - Nicolas Eskubi
3 - Frank Chadwick
3 - Joe Balkoski
3 - Greg Costikyan
3 - Dan Verssen
3 - Charles Kibler
