This is a list of play-by-mail (PBM) games. It includes games played only by postal mail, those played by mail with a play-by-email (PBEM) option, and games played in a turn-based format only by email or other digital format.
It is unclear what the earliest play-by mail game is between chess and Go. Diplomacy was first played by mail in 1963. In the early 1970s, in the United States, Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Inc, began a number of play-by-mail games; this included games such as Nuclear Destruction (1970). This marked the beginning of the professional PBM industry. Other publishers followed suit, with significant expansion across the industry in the 1980s. This supported the publication of a number of newsletters from individual play-by-mail companies as well as independent publications such as Gaming Universal, Paper Mayhem, and Flagship which focused solely on the play-by-mail gaming industry. The sourcing of play-by-mail games in this list largely comes from these magazines, whether from reviews or advertisements, as well as additional magazines such as Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer, Dragon Magazine, and other publications that serviced the gaming community broadly, resuming with the contemporary online magazine Suspense and Decision, which supported the small but active play-by-mail gaming community into the 2020s.
In some cases, more than one publisher can be found for the same game on the list. The rights to play-by-mail games were occasionally sold among publishers. Additionally, a publishing company might license a game to a company which would offer it for play in another country. Many more play-by-mail games existed in nascent, playtest form. Only games which completed playtesting and were published for play are included here. This list includes games which are still active and those no longer available for play. Game durations range from those briefly available for play, such as Quest of Gorr, to those which have been played for decades or longer, such as Alamaze, Diplomacy, Hyborian War, and Chess.
Active play-by-mail games
+List Game Released Publisher Associate(s) Ref. 2300 A.D. – The Great GameKevin Soice Adventurer Kings1992Epistoludisme & CieRoland Danard Aeterna RomaCirca 2019 to present Alamaze1986Alamaze.co A New Dawn (PBEM)Nicholas Vitek Ancient EmpiresArtyom Trityak Atlantis: New OriginsArtyom Trityak AusterlitzSupersonic Games Australian EmpiresAb Initio Games Battle Plan 1972 Rick Loomis PBM GamesRick Loomis Clash of Legends2006 Company Commander 1980s Jason Oates Games (previously Escape from Reality and Schubel & Son) Continental Rails II1999 Epistoludisme & CieGraaf Simulations, Roland Danard Covert Operations Rick Loomis PBM GamesCharles Gaydos (designer) The Crack of Doom IIAdvanced Gaming Enterprises Cruenti DeiSardarthion Press Dark AgeAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Diplomacy 1959 Games Research Inc Allan B. Calhamer Drakensang Online Bigpoint Games Duel II (Originally Duelmasters) 1984 Reality Simulations Inc DungeonWorld Adventures (previously Dungeon)Madhouse Interactive Entertainment Steve Tierney (Game Master) DungeonWorld EstatesMadhouse Interactive Entertainment Elenlond EmpiresAb Initio Games & Software Simulations European EmpiresAb Initio Games En Garde!Margam Evans EresseaEnno Rehling Extra TimeKJC Games Fallen EmpiresMarch 2013 Peter and James Perrin Forgotten RealmsReality Simulations Feudal Lords1982Rick Loomis PBM Games Galac-Tac1982Talisman Games Galactic Conflict1982Rick Loomis PBM Games GameplanAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Gameplan BaseballAb Initio Games & Software Simulations The Glory of Kings VII Agema , God of War: A Call from the Wilds 2018 Santa Monica Studio, Facebook, Inc. Gridiron StatsAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Heroic Fantasy1982 Rick Loomis PBM Games HoopplanAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Hyborian War 1985 Reality Simulations Inc.Edward Schoonover Ilkor: Dark Rising2011 or prior Gad Games Sean Cleworth Imaginary Wrestling AssociationAb Initio Games & Software Simulations The Isles: The Game of Outcasts1987Roy Pollard playbymail.uk It's a Crime September 1985 KJC Games Jump-Point 2023 Talisman Consulting Jon Capps Kickabout1987Spellbinder GamesChris Dempsey Lands of NevronIan Affleck Legends Harlequin Games Lords of the Earth 1983Thomas Harlan Middle-earth: Third Age; Circa 1650Game Systems International Middle-earth: Kin-Strife; Circa 1450Game Systems International Middle-earth: Fourth Age; Circa 1000Game Systems International Midgard 1984 Time Space Simulations, Midgames, Midguard USA, Talisman Consulting Mobius I1984 Rick Loomis PBM Games Monster Island1989KJC Games Jack B. Everitt (designer) Nuclear Destruction 1970 Rick Loomis PBM GamesRick Loomis (Designer) Phoenix: Beyond the Stellar EmpireEarly 1980sKJC Games . Provides start date of 1982. Play OnAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Puma [UK-based PBM/PBeM]1988Pete Burrows [Buzzwack PBM]Pete Burrows QuestKJC Games Quest of the Great Jewels (PBEM)Early 1980sJeffrey McKee RaceplanAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Regime Change Agema Renaissance1981Constantine Xanthos Rensim2014Constantine Xanthos Riftlords1995 Rick Loomis PBM Games Rome is BurningAGEMA Run ChaseAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Scramble for Empire Agema SlapshotAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Soccer Star (PBEM)1986Trident Games Soccer StatsAb Initio Games SpaceplanAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Star ChaseAb Initio Games & Software Simulations Star Fleet WarlordFranz Games Paul Franz Starweb 1976 Rick Loomis PBM Games (previously Flying Buffalo, Inc. and ICBM (UK)) Stellar ConflictMorten Larsen Summit PBMSummit Soccer SuperNova: Rise of the Empire (PBEM)2003Rolling Thunder Games Pete Dorman (Game Master) Swashbuckler (PBEM)Agema TakamoNovember 15, 1983Advent Games Throne of Cofain (PBEM)Morten Larsen TribeNetPBM in mid 1980s; PBEM from 1997Tribenet.com.au Peter Rzechorzek (Game Master) Victory! The Battle for Europe (PBEM)1991Rolling Thunder Games War of the Dark GodMorten Larsen World Wide Battle Plan Rick Loomis PBM Games
Inactive U.S. play-by-mail games