Play and stories inspired by history
Welcome to Cow Island Publishing — we create tabletop and digital games as well as stories that invite people of all ages to connect with history in a playful way.
We’re just getting started — with our first projects exploring Britain’s layered history. From In the Cazique’s Wake, a story inspired by a notorious 19th-century conman, to a tabletop and digital game drawing on Rome’s lasting influence on Britain and the modern world — and plenty more to come.
Tabletop
Physical games to test your strategic mind and bring historical stories to life
Digital
Online games that draw on history for their inspiration
Fiction
Novels and short stories with historical backdrops
Education
Brings the three pillars together to explore the histories that inspired them
Featured Projects In Development
Here is a selection of our project pipeline, with one from each of our pillars.
Consul of Rome
A strategic card game of politics, ambition, and influence set in the late Roman Republic. Players take on the role of rival senators competing for prestige and power — commanding legions and securing votes to strengthen your Dignitas.
Inspired by the real cursus honorum — the ladder of public office that defined Roman civic life — the game combines clever hand management, tactical bluffing, and historical insight. Whether in a quick match or a full campaign, Consul of Rome rewards wit, planning, and nerve.
Beyond the tabletop, the project explores how play can illuminate history. An accompanying educational supplement connects the game to classroom learning on Rome, citizenship, and leadership — using strategy and storytelling to bring the ancient world to life for players of all ages.
Dictator of Rome
Our daily logic puzzle campaign inspired by the decision-making and strategy of the Roman Republic.
Each day brings three new challenges that test your reasoning, drawing on real historical references from Rome and beyond.
Blending modern puzzle design with classical insight, Dictator of Rome turns moments from history into small acts of logic and leadership — daily puzzles that sharpen the mind and connect players to the civic dilemmas of the ancient world.
The project is currently live, but we are making improvements all the time, so make sure to follow us on instagram or sign up to our mailing list for regular project updates.
In the Cazique’s Wake
Inspired by the incredible true story of 19th-century conman Sir Gregor MacGregor, this novel follows a group of young people swindled out of their family fortunes who must choose: accept their ruin, or risk everything to take revenge.
Education and outreach
As we build out Cow Island Publishing, we plan to weave the elements of tabletop and digital games as well as our fiction to help people of all ages share our love of history and learning.
Ultimately we plan to have companion materials including workshop guides and teaching materials to link our media with the history that inspired it, allowing teachers and parents to promote history through play. At this stage we are still developing the Education and Outreach programme, so if you want to get involved or have any ideas for us, please reach out to us using the button below!