Memoir '44 and other games under the same system (there's an Ancient Rome themed one, for instance) are fairly accessible and (depending on scenario) play quite

Memoir '44 and other games under the same system (there's an Ancient Rome themed one, for instance) are fairly accessible and (depending on scenario) play quite a bit faster than most Risk games. They're (mainly) 2-player, though. They're also at the battlefield level, rather than worldwide strategy or anything like that. Diplomacy's either a much better or much worse alternative to Risk. Depends who you ask. Not directly comparable but scratches the same itch, possibly better (see: depends who you ask). The Board Game Geek site probably has some lists for semi-casual or otherwise less-hardcore wargames. That'd be the place to look. Then see whether Shut Up & Sit Down has done a video review of any that look interesting to you, before buying (they have for Memoir '44, IIRC).