
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Planes in Flames
- 2–6 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 4.3/5
- 1992

1998
Rules assistance for America in Flames
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
America in Flames is a board game released in 1998 for 2–6 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Harry Rowland and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
From the box and rules... "It is 1945. The iron fist of Fascism lies sprawled across the Globe. Asia and Europe are in ashes, their beautiful cities destroyed. You are all that stands between Democracy and darkness. And they are coming........ You are not totally defenseless, and your scientists are feverishly developing a weapon of unimaginable power. Can you defend the Western Hemisphere or at least the land of the free and the home of the brave long enough to give your scientists that precious commodity they need most, time. The fate of the free world is in your hands. America in Flames allows 2-5 players to fight for control of the Americas. Germany, Italy and Japan must attempt the largest invasion in history. Pitted against them are the USA and the remnants of the Commonwealth, both desperately attempting to turn back the swelling tide of fascism. The theater of action is North and South America, and one of your many tasks is to woo the neutral minor countries onto your side to help overthrow the enemy. 840 counters and 2 large maps give you everything you need to re-fight the greatest war that never happened. Can you save the World?" -- America in Flames (“AiF”) is Australian Design Group’s strategic level game of an imaginary Invasion of America by the Axis powers, gorged on victory in the Second World War. America in Flames is a complete game playable either by itself or with World in Flames. In the America in Flames campaign game, up to six players will manage the economies and conduct the military operations of the major nations involved in this conflict, either as a member of the Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan) or as one of the Allies (the Commonwealth, France and the USA). When played with World in Flames, the full gamut of decisions required for the successful prosecution of World War II becomes available.
America in Flames supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for America in Flames is 360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists America in Flames for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
America in Flames has a complexity rating of 4.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
America in Flames belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of America in Flames are: Harry Rowland. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists America in Flames as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.