
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,997
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Air Force
- 1–2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1976

1991
Rules assistance for Battle of the Bulge
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.
Battle of the Bulge is a board game released in 1991 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by S. Craig Taylor and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
The Avalon Hill Game Co Battle of the Bulge board war-game. This is the third version of this famous game published by The Avalon Hill Game Co in 1991 (others were produced in 1965 and 1981). It is authorised by the Smithsonian Institution. Contents: Battle Manual Two-sided sheet covering the "Basic Game Rules" 2 separate sheets outlining the German and Allied "Order of Appearance" details for each side's forces Full-colour gameboard 2 decimal dice 194 die-cut counters (202 if you count the 8 blank counters). This game is rated "Low" complexity by AH, and is an excellent introduction to hex-based wargaming for beginners. It also rates a "High" solitaire suitability rating.
Battle of the Bulge supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Battle of the Bulge is 120 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 Battle of the Bulge 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.
Battle of the Bulge has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Battle of the Bulge 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 Battle of the Bulge are: S. Craig Taylor. 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 Battle of the Bulge 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.