- BGG rank
- BGG #5,058
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Midway
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1964
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,431
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Bismarck
1962
Rules assistance for Bismarck
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Bismarck
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bismarck is a board game released in 1962 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Charles S. Roberts and Thomas N. Shaw and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Square Grid.
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About the game
Hunt down and sink the Bismarck. Three levels of play. In the advanced game, you use miniatures rules for the combat. Hidden movement by the use of separate search boards. The original Bismarck game from AH was remarkable for one reason: the ONLY playing piece that the German player had was the Bismarck! A straight forward move-and-search naval game. If the British player finds the Bismarck, a battle ensues. The game is played for points. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. The game ends when: 1) the Bismarck is sunk, 2) the Bismarck enters Bergen, St. Nazaire, or Ferrol after patrolling, 3) the German gains so many points it is impossible for the British player to win, or 4) time runs out. Avalon Hill Complexity ratings Basic Game - 4 Intermediate Game - 6 Advanced Game - 7 Re-implemented by: Bismarck (Second Edition)
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
Questions and answers
Bismarck 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 Bismarck 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 Bismarck 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.
Bismarck has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Bismarck belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Square 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 Bismarck are: Charles S. Roberts and Thomas N. Shaw. 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 Bismarck 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.