
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,823
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Winter Fury: The Battle of Tolvajärvi 1939
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2001

1995
Rules assistance for Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi
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.
Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi is a board game released in 1995 for 2 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Bennighof and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Chit-Pull System.
From Avalanche Press Ltd website: "The battle of Suomussalmi in the winter of 1939 - 1940, pitted a single, hastily raised & poorly equipped Finnish division against two full strength Soviet Divisions, armed with more than 90 tanks. The Soviets were not equipped however, for a war in sub-zero temperatures against an enemy capable of living off the land & moving swiftly over the snow. Now you can re-fight one of World War II's most dramatic engagements in Blood On The Snow." From the game box: "At the beginning of each day, players determine the weather, select a number of operation chits, and place them in a common cup. The first chit is randomly drawn and the owning player conducts the operation specified. Subsequent chits are drawn and operations conducted until the number of impulses equals the weather result. Players know what each turn may bring. Five scenarios are provided."
Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi 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 Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi is 240 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 Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi 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.
Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Chit-Pull System. 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 Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi are: Michael Bennighof. 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 Blood on the Snow: The Battle of Suomussalmi 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.