
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,195
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Cobra: Game of the Normandy Breakout
- 2 players
- 120–480 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1977

1979
Rules assistance for Bloody Buna
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.
Bloody Buna is a board game released in 1979 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bob Latter and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
"Bloody Buna" is a wargame simulation of the New Guinea Campaign which lasted from July 1942 through January 1943. The game actually consists of 4 different battles; The Milne Bay, High Water Mark, Bloody Buna and a campaign game linking the other three. "Separate scenarios cover specific operations, whilst a campaign game recreates the entire struggle. Four different games in all."--Box. "Game features special naval landing forces, bunkers, armored units, paratroop drops, invasions, attrition, airstrikes, and much more...180 counters represent the US, Australian and Japanese forces that took part."--Box. For adults aged twelve and up. Boxed Version Contains: 8-page rule book 1 map sheet (59 x 63 cm.) with two maps covering Port Moresby - Kokoda - Buna, and Milne Bay 1 sheet of 182 unit counters (including 2 blanks) 4 sheets of tables (Time Record track; Combat results tables; Anti-AFV table and Milne Bay set-up clarifications; Air superiority/Allied air scatter/Attrition tables) 1 die
Bloody Buna 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 Bloody Buna 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 Bloody Buna 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.
Bloody Buna 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.
Bloody Buna belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and 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 Bloody Buna are: Bob Latter. 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 Bloody Buna 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.