- BGG rank
- BGG #3,170
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Bonaparte at Marengo
2003
Rules assistance for Bonaparte at Marengo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Bonaparte at Marengo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bonaparte at Marengo is a board game released in 2003 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Bowen Simmons and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Simulation.
About the game
On 14 June 1800, the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte was taken by surprise and attacked by the Austrian army under General Melas. Outnumbered and out-gunned, the French were defeated and forced to retreat. But later that same day, French reinforcements arrived under General Desaix, and in what amounted to a second battle the French counter-attacked and won, taking thousands of prisoners and driving the Austrians from the field. Thus was won the battle of which Napoleon was always the most proud – Marengo. Bonaparte at Marengo recreates that dramatic battle. The game is simple and fast-playing, departing from almost all of the standard conventions of wargaming in order to achieve the look and feel of nineteenth century linear warfare. In the summer of 2007, a sequel with a modified system was released: Napoleon's Triumph: The Battle of Austerlitz, 2 December 1805
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Simmons Games
Questions and answers
Bonaparte at Marengo 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 Bonaparte at Marengo 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 Bonaparte at Marengo 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.
Bonaparte at Marengo has a complexity rating of 3.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Bonaparte at Marengo belongs to these categories: Wargame and Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Secret Unit Deployment, and Simulation. 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 Bonaparte at Marengo are: Bowen Simmons. 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 Bonaparte at Marengo 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.