- BGG rank
- BGG #13,830
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Breakthru
1965
Rules assistance for Breakthru
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Breakthru
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Breakthru is a board game released in 1965 for 2 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Alex Randolph and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Point to Point Movement.
About the game
Part of the 3M Bookshelf Series. Breakthru is a modern member of the Hnefatafl family of games, where the players have unequal forces and different objectives. One player, commanding a gold fleet consisting of one large flagship and 12 escorts, has the objective of evading capture while aggressively trying to break through his opponent's blockade in order to escort his flagship to safety. His opponent, commanding a silver fleet attempts to create an impenetrable blockade and then strategically outmaneuver and destroy the gold fleet's escorts with the objective of capturing the flagship and winning the game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- 3M
- The Game Crafter, LLC
- NewVenture Games
Questions and answers
Breakthru 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 Breakthru is 15 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 Breakthru for ages 10 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.
Breakthru has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Breakthru belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Point to Point Movement. 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 Breakthru are: Alex Randolph. 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 Breakthru 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.