
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,310
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Empires in Arms
- 2–7 players
- 120–12000 min
- Complexity 4.4/5
- 1983

Rules assistance for Cruisers in Flames
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cruisers in Flames is an expansion for World in Flames released in 2003 for 2–6 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Harry Rowland and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
Cruisers in Flames includes every light cruiser (CL) and anti aircraft cruiser (CLAA) of World War II. Now at last you can refight the Battle of the River Plate, Cape Spada and myriad other cruiser actions. Crusiers in Flames also includes minor country convoys and additional major power convoys and tankers allowing you to refight the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the Pacific as it was meant to be fought. Cruisers in Flames includes 400 counters, rules and charts. (abridged from ADG website)
Cruisers in Flames supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cruisers in Flames 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 Cruisers in Flames 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.
Cruisers in Flames has a complexity rating of 4.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Cruisers in Flames belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are 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 Cruisers in Flames are: Harry Rowland. 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 Cruisers in Flames as an expansion for World in Flames. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need World in Flames to use it. Check that your edition of World in Flames is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.