
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,006
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Iwo: Bloodbath in the Bonins 19 Feb – 17 Mar 1945
- 1–2 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2013

2016
Rules assistance for Desert Fox Deluxe
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.
Desert Fox Deluxe is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players, 180–2880 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Richard H. Berg and Chris Perello and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Desert Fox Deluxe is a combination of two previously published games covering parts of the North African campaign–Desert Fox and Trail of the Fox–expanded with additional rules, units, and maps to cover the entire war in the North African desert from the Italian invasion of Egypt in 1940 to the final Allied clearance of Africa in 1943. The map scale is 10 miles per hex, turns cover one month each, while units are mostly regiments and brigades, with specialist battalions and a few Italian and Vichy French divisions. The turn sequence is built around a pair of move-fight impulses for each player, with separate phases for events altering the situation (like the frequent Commonwealth campaigns elsewhere in the Middle East), application of air and naval power, and initiative determination. Logistics is the paramount consideration given the vast distances. Fast and furious action alternates with quiet periods as both sides strive to build up forces and supplies. Components: Three 17" x 22", two 8.5" x 22", one 11" x 17" map & 560 counters S&T #300, August 2016 Boxed edition in 2019 added cards to better depict the impact of off map events (like Greece, and East Africa) on reinforcement and withdrawals. 20 cards for the Axis and 28 cards for the Allies. Also adds a Support Booklet, and a Campaign Analysis Booklet.
Desert Fox Deluxe 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 Desert Fox Deluxe is 180–2880 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 Desert Fox Deluxe for ages 14 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.
Desert Fox Deluxe has a complexity rating of 3.1 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.
Desert Fox Deluxe belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, 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 Desert Fox Deluxe are: Richard H. Berg and Chris Perello. 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 Desert Fox Deluxe 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.