
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,742
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Mława 1939
- 2 players
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 1999

2018
Rules assistance for Desert Rats 1940-42
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Desert Rats 1940-42 is a board game released in 2018 for 1–2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Wojciech Zalewski and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
The 7th Armored Division was an armored division of the British Army that saw distinguished active service during World War II, where its exploits in the Western Desert Campaign gained it the Desert Rats nickname. This exciting new wargame centers on the battles of this distinguished division. The Italian attack on Egypt in 1940 opened the new front of World War II. Over the next three years, north Africa's deserts became a place of many fiece battles. Joining the action by the German troops provided the Axis some momentary success. But the Allies weren't willing to give up an inititive and lead further counterattacks. Game contains the following scenarios: Compas I, II, Rommel's Attack, "Brevity", "Battleaxe", "Crusader", and Gazala.
Desert Rats 1940-42 supports 1–2 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 Desert Rats 1940-42 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 Desert Rats 1940-42 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 Rats 1940-42 has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Desert Rats 1940-42 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 Rats 1940-42 are: Wojciech Zalewski. 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 Rats 1940-42 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.