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Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945
2005
Rules assistance for Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 360 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.6/5
Rules assistant for Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 is a board game released in 2005 for 1–2 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Ty Bomba and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
(from the publisher:) Downfall is a wargame simulating the planned but never executed US invasion of the Japanese home island of Kyushu during the last quarter of that year. The design combines factual historical detail with educated guesswork to produce an alternative history simulation covering the period from X-Day +1 through X-Day +30. One player acts as the overall commander of the Allied invasion effort; the other takes the role of the leader of the Japanese defense force. The burden of attack is generally on the American, but both players attempt to win by controlling key terrain on the island and destroying opposing forces. A complete game of DF takes from two to four hours to complete and it's suitable for solitaire play. The approach we've taken here is called, among those who deal regularly with alternative history – which is itself also known as "virtual history" and "alternative outcome analysis – the conservation of historical reality. That is, to make the assumptions and results of our simulation as valid as possible, we made the fewest possible changes needed to the historic timeline in order to put our alternative one in place. The basic assumption here, then, is that the Japanese simply refused to surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That would have likely meant one or another of the coups plotted during those desperate days actually went through, putting in place a new war cabinet of ultimate hard liners, men determined Japan should fight to the end no matter what. Each hex on the map equals 4.4 miles (about 7 kms) from side to opposite side. Each game turn represents one day. Every ground unit represents a division, division-equivalent, or brigade of about 5,000 to 20,000 men and/or 50 to 350 armored fighting vehicles. Designed by Ty Bomba. Published in Strategy & Tactics #230 (September-October 2005)
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Decision Games (I)
Questions and answers
Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 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 Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 is 360 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 Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 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.
Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and 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 Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 are: Ty Bomba. 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 Downfall: If the U.S. Invaded Japan, 1945 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.