El Alamein: Heavy Tank Battalion
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,862
- BGG rating
- 6.9
El Alamein
2010
Rules assistance for El Alamein
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for El Alamein
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
El Alamein is a board game released in 2010 for 2–5 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Atsuo Yoshizawa and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Expansions
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About the game
A sequel to Arclight's deckbuilding game Barba*Rossa (ばるば★ろっさ), El*Alamein depicts the first battle of El Alamein during WWII, as the Axis powers thrust through Africa to conquer Alexandria. Like its predecessor, the artwork in El*Alamein consists of scantily clad (ecchi) manga girls, although a historical edition featuring photographs is also available. Although it's technically possible to use the cards in both sets together, El*Alamein is first and foremost a game on its own, and is better described as a "compatible sequel" than a standalone expansion.
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Kamikaze Games
Questions and answers
El Alamein supports 2–5 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 El Alamein is 60 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 El Alamein 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.
El Alamein has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
El Alamein belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and Mature / Adult. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Open Drafting, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. 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 El Alamein are: Atsuo Yoshizawa. 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 El Alamein 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.