
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Fighters of the Pacific: Leaders of Midway
- 1–8 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2021

2023
Rules assistance for Fighters of the Pacific
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fighters of the Pacific is a board game released in 2023 for 1–2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Didier Dincher and Frank Garibaldi and its main mechanics are Grid Movement, Modular Board, and Hexagon Grid.
Relive the fury of air and sea combat in the Pacific during World War II. Direct each plane in multiple fighter and bomber squadrons to lead attacks on the enemy’s carriers and island bases. No dice, no rulers, only dozens of planes and ships! A fast-paced and streamlined game mechanic that plunges you in the heart of the battle. Move each plane individually on a hex grid. When you maneuver to get an enemy plane in your sights, it must try to dodge or else take damage. Some planes can use torpedoes and bombs to destroy ships and ground installations. Stay in formation to keep the initiative and dominate your opponent. Each plane has its own attributes in terms of speed, armor, and special abilities. Each piece is illustrated as close as possible to its historical model to maximize your immersion! The Fighters of the Pacific series includes a CORE GAME, and TWO EXPANSIONS. The CORE GAME contains everything you need to play hours of battle over the Pacific Ocean: a huge modular board, 4 aircraft carriers, 4 destroyers, 94 aircraft tokens, 91 game tokens and 8 reference cards. The complete rules and 10 scenarios are also included of course. The carrier and aircraft tokens represent the forces of 4 real aircraft carriers fighting in 1942, with a ratio of 1 token to 3 aircraft. For the Japanese, the AKAGI and KAGA form the 1st aircraft division that participated in the attack of Pearl Harbor and the battle of Midway. For the Americans, the USS HORNET and USS YORKTOWN were participating in the Doolittle Raid and the Battle of Midway too. The first expansion, Battle of Midway contains enough tokens to complete the base game to have all the forces present in this battle, including the aircraft at the base on Midway Island. This includes 3 new American aircraft models, the old F2A Buffalo fighter, the B-26 Mitchell bomber that launched the very first counterattack on the Japanese forces, and some brand new TBF Avengers. Most importantly, this expansion includes 5 scenarios to relive one of the most unpredictable and decisive battles of the war as if you were there. The tokens are laid down, the story is in your hands! One month before the Battle of Midway, the first ever naval air battle took place. It is known as the Battle of the Coral Sea. Relive this battle with this expansion pack that provides 3 new Japanese aircraft carriers, the SHOKAKU, ZUIKAKU and SHOHO, the USS LEXINGTON forces and 4 exciting scenarios. Will you manage to save the SHOHO and the USS LEXINGTON? —description from the publisher
Fighters of the Pacific 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 Fighters of the Pacific 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 Fighters of the Pacific 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.
Fighters of the Pacific has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Fighters of the Pacific belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Aviation / Flight. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement, Modular Board, 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 Fighters of the Pacific are: Didier Dincher and Frank Garibaldi. 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 Fighters of the Pacific 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.