- BGG rank
- BGG #1,986
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Normandy '44
- 2–3 players
- 420 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,714
- BGG rating
- 7.7
France '40
2013
Rules assistance for France '40
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 240 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
Rules assistant for France '40
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
France '40 is a board game released in 2013 for 2 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mark Simonitch and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
France '40 contains two separate games - Sickle Cut and Dynamo. Both games use the same rules and share many game pieces, but each has a separate full size map. Sickle Cut: Guderian's Drive to the Channel This game covers the crucial week in May 1940 when the German army broke the French line on the Meuse and raced to the sea at Abbeville. The game starts on May 13th, the third day of Case Yellow. Six panzer divisions have passed through the Ardennes and are now at the Meuse River. The French and British have raced through Belgium to reach the Dyle Line and cover the Gembloux Gap. The stage is set. Can the Germans cross the Meuse in front of strong opposition? And, if they can, will they be able to break out from the bridgeheads and advance across the map while threatened by Allied reinforcements pouring in from the north and south? Dynamo: Retreat to Victory This game covers the British withdrawal to Dunkirk and the evacuation. The game starts on May 24th, the day the British decide that the B.E.F. is in real danger of being cut-off from their supply base and the best option is to head for the coast at Dunkirk. However, many of the German panzer divisions are closer to Dunkirk than the British. Can the British reach the coast before the Germans? Can they hold the Dunkirk perimeter for eight days while they evacuate? The rules for both games highlight armor, air support, and morale. Special rules include: Allied Heavy Tanks, DeGaulle, Rommel, Hitler's Halt Order, and French Command Paralysis. Note that the two maps may be linked together for players to study the entire period from May 13th to June 3rd, but there is no combined game scenario. TIME SCALE: 1 day per turn MAP SCALE: 4 miles per hex UNIT SCALE: Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, and Battalions COMPONENTS: 2 Paper Maps 2 Countersheets 24 Page Rulebook 16 Page Playbook 2 Identical Player Aid Cards 2 Setup Cards Two 6-sided Dice DESIGNER: Mark Simonitch MAP & COUNTER ART: Mark Simonitch (from GMT website and BGG user)
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GMT Games
- Kokusai-Tsushin Co., Ltd. (国際通信社)
Questions and answers
France '40 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 France '40 is 240 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 France '40 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.
France '40 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.
France '40 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are 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 France '40 are: Mark Simonitch. 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 France '40 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.