
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,827
- BGG rating
- 6.5
PanzerArmee Afrika: Rommel in the Desert, April 1941 - November 1942
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 1973

1975
Rules assistance for Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 is a board game released in 1975 for 2–5 players, 360–1080 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
from the back of the box... Global War The War against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 Global War is SPI's simulation of the most terrible war in human history - the Second World War. The simulation encompasses the entire world and all the areas of warfare - on and under the seas, in the air, on land, and in the factory. Economic warfare plays a vital role in Global War. The Axis submarines attempt to put a stanglehold on England, isolating it from the rest of the Commonwealth and America. German surface raiders sortie into the North Atlantic in an attempt to cut American lend-lease en route to Russia. The industries must be tooled-up before production. It is impossible to suddenly switch from producing submarines to producing tanks. Players must decide early in the game what type of war they are going to conduct. A wrong guess at this stage could mean the difference between victory and defeat. And surmising the nature of enemy production is just as important. Submarine warfare; strategic bombing Multi-scenario with Multi-Player options Big, two-piece 22" x 44" playing map from the introduction to rules... Global War is a simulation on an army/fleet level of the Second World War depicted on a global level. The simulation includes the main elements of land, sea and air warfare. The game covers the years 1939-45. Optional rules allow Players to choose from several levels of complexity. from the rulebook... GAME SCALE Each game turn represents three months of real time; each hexagon represents approximately 300 miles of distance. GAME EQUIPMENT INVENTORY One Game Map (two 21" x 22" pieces) Two identical sets of counters (800 pieces) One Rules Booklet Two identical Turn Record/Production Tracks Two identical Chart and Scenario sheets One box/cover sheet One die Later printings added... An additional identical set of counters (for a total of 1200 pieces) One Global War errata sheet [as of July, 1975] - available in the Files section
Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 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 Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 is 360–1080 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 Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 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.
Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 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 Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 are: Jim Dunnigan. 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 Global War: The War Against Germany and Japan, 1939-45 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.