
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,645
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Lost Battles: Reconstructing the Great Clashes of the Ancient World
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2007

2013
Rules assistance for Hell's Gate
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.
Hell's Gate is a board game released in 2013 for 1–2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Philip Sabin and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Hexagon Grid.
Hell’s Gate is a simulation game of the Battle of the Korsun Pocket in Ukraine, during January and February of 1944. Two players direct the German and Soviet forces as they seek to capture or regain territory and inflict losses on the opposing side while minimizing their own losses. The simulation is also easily playable solitaire for those who wish to study the dynamics involved. War games author, professor and designer Philip Sabin introduced Hell's Gate in his book, Simulating War, and this Victory Point Games edition has polished the game's original components to bring you a great simulation game experience. Complexity: 3 on a 9 scale Solitaire Suitability: 7 on a 9 scale Scale: Each turn is 3 days of real time, each hex is approx. 20 kilometers across, and each unit represents a brigade, division, or corps.
Hell's Gate 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 Hell's Gate is 90 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 Hell's Gate 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.
Hell's Gate has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Hell's Gate 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 Hell's Gate are: Philip Sabin. 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 Hell's Gate 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.