
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,455
- BGG rating
- 8.7
Last Blitzkrieg: Wacht am Rhein, The Battle of the Bulge
- 2–4 players
- 180–960 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2016

1993
Rules assistance for Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 is a board game released in 1993 for 2 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 15 and up. It was designed by Dean Essig and Sam Simmons and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Matanikau - Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 recreates the epic battles of the 5th and the 7th Marine Regiments along the Matanikau River in the fall of 1942 between the US Marines and the forces of Imperial Japan. The Japanese are attempting to establish a position from which they can launch further attempts to capture Henderson Field. The Marines are trying to expand the perimeter around Henderson Field far enough so as to deny the Japanese any decent staging area for attacks against that airbase. Using The Gamers 3rd edition Tactical Combat Series (TCS) rules, this first ever TCS game set in the Pacific theater features Banzai charges, vicious night attacks, Higgins Boat, naval and air support, as well as the redoubtable 'Chesty' Puller. Game Scale: Game Turn: 20 minutes Hex: 125 yards / 114 meters Units: Infantry platoons, individual vehicles Game Inventory: One 22 x 34" full color maps Three dual-side printed countersheets (700 1/2" counters) One 28-page TCS version 3.0 specific rulebook One 12-page Matanikau specific rulebook Two 6-page TCS version 3.0 Charts & Tables folders Two Player Aid cards Two 6-sided dice Solitaire Playability: High Complexity Level: High Players: 2 or more Playing Time: 4-40 hours
Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 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 Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 is 360 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 Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 for ages 15 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.
Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 has a complexity rating of 3.4 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.
Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 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 Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 are: Dean Essig and Sam Simmons. 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 Matanikau: Battles on the Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 1942 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.