- BGG rating
- 7.4
Midway Island
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1972
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,058
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Midway
1964
Rules assistance for Midway
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Midway
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Midway is a board game released in 1964 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Lindsley Schutz and Larry Pinsky and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Square Grid.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Pacific Theatre Via Midway
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1979
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Wargamer's Guide to Midway
- 2 players
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 1979
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About the game
The basic idea is each player has his or her own map of the area (in this case the Midway Island) behind a screen. Each player "searches" for the enemy fleet by flying search planes to the various zones on the map and calling the zone co-ordinates. Once found, bombers can be sent in to sink the enemy fleet. The actual attack is fought on a separate battle board where the ships are first placed on a rectangular grid and the attacking planes are placed in adjacent rectangles or on top of the ships themselves to indicate which ship they are attacking. The basic game is very simple, but there are a number of additional rules which add realism and complexity: CAP fighters, surface actions, anvil and wave attacks, etc. The game is superior with a neutral referee for true double blind play. Developed with the technical aid of C. Wade McClusky, Rear Admiral U.S.N. (Ret.) Avalon Hill Complexity Rating: 3 Counters: 219 excluding 16 blank counters.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Wargames Research Centre Ltd.
Questions and answers
Midway 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 Midway 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 Midway 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.
Midway has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Midway belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Square 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 Midway are: Lindsley Schutz and Larry Pinsky. 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 Midway 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.