
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,329
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Flat Top
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1977

Rules assistance for Midway Island
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.
Midway Island is an expansion for Midway released in 1972 for 2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Robert Garbish and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
The first point of the four pages of its rules' manual says: "Present Avalon Hill Midway rules (1964) shall apply except where noted, as follows:" This, for sure, identify this Panzerfaust 53 insert as a Midway expansion. It expands the basic game by adding destroyers, transports, more details and, last but not least, a map of Midway Island and the ground forces that must contend it. Besides that it remains a product that shows all its age, with a spartan graphics, the best that could do, in 1972, a semi-homemade magazine like it was Panzerfaust in that period. The result is the best that could have been made by R.W. Garbisch with what could allow a magazine like Panzerfaust in 1972.
Midway Island 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 Island 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 Midway Island 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 Island has a complexity rating of 2.0 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 Island belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 Island are: Robert Garbish. 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 Island as an expansion for Midway. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Midway to use it. Check that your edition of Midway is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.