- BGG rating
- 6.8
Modern Naval Battles III
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1990
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,570
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Modern Naval Battles
1989
Rules assistance for Modern Naval Battles
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Modern Naval Battles
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Modern Naval Battles is a board game released in 1989 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Alan Emrich, Dan Verssen, and Beth Queman and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Modern Naval Battles II: The Campaign Game
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1990
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About the game
Modern Naval Battles is a novel card game for two to six players, based on present day sea power. The games is played in "rounds," with players taking turns to maneuver the ships in their fleets, attack opponent’s ships, and defend their own fleet against enemy attack. At the end of each round, players receive points for each enemy vessel they have sunk. The game can end when a player achieves a specific point total, or when all opposing fleets are sunk. The game is of medium complexity. There are two expansion sets, Modern Naval Battles II: The Campaign Game and Modern Naval Battles III. Expanded by: Modern Naval Battles II: The Campaign Game Modern Naval Battles III The revised re-released game consists of six modules: Cold War Naval Battles (CWNB) CWNB II Action! CWNB III: Reinforcements! CWNB IV: The Air Module CWNB V: The Campaign Game CWNB VI: Sister Ships This game has been revised and renamed as Cold War Naval Battles and re-released (by the designers) in PDF format (free for personal, non-commercial use). The PDF files are available from: https://www.relativerange.com/cold-war-naval-battles Printed sets can also be purchased from the Relative Range site. The re-release of the expanded game system, under a new name, probably deserves a separate entry into the BGG database. A simpler version with a SciFi-theme is Star Force Terra #1: Contact!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
Questions and answers
Modern Naval Battles supports 2–6 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 Modern Naval Battles 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 Modern Naval Battles 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.
Modern Naval Battles has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Modern Naval Battles belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling. 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 Modern Naval Battles are: Alan Emrich, Dan Verssen, and Beth Queman. 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 Modern Naval Battles 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.