
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,504
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Napoleon Returns 1815
- 2–3 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020

2012
Rules assistance for Naval War of 1812
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Naval War of 1812 is a board game released in 2012 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Grant Wylie and Mike Wylie and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement.
Naval War of 1812 showcases the global commerce war between Great Britain and the young United States. The goal of the American player is to hunt down British merchant ships while avoiding their warships. The British goal is to seek out the American frigates and merchant ships, while protecting their own. The game includes a hard mounted game board, plastic ships in four colors, and cards for ship maneuver that depict the strategic and tactical capabilities of the era.
Naval War of 1812 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 Naval War of 1812 is 60 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 Naval War of 1812 for ages 10 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.
Naval War of 1812 has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Naval War of 1812 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point 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 Naval War of 1812 are: Grant Wylie and Mike Wylie. 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 Naval War of 1812 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.