- BGG rating
- 8.3
North Africa '40: The 1940 Expansion to North Africa '41
- 1–2 players
- 180–900 min
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,146
- BGG rating
- 8.3
North Africa '41
2023
Rules assistance for North Africa '41
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 180–720 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.6/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for North Africa '41
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
North Africa '41 is a board game released in 2023 for 1–2 players, 180–720 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Mark Simonitch and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Expansions
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About the game
North Africa ‘41 covers the campaign in North Africa from Rommel’s first offensive in late March 1941 through the end of December 1941. During that period Rommel’s forces dashed across Cyrenaica and made it to the Egyptian frontier. However, he was not able to take the critical port of Tobruk defended by the stubborn Australians. With superior tanks, combined arms doctrine, and 88mm Flak guns (used as anti-tank weapons) the Axis forces successfully fought off two counterattacks from the east—the Allied operations called Brevity and Battleaxe. Later in the year, before Rommel could make his planned assault against Tobruk, the Allies launched Operation Crusader and drove the Axis forces back to their original starting positions at El Agheila. North Africa ’41 allows players to study the campaign and refight it with their own strategies. The game includes a detailed map of the Western Desert and a meticulously researched order of battle. The game uses the simple Move-Fight-Supply game system developed in Normandy ’44 and Holland ’44. Important elements like supply, troop quality, tank quality, artillery support, and command and control are all reflected in the game. Game Scale 1 hex = 8 miles 1 game turn = half a month = 2-3 impulses of 3-8 days each Units: Battalion to Brigade Components 2 maps - One 22” x 34” mapsheet and one 22” x 28” mapsheet (total area 22" x 61.75") 2 counter sheets (9/16” counters) 2 setup and reinforcement cards 2 identical CRT/TEC player aid cards 1 rule book 1 play book with extended example of play, design notes, and historical notes Scenarios • Enter Rommel: March-June 1941 (7 turns, both maps) • Campaign Game: March-December 1941 (19 turns, both maps) • Crusader: November-December 1941 (3 turns, both maps)
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- GMT Games
Questions and answers
North Africa '41 supports 1–2 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 North Africa '41 is 180–720 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 North Africa '41 for ages 14 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.
North Africa '41 has a complexity rating of 3.6 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.
North Africa '41 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon 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 North Africa '41 are: Mark Simonitch. 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 North Africa '41 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.