
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,627
- BGG rating
- 6.9
The Old Contemptibles at Mons, 1914
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2005

1992
Rules assistance for Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War
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.
Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War is a board game released in 1992 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ron Bell and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation.
Port Arthur is a simulation of the ground campaign of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, contained in issue #19 of Command Magazine. Included in the game are 10 pages of rules, a 22" x 34" mapsheet, and 101 counters. Victory points are awarded for causing enemy casualties, and for control of Liaoyang, Mukden, and Port Arthur (which is worth 2 points). At the beginning of the game the Russian player will be receiving 4 points per turn, so it is imperative for the Japanese player to be aggressive. At the end of 10 complete turns, the player with the higher total, wins.
Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War 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 Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War is 180 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 Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War 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.
Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War belongs to these categories: Wargame. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation. 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 Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War are: Ron Bell. 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 Port Arthur: The Russo-Japanese War 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.