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- BGG #3,706
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Vietnam 1965-1975
- 2 players
- 360–6000 min
- Complexity 4.3/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,486
- BGG rating
- 8.9
Red Strike
2023
Rules assistance for Red Strike
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 120–21600 min
- 12+
- Complexity 4.4/5
Rules assistant for Red Strike
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Red Strike is a board game released in 2023 for 2–6 players, 120–21600 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Yves Rettel and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
Red Strike is a war game simulating a hypothetical clash between NATO and Warsaw Pact (WP) armed forces in Summer 1989. It covers operational land, air and sea warfare in Central Europe and the Northern Atlantic, while also keeping an eye on the strategic situation around the world. Red Strike is a highly interactive game. Its detection and interception mechanisms allow for simultaneous actions and reactions from both sides. Having to constantly monitor the battlefield minimizes player downtime and maximizes their ability to recreate a very fluid “What if“ representation of a Cold War gone hot. The mechanisms can seem complex at first, but will soon become second nature. The rules that make Red Strike so interactive, also make it perfect for team play. Players can divide responsibilities between air, ground and possibly naval forces. The ground forces could be split by army/front or corps. The crucial naval/air war over the North Atlantic can be played either as a standalone game, or as part of the Campaign Scenarios. As would have happened historically, its impact on the battlefield in Germany can be decisive; the interception and sinking of convoys carrying supplies and reinforcements making the difference between success and failure. Awards and Honors "Red Strike" wins 2023 Charles S. Roberts Awards in the categories - "Best Operational Game" - "Best Hypothetical Game" and - "Award for Outstanding Presentation". Pablo Bazerque Yves Rettel wins the "Chad Jensen Memorial Breakthrough Designer Award".
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Banana Games
- VUCA Simulations
Questions and answers
Red Strike 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 Red Strike is 120–21600 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 Red Strike 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.
Red Strike has a complexity rating of 4.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Red Strike belongs to these categories: Wargame and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, 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 Red Strike are: Yves Rettel. 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 Red Strike 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.