
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,625
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Enemy Action: Ardennes
- 1–2 players
- 60–900 min
- Complexity 4.3/5
- 2015

1987
Rules assistance for Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II
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.
Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II is a board game released in 1987 for 2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John H. Butterfield and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Action Points.
In Soldiers each Counter represents a single man with certain skills. The game system allocates to each man (counter) a certain amount of action points (depending on his experience) and permits certain activities based on his status (for example a cautious soldier will take more points to take a risky action). The number of action points determines when a unit may move and what it can do. Both players bid for initiative and the winner moves a soldier; this progresses until the turn is over. Scenario generation system for more variety.
Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II 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 Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II 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 Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II 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.
Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Action Points. 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 Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II are: John H. Butterfield. 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 Soldiers: Man-to-Man Combat in World War II 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.