- BGG rank
- BGG #21,449
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Verdun: A Generation Lost
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,838
- BGG rating
- 6.5
The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme
2005
Rules assistance for The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–3 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.0/5
Rules assistant for The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme is a board game released in 2005 for 2–3 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Roger Nord and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Square Grid, and Simulation.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,915
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Great War Commander
- 2–3 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,418
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Lawrence of Arabia: The British Offensive – September-October 1918
- 1–3 players
- 120–300 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1983
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,132
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Shot and Shell: Naval Combat in the Civil War
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,656
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Grand Army of the Republic
- 2–4 players
- 120–420 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,676
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle In The Pacific
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1986
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,258
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Port Stanley: Battle for the Falklands
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,579
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Empire at Sunrise: The Great War in Asia, 1914
- 2 players
- 150 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,593
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Dawn Patrol: Role Playing Game of WW I Air Combat
- 2–52 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1982
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,200
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Fight in the Skies
- 2–52 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 1966
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,605
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Les Nettoyeurs
- 2 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,428
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Commando
- 2–20 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 1979
About the game
The Big Push covers the gigantic battle of the Somme in summer-fall of 1916. Rivaling Verdun in ferocity, scale and casualties, Somme was Britain's first real chance to open up the Western Front in World War I. French and British allies, wanting to take initiative away from Germany at Verdun, launched a large joint offensive at the Somme, where their fronts met. British generals called it the "Big Push," to break the trenches and carry them to victory. Here was a campaign that brought little save the cultural annihilation of the participants. Europe never looked at war quite the same way after the Somme. The British player controls the Allied forces (British and French), while the other player commands the defending German Army. It is also possible to have three players--French, British, and German. Each Game Turn represents one week. Map scale measures approximately 1142 yards per square (squares rather than hexes are used to prevent the easy outflanking of enemy units - something very hard to do in WW1). Ground units range in size from regiments to divisions. Each infantry strength point varies between 700 and 1500 men, depending on nationality and fighting effectiveness. Support units, like artillery, cavalry and tanks, focus their strength more on relative fire power and attack force. Play begins with artillery fire, where the other player may throw in his counter battery fire to offset the barrages. Ground movement comes next, followed by the declaration of assaults, appeals to command center resources, and defensive fire. After assaults take place, the phasing player introduces replacements and tries to rally his disordered units.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- LPS, Inc.
- Against the Odds
Questions and answers
The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme supports 2–3 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 The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme 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 The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme 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.
The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme 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.
The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War I. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Square 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 The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme are: Roger Nord. 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 The Big Push: The Battle of the Somme 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.