- BGG rank
- BGG #15,662
- BGG rating
- 6.4
The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge
1979
Rules assistance for The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge is a board game released in 1979 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
About the game
Bulge: The Battle for the Ardennes is a Divisional sized board-wargame on the Ardennes offensive in 1944 on a small map and with short rules. The German objective is to blast the American lines and exit as many units as possible on the West and North West edges of the map. Central to the system are the supply rules. Supply lines are interdicted by possession and proximity (3 hex range) to bridge hex-sides. Victory is checked at the end of every turn where the Germans will compare VPs collected against the Victory conditions. If Victory conditions are not met, play continues.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hobby Japan
- SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.)
- Kokusai-Tsushin Co., Ltd. (国際通信社)
- Decision Games (I)
Questions and answers
The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge 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 The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge is 60 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 Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge 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 Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge has a complexity rating of 2.2 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 Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge 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 The Big Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge are: Jim Dunnigan. 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 Red One: The Game of the First Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge 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.