- BGG rank
- BGG #16,659
- BGG rating
- 7.4
The Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition
2021
Rules assistance for The Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 240–1200 min
- 16+
- Complexity 3.7/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for The Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition is a board game released in 2021 for 1–2 players, 240–1200 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Joseph M. Balkoski and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
About the game
The Korean War: June 1950 - May 1951, Designer Signature Edition, marks the return of a true wargaming classic by Joseph Balkoski first published in 1986, faithfully remastered and updated with this all-new, supersized edition. Hailed by many as of the premier games covering The Korean War, this two-player operational level simulation covers the first year of the Korean conflict, from June 1950 to May 1951. During this period, the United States found itself involved in a bitter struggle in a remote Asian land that many Americans had not even heard of. Amid the debacles and stunning victories of the first year of war, the very foundation of the American military system — so recently triumphant in the Second World War — was severely shaken. In a war that few Americans understood and which historians have tended to ignore, the foundation of future American diplomacy in the face of communism was laid. The players control ground and air forces of the United Nations, North Korea, and Communist China. Each player's force consists of a wide variety of units, including infantry, marines, paratroopers, armor, and aircraft. The map is a 1:750,000 representation of the Korean peninsula from Pusan in the south to the Yalu River in the north. In addition to controlling military forces, the players must make a number of political decisions that have an important effect on the game. Above all, the UN player must strive to keep international tensions at a minimum for the purpose of preventing World War Three. Intense escalation and mobilization could have disastrous consequences for the militarily-unprepared United States. On the other hand, insufficient force applied to Korea could lead to the conquest of South Korea by North Korean communists. This edition of The Korean War features a super-sized map and larger counters and is another Classic Reborn! by Compass. This Designer Signature edition of the classic Joseph Balkoski game goes beyond merely incorporating errata found from the original edition; it includes enhancements that include: Larger and easier-to-read 9/16” counters and three game maps Game map information is updated and includes all-new map artwork Enhanced ergonomics are built into the set up and reinforcement charts Restrictions on UN build-up and breakdown so UN player cannot perpetually continue Action Phase by reorganizing units Modified amphibious assault system that allows UN player to more effectively recreate September 1950 Inchon invasion Modified victory conditions that lessen impact of Global Tension New random events to make the operation a bit more unpredictable Updated rules treatment backed by many illustrations, an index, and clarifications and examples of play to reduce potential questions. Updated historical notes Complexity: 7 out of 10 Solitaire Suitability: 6 out of 10 (landing options; no hidden units) Time Scale: one month per turn Map Scale: 7.5 miles per hex Unit Scale: battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions Players: one to two, best with two or more Playing Time: 4-8 hours depending upon scenario, 20+ hours for campaign Components: Four map sheets (42.5" x 71"overall map dimension) Three countersheets (9/16" size) Rules booklet with updated Historical Notes Two charts and tables booklets One ten-sided die Box and Lid —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Compass Games
Questions and answers
The Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition supports 1–2 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition is 240–1200 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition for ages 16 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition belongs to these categories: Wargame, Modern Warfare, and Korean War. 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition are: Joseph M. Balkoski. 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 Korean War: June 1950 – May 1951, Designer Signature Edition 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.