
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,028
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Great War at Sea: Jutland
- 2 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2006

2007
Rules assistance for They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916
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.
They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 is a board game released in 2007 for 2 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Bennighof, Doug McNair, and William Sariego and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
From the Publisher: "The new game system has the clean play of the designer’s masterpiece, Defiant Russia, and is crafted to fit the nature of combat in 1916. Artillery bombardment and assault combat take place separately. Elite troops have numerous advantages, and morale is a vital component of the game. Game pieces represent regiments and a handful of battalions. Units are rated for morale, attack, defense and movement. The game is packaged just like Defiant Russia in a small box."
They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 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 They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 is 90–120 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 They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 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.
They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 has a complexity rating of 2.6 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.
They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War I. 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 They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 are: Michael Bennighof, Doug McNair, and William Sariego. 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 They Shall Not Pass: The Battle of Verdun 1916 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.