
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,432
- BGG rating
- 7.6
A Victory Lost: Crisis in Ukraine 1942-1943
- 2 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2006

2023
Rules assistance for Traces of War
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Traces of War is a board game released in 2023 for 1–2 players and 180–360 minutes per game. It was designed by Tetsuya Nakamura and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
Traces of War is a two-player game that simulates the intense fighting between Axis and Soviet forces after the battle of Kursk during August 1943 to March 1944. A major Soviet offensive is launched against a German mobile defense. Will the breakthrough be successful? Game Scale: Game Turn: 1 month Hex: 12.5 miles / 20 kilometers Units: Divisions to Corps Game Inventory: Two 20.7 x 28" / 525 x 712 mm full color maps Three dual-side printed countersheet (303 5/8" (16mm) square counters and 18 3/4" (18mm) round counters) One 16-page rulebook One solitaire track card Two sets of Player Aid Sheets (4 total) Solitaire Playability: High Complexity Level: Medium-low Players: 1 or 2 Playing Time: 3-6 hours Note: Players will need to provide one opaque cup for game play.
Traces of War 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 Traces of War is 180–360 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.
Traces of War has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Traces of War 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 Traces of War are: Tetsuya Nakamura. 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 Traces of War 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.