Winter War

Published 1972

Covers the 1939-1940 war between Finland and the Soviet Union. Four-page rules folder, map, and 120 die-cut counters. The Soviets have a massive strength advantage but their heaviest units can't be used north of the arctic circle and all Soviet units must be able to trace a supply line back to Leningrad at all times. Finnish units don't need supply in Finland, they have the advantage of prepared defenses south of the arctic circle, and Finnish units have higher mobility than Soviet units. The Russians have to successfully invade Finland and take objective cities to win. The Finns simply have to hold out for ten turns. Playable as a game rather than just as a simulation, unlike many later SPI offerings. Two games in one. The base game favors an experienced Soviet player, who will often break through the Mannerheim line in a fairly historical manner around turns 7-9. The optional special events, depending on which are rolled, tend to favor the Finns, sometimes reducing the number of turns to just 5, placing tremendous time pressure on the Soviets. Play the base game several times before adding the optional "What-if" events.

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Designers

Winter War

Game Info

Players
2 Players
Time
1.5 hours
Weight
Light-Medium — 2.39/5
Year
1972
BGG Rating
7.14
BGG Rank
#7975
Min Age
12+

Frequently Asked Questions

Winter War is designed for exactly 2 players.
A typical game of Winter War takes about 90 minutes.
Winter War has a complexity rating of 2.39/5.00 on BoardGameGeek, placing it in the 'Medium Light' category. It offers a good balance of depth and accessibility.
The recommended minimum age for Winter War is 12+.
Winter War has a rating of 7.14/10 on BoardGameGeek, based on 222 ratings. It is ranked #7975 overall.
Winter War was designed by James F. Goff. It was published in 1972.