This year went by fast for me. Work, family, and personal stuff kept me busy. I did not pay much attention to the blog. Now I am back and set to continue with our Wargame Watch series. This time, I found 18 games to share. Three of them are up for crowdfunding.
If you did not see the January Wargame Watch, check it out there.
This month, Wharf Rat Games sponsors the Wargame Watch again. It is a new company run by Ryan Heilman and Wes Crawford. Ryan made games like Brave Little Belgium, White Eagle Defiant: Poland 1939, and Ginormopod 2050 A.D.: Attack of the Giant Bug Monsters. Wes created Engine Thieves: The Andrews Railroad Raid of 1862 and The Pursuit of John Wilkes Booth.
Wharf Rat Games: A New Time for Board Games
Ryan Heilman and Wes Crawford started this company in Baltimore. They focus on good quality games that are light to medium hard. These games have history, sci-fi, or fantasy stories. They take less than 90 minutes to play. That makes them good for new players and old ones too.
Featured Game: A Forlorn Hope by Hermann Luttmann
Wharf Rat Games is excited about their first game. It comes from well-known designer Hermann Luttmann. It is a fresh take on his old idea.
The Story: This idea came up over 10 years ago. It led to the game In Magnificent Style. That one is about World War I trench fights. Here is a link to a show where Hermann talks about In Magnificent Style.
Pre-Order
1. A Forlorn Hope from Wharf Rat Games Coming to Backerkit on February 10th
Wharf Rat Games is new. Ryan Heilman and Wes Crawford run it. I talked to them before about their games. I met them at game events like Buckeye Game Fest in April 2024 and World Boardgaming Championships in August 2024. I am glad they started their own company. They know games well. They have been around a long time. They know many designers. They will bring good games for years.
They signed their first game from Hermann Luttmann. We all like his work. A Forlorn Hope puts one to three players working together or alone in charge of soldiers crossing No Man’s Land in World War I. You try to take enemy trenches. You must mix brave pushes with smart pullbacks. That way, you save men, keep the group together, and do not get stuck by enemy fire. Over 10 years ago, Hermann showed this idea to Alan Emrich at Victory Point Games. It used push-your-luck in a wargame. Alan liked it but changed it to Civil War. That became In Magnificent Style about Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. Victory Point Games put it out first. Then Worthington Publishing did.
From the game page:
A Forlorn Hope is a simple wargame about a usual trench attack in World War I from 1914 to 1918. You lead an attacking group of three battalions. Each has two or three attack teams based on player count.
The game uses press-your-luck style. It makes you decide hard things and take risks. Your aim is to cross No Man’s Land fast and well for the best win.
A Forlorn Hope works for one player or teamwork. Many setups come with it. Start with a basic attack to learn. Then try real World War I battles for more challenge. Each setup has special parts from history. Every one plays different.
We did a talk with designer Hermann Luttmann. Read it there.
If A Forlorn Hope sounds good, learn more on the Backerkit page. The project starts Tuesday, February 10th.
2. Napoleon at War Deluxe Edition from Decision Games
In the last few years, Decision Games looked back at old games. They made deluxe versions like Red Dragon Green Crescent Deluxe Edition in 2024 and Blue & Gray Deluxe Edition in 2025. Now they picked more. First up is Napoleon at War Deluxe Edition.
From the game page:
Napoleon at War Deluxe Edition brings back the old SPI QuadriGame. It has four big battles from Napoleonic Wars: Marengo, Jena-Auerstadt, Wagram, and Battle of Nations at Leipzig. This new version has color rules book, new art on pieces and maps. Counters are 9/16 inch. Two double-sided mounted boards 22 by 25.5 inches. New help cards. Basic rules are the same for all four in Napoleon at War Series. Each has own rules for setup, help, notes from designer. The play style comes from Borodino-Napoleon at Waterloo system. Each hex is 400 to 800 meters. Turns are 1 to 2 hours. Units from half brigades to divisions. Each point is 250 to 350 men or guns.
Movement goes one side at a time. Control zones are strict. Fight if next to enemy. One unit per spot. Fight table has some luck. Need 4 to 1 or better for sure retreat. Land from flat fields near Wagram to rough woods at Jena-Auerstadt. Games last from 5 turns to 20 for full Leipzig battle over 3.5 days. Biggest fight in Napoleonic time. Graphics better but games same as old. Enjoy this deluxe SPI classic.
Pre-order Napoleon at War Deluxe Edition for $89 from Decision Games site.
3. Year of the Rat Vietnam 1972 Deluxe Edition from Decision Games
The next deluxe pre-sale is Year of the Rat Vietnam 1972. John Prados made the first. Joseph Miranda updated it.
From the game page:
On March 30, 1972, North Vietnamese Army started Easter Offensive into South Vietnam. They wanted to win big or get better talks in Paris. South Vietnamese Army was surprised but fought back with US air help. They pushed back in fall.
Year of the Rat Deluxe Edition shows that fight. Strong North units with Viet Cong and fakes dodge South forces. They hit towns and bases fast. South special air, ranger, marine teams fight back. Big battles and sieges with more US air and less North supplies.
This version improves the old SPI game with 50 years of study. New units and land info. Three main setups and 15 unit changes. Covers fights into Laos and Cambodia too.
Extra parts:
New art on bigger maps and pieces.
More South air moves and units.
North groups changed with tank teams.
Full 1971-72 US units.
Australian, Thai, Cambodian, Khmer Rouge forces.
Viet and US river boats.
South camps and local forces.
Many extra rules.
Year of the Rat Deluxe Edition lets you see choices in a key campaign.
Pre-order Year of the Rat Vietnam 1972 Deluxe Edition for $65 from Decision Games site.
4. 1812: The Campaign of Napoleon in Russia Deluxe Edition from Decision Games
The last Decision Games update is 1812: The Campaign of Napoleon in Russia Deluxe Edition.
From the game page:
Napoleon took 600,000 men into Russia. Only 110,000 came back in order. Supply was the big killer. Armies needed food from nearby land. Spots got empty fast so armies had to move or go hungry. 1812 Deluxe Edition makes supply key to leading.
Now, here are the games for February.
Website. Email. Facebook: Wharf Rat Games. Bluesky: wharfratgames.bsky.social. X (Twitter): @WharfRatGames. Instagram: @wharf_rat_games. YouTube: @WharfRatGames
Connect with Wharf Rat Games on these places.
Wharf Rat Games starts their Backerkit page on February 10. Early bird deal: Back on day one for $69. That saves $20 from the regular price.
Launch Info
The Play: Play alone or with 1 to 3 friends working together. It uses a risky push-your-luck style. You lead a group of soldiers across open land. You weigh big moves against getting stuck by enemy guns.
The Parts: Six setups from big fights like The Somme, Verdun, and The Lost Battalion.
The Facts: 1 to 3 players. 45 to 90 minutes. About 2.5 hard on BGG scale.
