Kido Butai: Japan's Carriers at Midway (2016)

About this game

At 1020 hours on June 4, 1942, Japanese naval aircraft still ruled the skies over the Pacific. All that changed within ten minutes, when U. S. dive bombers sunk three out of four carriers constituting Kido Butai, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s main strike force which had devastated Pearl Harbor only six months before. The solitaire game Kido Butai simulates the dramatic events of the pivotal battle at Midway from a Japanese perspective. As commander of the Tenno's strike force, your task is to destroy the American base on the atoll and sink any carrier you encounter while preserving your own strength. Simple yet elegant mechanics make for an entertaining challenge. Will you be up to it and keep the imperial sun shining?

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 1 player — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.2/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.