1862 (1990)

About this game

"1862", the first wargame in Simulation Design's "Battles and Leaders" Series is a system that features four major battles of the Civil War from 1862 and uses rules that are easy and fast to learn allowing you to play a battle in less than three hours. The system highlights the problems of command and morale. Each battle has a 17" x 22" game map and there are 400 multicolored counters. Complexity on a scale of 1-10 is 4.0. It has very good solitaire playability. The battles are Antietam, Seven Pines, Murfreesboro and Fort Donelson.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 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.