Carrier Battles: The Struggle for Guadalcanal (1985)

About this game

Carrier Battles includes the Basic, Advanced, and Optional rules for Carrier Battles, and Basic Game Rules for The Iron Samurai. "Carrier Battles, and its companion game, The Iron Samurai, are historical simulations of battles fought between air and surface forces of the Japanese and Allied fleets in the South Pacific during World War II. Carrier Battles covers the aircraft carrier operations in detail, while The Iron Samurai focuses on the surface actions . . . A selection of historical and hypothetical scenarios are included as well as a campaign game covering the series of surface and carrier battles which raged in the Solomons from August through November of 1942. In addition, guidelines for generating your own scenarios are included." Clarification: The Iron Samurai was planned as a separate game with advanced rules, but was never published.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 4.2/5 this is a heavy game — read the rulebook before people arrive.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.