GHQ

About this board game

GHQ is a fast, strategic two-player battle game played in about 40 minutes on a standard 8×8 checkerboard.

Players command a range of military forces, including infantry, armored vehicles, artillery, and a powerful airborne regiment. Maneuver your forces across the board, apply real-world combined arms tactics, and capture your opponent’s headquarters to win.

• For 2 players
• Approximately 40 minutes of play
• Played on a standard 8×8 checkerboard
• Features infantry, armored vehicles, artillery, and an airborne regiment
• Includes reinforcements that can be called at the right time

Timing and coordination are central to the battle. Choosing how to use your different forces—and when to call on reinforcements—can turn the tide of the conflict. GHQ offers a focused contest of maneuver and battlefield decision-making without requiring a large game board.

The game has a distinctive literary history. World War II veteran Kurt Vonnegut designed GHQ throughout 1956 while working on his next novel after Player Piano. He attempted to sell the game to game companies, but the effort was unsuccessful, and his notes were eventually filed away.

Released in 2024, this first edition brings Vonnegut’s lost design to players with deluxe wooden pieces and a 24-page commentary booklet. The booklet presents his design notes, offering insight into the creative process behind GHQ and its journey from an unpublished project to a playable game.