Guadalcanal

About this board game

Guadalcanal is a two-player naval-air search and combat game set among the Solomon Islands, with an approximate playing time of 240 minutes. Released in 1992, it challenges each player to find and attack the opposing fleet while keeping their own forces concealed.

Each player uses a separate map of the area, hidden behind a screen. Players send search planes to hexes and announce the hex numbers they are checking, creating a tense process of searching for an unseen enemy. Once a fleet is located, bombers can be sent to attack it.

Attacks are resolved on a separate battle board. Ships are placed on hexes, while attacking aircraft are positioned to show which ships they are targeting. The basic game is deliberately simple, but additional rules introduce more realism and complexity.

• Hidden information: Each player searches from a concealed map.
• Air operations: Search planes locate targets, while bombers make attacks.
• Expanded rules: CAP fighters, surface actions, bases, and inaccurate search reports add further possibilities.
• Optional referee play: A neutral referee can support a true double-blind game.

Guadalcanal is very similar to Midway, using a straightforward core system that can be expanded with added rules. The hidden maps and separate battle board make information, positioning, and timing central to the experience.

The box states that the game includes 356 counters, but the actual contents include 298 counters, one of them blank. This distinction is useful to know when checking the components before play.