Hougoumont: Rock of Waterloo

About this board game

Hougoumont: Rock of Waterloo is a two-player tactical simulation of the fight for Hougoumont chateau during the Battle of Waterloo, with an approximate play time of 120 minutes.

The game operates at a focused tactical scale. Each hex represents 25 yards, each turn covers 10 minutes of real time, and each unit represents a company. This framework places the struggle for the chateau at the center of the action.

Movement and combat are combined into action points, linking maneuver and fighting within the same system. The non-phasing player can also react, creating opportunities for the distinctive “Boom & Zoom” tactics described in the game’s rules.

Victory revolves around the capture of Hougoumont. Every decision is tied to the contest for this key position, making control of the chateau the essential objective for both players.

• 25-yard hexes and 10-minute turns
• Company-level units
• Movement and combat combined through action points
• Reaction options for the non-phasing player
• Rules for climbing walls, breaking and barring doors, howitzers, and command control

Hougoumont: Rock of Waterloo focuses on the specific challenges of attacking and defending a fortified location. Its rules cover the physical obstacles around the chateau as well as the command and control issues that shape the battle.

Released in 1991, this two-player game presents the fight for Hougoumont as a compact tactical contest. With its defined time and ground scales, action-point system, and capture-based victory conditions, it offers a concentrated simulation of one struggle within Waterloo.