Khyber Rifles: Britannia in Afghanistan

About this board game

Khyber Rifles: Britannia in Afghanistan is a two-player board game with a playing time of about 30 minutes, depicting the fateful campaign in Afghanistan in 1842.

One player commands British forces, including the regiments and battalions of the armies led by Generals Nott, Pollock, and Elphinstone. The opposing player controls Afghan tribal contingents under Akbar Khan. The point-to-point map covers eastern Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier of India, including the famous Khyber Pass.

The game follows the aftermath of the 1842 disaster in which Afghan rebels destroyed a British army attempting to reach safety from Kabul. The British expedition that followed sought revenge and became another campaign in Central Asia’s Great Game. Khyber Rifles places both sides in this dangerous historical setting.

Each player has a unique deck of Campaign Cards. These cards can provide movement abilities, combat bonuses, and historical events, making timing crucial. The right card at the right moment may help concentrate forces for a decisive victory—or leave an army facing an inglorious defeat.

• Campaign cards include Ambush, Jirga Loya, Mad Dash, and Relief Force.
• Combat uses a quasi-tactical procedure.
• Special rules cover elite British units, fanatic Afghan Ghazis, camp followers, Shah Shujah’s army, and irregulars such as Broadfoot’s Pioneers.

Part of the Hand of Destiny mini-game series, Khyber Rifles combines a compact map, distinct forces, card-driven decisions, and specialized combat rules to portray a pivotal Anglo-Afghan campaign.