Borodino 20

About this board game

Borodino 20 is a two-player Napoleonic battle game for a play time of approximately 70 minutes, recreating the historic clash between Napoleon’s exhausted French Grande Armée and the entrenched Russian Army.

Set on the outskirts of Moscow, the game brings the armies together for a decisive struggle shaped by divided leadership, human error, and the pressure of an advancing campaign. Players can recreate the historical battle or explore alternate possibilities in which the Russians respond faster to the French threat, or Napoleon follows Davout’s advice and attempts a daring flanking maneuver.

The Napoleonic 20 system keeps the scope focused, with modest complexity rated 4 on a 9-point scale. Low unit density—20 pieces or fewer on the map—supports dramatic, fast-playing turns as the opposing armies maneuver, attack, and close to bayonet-point.

• Story-driven random event cards introduce friction and unexpected developments.
• Night game turns create operational pauses and reflect the changing rhythm of the battle.
• Each unit represents one corps, each hex covers about 1,000 meters, and turns represent roughly 3.5 daytime hours or 10 nighttime hours.

These mechanisms give Borodino 20 a strong sense of the parry-and-thrust of a Napoleonic grand battle, while keeping the action accessible and concentrated. The result is a tense contest to determine which army will break first.

Released in 2008, Borodino 20 is part of the Napoleonic 20 series. It can be expanded by Smolensk 20, the Napoleonic 20: Expansion Kit, and Berezina 20.