Borodino: Napoleon in Russia, 1812

About this board game

Borodino: Napoleon in Russia, 1812 is a two-player game of Napoleonic warfare, with sessions lasting about 210 minutes. It recreates the September 7, 1812 battle between Napoleon’s French Grand Armée and the Imperial Russian Army.

Historically, Borodino ended in a French victory but a strategic defeat. One week later, Napoleon occupied an undefended Moscow in the hope of forcing peace; after four weeks, he began the disastrous retreat home. The game focuses on the battle itself while presenting both commanders with options that were not attempted historically.

The French player can choose from several possible lines of attack, while the Russian player must anticipate and counter them. The struggle centers on the Russian redoubts, with wave after wave of frontal attacks reflecting the character of the historical engagement.

• Area-based movement and combat keep the action focused and fast-paced.
• The Move-Move-Battle sequence drives the flow of each turn.
• Players activate leaders to command brigades belonging to the same division and corps.
• Infantry, cavalry, and artillery interact tactically, including cavalry charges and defensive squares.
• No cards are used, keeping attention on command decisions and battlefield positioning.

These systems create an exciting contest of anticipation, timing, and battlefield pressure. Napoleon must find a route through the Russian defenses, while Kutuzov’s forces work to predict the French plan and blunt each assault.

With its emphasis on command, maneuver, and the tactical interaction of Napoleonic arms, Borodino: Napoleon in Russia, 1812 offers a tense historical battle experience for two players.