Bulge 20: The Ardennes Offensive

About this board game

Bulge 20: The Ardennes Offensive is a two-player wargame designed for a 75-minute play time, presenting the campaign through the perspective of the opposing headquarters. Each game turn represents three days, while armies are organized around Corps units that provide the game’s steps.

Rather than focusing on laborious tactical procedures, the Command Staff Series engine emphasizes strategy and staff planning. Players use G-1 Administration, G-2 Intelligence, G-3 Operations, and G-4 Logistics cards to direct their side and respond to changing reports from the front.

In Bulge 20, the Allies do not initially know which German strategic objective is being pursued. Allied intelligence work is therefore essential: the Allied staff must identify German intentions without overreacting to the threat. The German player, meanwhile, can win by outthinking and outmaneuvering the Allied staff.

• Headquarters perspective: manage the campaign through staff planning and specialized cards.
• Strategic uncertainty: investigate the German objective and make informed decisions.
• Quick resolution: on-map maneuvers and battle outcomes provide concise “news from the front.”
• Campaign scale: each turn covers three days, with Corps-based armies providing steps.

The game includes an 11 × 17-inch map, an 11 × 4.2-inch battle mat, two player aid screens and Order of Battle mats, 48 Staff and Objective cards, and 63 full-color mounted, die-cut game pieces. An eight-page illustrated color rules book, a complete setup display sheet, and designer’s notes round out the package.

With its emphasis on intelligence, administration, operations, and logistics, Bulge 20 offers a focused portrayal of command decisions during the Ardennes Offensive.