Cityfight: Modern Combat in the Urban Environment

About this board game

Cityfight: Modern Combat in the Urban Environment is a detailed tactical simulation of post–World War II urban combat for 2–3 players, with a listed playing time of 360 minutes. First released in 1979, it places players in command of platoon-, company-, or battalion-sized forces operating in built-up areas.

Its defining feature is a double-blind system. Each side manages its troops on a separate map, while the opponent’s forces remain concealed until detected. Discovered units are represented on your map with “known/unknown” markers, making limited intelligence a central challenge alongside movement, fire, and mission planning.

Scenarios cover both offensive and defensive operations, including historical conflicts from 1956 to 1979 and hypothetical situations involving NATO, Soviet, Chinese, and irregular forces. The game includes twenty scenarios, plus a comprehensive guide for creating additional scenarios.

• Game turns represent 20 seconds of action.
• Each hex covers 55 feet, or 16.67 meters.
• Units range from individual infantry and vehicles to fireteams.
• Specialized forces include sappers, snipers, spotters, flamethrowers, and military police.

The substantial game system is supported by two identical four-color mapsheets, five dual-sided countersheets containing 1,400 counters, rulebooks, tables, charts, and four six-sided dice. Complexity is variable, while solitaire playability is rated very low.

For players interested in highly granular modern conflict simulations, Cityfight offers a broad framework for exploring command decisions, concealed deployment, and combat in dense urban environments.