Coral Sea: Campaign Commander Series

About this board game

Coral Sea: Campaign Commander Series is a two-player operational wargame of the South Pacific campaign, designed to play in approximately 180 minutes. Set between spring 1942 and spring 1943, it recreates the struggle across the Solomon Islands, Papua, and New Guinea.

The Japanese player begins with the initiative, expanding from Rabaul and seeking Victory Points by occupying cities and eliminating enemy forces. The Allied player starts on the defensive, reinforcing Australia and New Caledonia while waiting for opportunities to slow, damage, and eventually counterattack the advancing Japanese forces.

Players face a changing strategic situation shaped by the historical campaign. Japan must decide whether to concentrate on the Solomon Islands, Papua, or both at once, while the Allies must build their strength and compel their opponent to overextend. Guadalcanal and the fighting in Papua/New Guinea are central to the contest.

• Area-based operational map representing the region at a 1:300,000 scale
• Cards and counters working together to manage battles, reinforcements, resources, and events
• Land, air, and naval operations supporting opposing forces and supply lines
• Victory Points earned through territorial control and the destruction of enemy units

Cards do not drive the entire game; instead, they introduce events, secure reinforcements, and provide resources for continued operations. Naval-air battles, raids from Truk, attacks on bases, and the struggle to sustain ground forces make the region a demanding theater of war.

With straightforward rules and interactive decisions, Coral Sea is built for players who want a substantial historical contest without leaving a game set up for an extended period. The Allied recovery of Guadalcanal, Buna, and Gona—and the exhaustion of Japan’s offensive—emerge from the choices made across the map.