Enemy Action: Ardennes

About this board game

Enemy Action: Ardennes is a card-driven war game for 1–2 players portraying the German offensive against the western Allies during the December 1944 Battle of the Bulge. A full campaign takes 15 minutes to 6 hours to play, depending on the scenario and format.

The game supports two-player competition and dedicated solitaire play as either side. In a two-player game, one player commands the Germans and the other the Allies. Solo systems govern the opposing side’s command and tactics, making the box effectively three games in one: competitive play, solitaire Allied play, and solitaire German play.

John Butterfield’s card-driven impulse system keeps both sides making frequent decisions. Cards can activate formations, trigger command events, or provide tactical advantages. The same unit may be activated by different cards, but each card offers different secondary uses, such as artillery support or activating additional units or groups.

Combat uses a diceless, chartless combat chit system. Players choose and reveal chits based on factors including unit capabilities, terrain, and support rather than combat-factor counting. Choosing whether to draw another chit can turn a promising attack into trouble—or produce a decisive masterstroke.

• Three oversized 22×34-inch maps: one for two-player play and one for each solitaire game
• A 110-card deck and three sheets of double-sided counters
• Regiment, brigade, and division units with one to four steps
• 2.5-mile hexes and daily turns with alternating player impulses

With medium complexity, multiple resources, and consequences that may not be immediately apparent, Enemy Action: Ardennes offers a focused simulation of a pivotal twentieth-century campaign.