Hell’s Gate

About this board game

Hell’s Gate is a two-player simulation game of the Battle of the Korsun Pocket in Ukraine, playable in about 90 minutes. One player directs the German forces while the other commands the Soviet forces during the fighting of January and February 1944.

Each side seeks to capture or regain territory and inflict losses on the opposing force while minimizing its own losses. The game presents the battle as a focused contest of opposing objectives, allowing players to study the dynamics of this historical engagement through direct play.

• Players: 1–2
• Time scale: Each turn represents 3 days
• Map scale: Each hex is approximately 20 kilometers across
• Unit scale: Each unit represents a brigade, division, or corps
• Complexity: 3 on a 9-point scale
• Solitaire suitability: 7 on a 9-point scale

Hell’s Gate also supports solitaire play, making it suitable for players who want to explore the battle’s dynamics without an opponent. Its strong solitaire suitability provides an accessible way to examine the interaction between territory, force losses, and opposing objectives.

War games author, professor, and designer Philip Sabin introduced Hell’s Gate in his book Simulating War. This Victory Point Games edition polishes the game’s original components to present a focused simulation experience for students of military history and players interested in compact historical wargames.