Karelia ’44: The Last Campaign of the Continuation War

About this board game

Karelia ’44 is an operational-level wargame for 1–2 players, with an approximately 450-minute playing time, covering the last major campaign of the Russo-Finnish Continuation War.

On 9 June 1944, the Soviet attack began with an overwhelming artillery barrage. Two Soviet ground armies, an air army, and a formidable concentration of artillery pushed Finnish lines back and breached their defenses, opening the race for Viipuri/Vyborg and the road toward Helsinki.

The game’s distinctive Boss Point System means neither player knows exactly how long the game will last. The Soviet player must achieve objectives under pressure, while the Finnish player faces a stronger enemy and must delay the advance long enough to be in the best possible position when the Boss’s patience runs out.

These armies play very differently. The Russians are powerful but need time to prepare large operations and are not especially agile in small-scale attacks. The Finns rely on splendid artillery, mobile defense, three defensive lines, and an innovative “ghost” unit feature that helps their thin ranks hold key positions.

• Operational-level combat focused on the 1944 Karelia campaign
• Uncertain game length through the Boss Point System
• Distinct Soviet and Finnish strategic challenges
• Three scenarios and 280 counters

Karelia ’44 is the 14th game in the award-winning Standard Combat Series, which emphasizes easy-to-play rules and getting directly into the action. The box includes the SCS Series Rulebook, a game-specific rulebook, two full-color play aids, a full-color map, counters, scenarios, dice, and the box itself.