Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945

About this board game

Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945 is a solitaire area-movement war game for one player, with an approximate playing time of 240 minutes. Set during the American assault on Manila in February and March 1945, it places you in command of the attacking American forces while the game system controls the defending Japanese side.

Each game presents a changing set of challenges. Random events, uncertain supply deliveries, and unknown Japanese area strengths and defensive strategies ensure that no two campaigns play the same. American forces are more mobile, but advancing into Manila’s increasingly fortified districts brings mounting resistance and difficult decisions.

The primary campaign lasts nine turns. Your forces move from the city’s less developed periphery toward its urban business district and fortress-like government buildings, where Japanese resistance becomes stronger. Units fought to exhaustion are effectively out of action, while American morale gradually declines as the campaign continues.

• Solitaire play with the Japanese side handled by the game system
• A nine-turn campaign covering the battle for Manila
• Random events, uncertain supplies, and hidden defensive challenges
• Low counter density and setup time of less than 15 minutes

Victory requires matching or exceeding the historical American gains. You lose if you fail to reach that objective or if morale falls too low, making progress, preservation of strength, and speed equally important.

With endless variability and a quick setup, Manila: The Savage Streets, 1945 is designed to welcome both newcomers and experienced wargamers. Its setting recalls one of the most destructive urban battles of the Second World War, placing the fate of Manila—the “Pearl of the Orient”—in your hands.