Next War: Taiwan

About this board game

Next War: Taiwan is a detailed modern warfare board game for one or two players, with an approximate playing time of 480 minutes. Set in a near-future conflict around Taiwan, it pits the forces of the People’s Republic of China against the Republic of China, with the potential involvement of the United States and other regional powers.

The game uses a map of the island at roughly 7.5 miles per hex, with a time scale of 3.5 days per turn. Ground units represent brigades, regiments, and battalions, while air units depict fighter, bomber, and attack squadrons. Combat considers attack and defense strength, movement, unit efficiency, terrain, training, doctrine, and morale.

Taiwan’s surrounding waters receive an expanded naval system designed for amphibious warfare. Players manage Sea Control, submarine threats, anti-submarine warfare, naval mines, anti-naval strikes, cruise missiles, aircraft carrier battle groups, and amphibious ready groups. These mechanics make beaches, ports, and beachheads vital objectives.

• Standard Game: a more accessible ruleset with introductory scenarios and a full campaign.
• Advanced Game: adds greater control over air power, special operations, strikes, and expanded campaign play.
• Scenario variety: explore strategic surprise, tactical surprise, extended buildup, intervention options, and a theoretical U.S. amphibious landing.

Each turn can include weather determination, initiative, air and naval operations, special operations, strikes, movement, combat, reinforcements, replacements, and victory determination. Bad weather can restrict air and naval activity while slowing ground operations, and combat is intentionally attritional to reflect the lethality of modern weapons.

Next War: Taiwan can also be combined with Next War: Korea for a wider regional conflict, although ownership of that game is not required to play. Published in 2014, it includes a map, naval display, counter sheets, rulebooks, player aids, and a ten-sided die.