Normandy ’44

About this board game

Normandy ’44 is a 2- to 4-player regimental-level wargame covering the D-Day landings and the 21 days of fighting that followed, with playing times of approximately 4 to 10 hours.

During this crucial campaign, the German forces have a narrow opportunity to push back the Allied invasion before overwhelming Allied manpower and equipment make the outcome certain. U.S. forces fight across the Cotentin Peninsula toward Cherbourg, while British forces face the main concentration of German panzer divisions around Caen.

Based on a simplified Ardennes ’44 system, play centers on Move, Fight, and Reserve Movement. Non-tank battalions are rated for Troop Quality, while armored units use a Tank Rating. These values provide shifts for the attacker or defender in combat, alongside the effects of air power, naval support, artillery, and Tiger tanks.

• Campaign game: a 22-turn campaign covering the wider Normandy battle.
• Tournament Scenario: a focused 7-turn scenario about the Allies linking up the beaches.
• Cherbourg scenario: a scenario centered on fighting in the peninsula and the capture of the major port.
• Multiplayer options: rules support games for 2, 3, or 4 players.

The map uses approximately 2.3 miles (3.8 km) per hex, with units ranging from battalions to brigades and turns representing one day. With low-to-intermediate complexity, Normandy ’44 offers a detailed but accessible examination of the invasion’s decisive opening weeks.

The game includes a 22 × 34-inch map, 456 double-sided counters, a 32-page rulebook, player aid cards, setup and reinforcement cards, and a six-sided die. Normandy ’44 was released in 2010.