Rommel in the Desert

About this board game

Rommel in the Desert is a two-player World War II wargame about the North African desert campaign, with an approximately 480-minute playing time. It is a fast-moving game of maneuver in which command decisions, battlefield uncertainty, and supply are central to victory.

Rather than focusing on perfectly calculated attacks against a passive opponent, the game emphasizes the experience of command. Speed, daring, surprise, foresight, nerve, and instinct all matter as opposing commanders test each other’s judgment and resolve.

The supply system is card driven, and a cut in supply can spell disaster for either side. Players must move with precision, recognize when to strike, and manage the changing situation across a map of North Africa while commanding British and German forces.

Rommel in the Desert uses Columbia Games’ block system to create an effective fog of war. Wooden blocks stand upright with unit information shown on only one side, making it difficult for an opponent to identify a unit or know its current strength without careful observation and memory.

• 100 wooden blocks representing the British and Germans
• A mapboard of North Africa measuring 11 by 34 inches
• 42 supply cards and four dice
• Blocks that rotate to track unit strength, providing four strength steps

This system adds uncertainty and depth without requiring extensive bookkeeping. Released in 1982, the game offers a tense contest of maneuver and wits for players seeking a challenging simulation of the desert campaign.