The Battle of Borodino: Napoleon in Russia 1812

About this board game

The Battle of Borodino: Napoleon in Russia 1812 is a two-player historical wargame about Napoleon’s advance toward Moscow, with an approximate playing time of 180 minutes. Published by SPI in 1972 as the game in Strategy & Tactics magazine #32, it presents the French advance meeting determined Russian resistance at Borodino.

Napoleon’s aggression encounters the Russian Army, whose resistance stops his momentum at the battle. The winter effect also plays an important part in the wider campaign, reflecting the harsh conditions that hindered Napoleon’s move through Russia.

With 100 counters, the game offers a focused presentation of the 1812 campaign. Its design is widely regarded by players as one of the early classics of wargaming. Although it is considered a crude simulation by modern standards, its straightforward structure gives it lasting appeal.

• Players: 2
• Playing time: 180 minutes
• Published: 1972
• Components: 100 counters

The Battle of Borodino is noted for being simple, balanced, and replayable. Those qualities make it approachable for new gamers while retaining the interest of experienced players. Its combination of historical subject matter and accessible play gives each session a clear central conflict: can Napoleon continue his advance, or will Russian resistance and winter bring it to a halt?

For players interested in early wargaming, Napoleon’s 1812 campaign, or classic SPI designs, this game provides a compact historical contest with enduring character. It remains a notable example of the qualities that can make a wargame compelling across generations of players.