Traces of Hubris

About this board game

Traces of Hubris is a 2024 two-player wargame for 1–2 players, simulating the German Case Blue summer offensive in southern Russia during the second half of 1942. A game lasts approximately 3–6 hours, offering a focused strategic contest at the scale of divisions and corps.

The Axis player must eliminate Soviet forces and break through defensive lines to reach the offensive’s objectives: cutting off the Volga at Stalingrad and capturing the Caucasus oil fields. The Soviet player faces the task of defending the homeland, holding the line, and waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

Using the same core mechanics as Traces of War, the game presents a historical campaign in which both sides must contend with changing battlefield momentum. Its medium-low complexity level makes the system approachable while preserving the tension of a major offensive and a determined defense.

• Players: 1–2
• Playing time: 3–6 hours
• Game scale: turns represent 2 weeks / 1 month, and each hex covers 22.5 kilometers
• Unit scale: divisions and corps
• Solitaire playability: high

Whether played head-to-head or solo, Traces of Hubris places the opposing goals in direct conflict: the Axis must advance before Soviet defenses can recover, while the Soviet side must survive long enough to turn resistance into a counterstroke. Players will need to provide one opaque cup during play.