About the game
Fire in the Lake is Volume IV in GMT's acclaimed COIN series, dropping players into the multi-faction struggle for South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Up to four asymmetric factions, US forces, ARVN, Viet Cong, and NVA, pursue very different victory conditions using a card-driven event system layered over area control. Pivotal historical events, air power, and guerrilla warfare all shape a shifting, unpredictable campaign. Strong solo and small-group support make this a flexible if demanding entry into counterinsurgency simulation gaming.
Hobbli's Notes
Fire in the Lake is widely regarded as one of the best entries in the COIN series, thanks to its rich asymmetric factions and the way the event deck captures the political complexity of the Vietnam War. It's a serious commitment, both in time and rules mastery, but the payoff is a genuinely tense multi-faction struggle unlike anything in a typical wargame. This is one for a dedicated group ready to dig into COIN's steep learning curve.
What we like
- Deeply asymmetric factions each with distinct victory paths.
- Strong solo and low-player-count support.
- Rich historical event deck brings the Vietnam War to life.
- High replayability from the COIN system's variability.
Keep in mind
- Very steep learning curve and rules overhead.
- Extremely long playtime for full four-player games.
- Not beginner-friendly without prior COIN experience.
Who it's for
Best for experienced wargamers, ages 14+, in groups of 1-4, who are ready to commit significant time to learning a complex asymmetric COIN system.
