The Guns of Gettysburg
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 180 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.7 / 5
- Year
- 2013
About the game
The Guns of Gettysburg is a diceless, cardless wargame simulating the largest battle of the American Civil War. Following the design lineage of Bowen Simmons's Bonaparte at Marengo and Napoleon's Triumph, it uses linear wooden blocks instead of traditional hex-and-counter units, giving the game an evocative 19th-century battlemap look. Movement and combat are resolved through a pure action-point and secret-deployment system rather than random chance, emphasizing positioning and information over luck. Despite its historical depth, the rules stay relatively streamlined, allowing for faster play than the scale of the battle might suggest. It stands as a distinct, standalone entry in Simmons's acclaimed line of block wargames.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editorial team admires The Guns of Gettysburg for translating a massive historical battle into an elegant, luck-free wargame that rewards genuine tactical skill over dice luck. The secret deployment and fog-of-war elements recreate real command uncertainty in a way few wargames manage this cleanly. That said, it's squarely built for dedicated wargamers and history enthusiasts -- casual players will likely find the learning curve and three-hour playtime daunting. For fans of Simmons's earlier work, it's a worthy and distinct addition to the family.
What we like
- Diceless, cardless system rewards pure tactical and positional skill.
- Secret deployment recreates genuine fog-of-war tension.
- Elegant block-based presentation evokes historical battlemaps.
- Streamlined rules keep play faster than the battle's scale might suggest.
Keep in mind
- Three-hour playtime and high complexity limit its audience to dedicated wargamers.
- Niche appeal and specialized components can be hard for newcomers to source.
- Abstracted block combat may feel less immersive to players wanting miniatures or terrain.
Who it's for
Best for serious wargamers and Civil War history enthusiasts aged 13 and up, ideally in a two-player head-to-head setting.
