B-17: Queen of the Skies
- Players
- 1-2
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 1 player
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.3 / 5
- Year
- 1981
About the game
B-17: Queen of the Skies is a solitaire simulation of early US Eighth Air Force bombing missions over Europe between November 1942 and May 1943. You control a B-17F Flying Fortress bomber, moving through zones toward your target while dice rolls and detailed tables determine enemy fighter appearance, position, and combat results. Other tables track damage location and severity, weather, flak, and the overall progress of the mission from takeoff to the bomb run and back home. Though it has some initial complexity, the designers note that playtime typically drops under an hour once you've learned the system through a few missions. An optional second player can control the German fighter response, or two players can each fly their own B-17 through the same formation on separate copies.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team regards B-17 as a landmark in solitaire wargaming: for its era, it does an impressive job of generating dramatic, unpredictable missions purely from tables and dice. The tension of watching your bomber limp home after taking damage is still compelling decades later. It asks for some patience with its table-driven structure, which will feel old-fashioned next to newer solo games, but the payoff is a surprisingly narrative experience. It's a great pick for solo wargamers who enjoy WWII aviation themes.
What we like
- Pioneering solitaire wargame design that still holds up today.
- Immersive WWII bombing-mission simulation built from simple tables and dice.
- Complexity eases considerably after the first few learning missions.
- Optional second player can control the German fighter response.
- Strong narrative tension as your bomber crew survives mission after mission.
Keep in mind
- Heavy reliance on charts and tables feels dated to modern players.
- Primarily a solitaire experience, limiting options for group play.
- Requires ongoing paper-and-pencil bookkeeping throughout each mission.
- Production and presentation are dated compared to newer solo wargames.
Who it's for
Best for solo wargame enthusiasts aged 12+ who enjoy WWII aviation simulation and don't mind a table-driven, paper-and-dice play style.
