Operation Market Garden
Descent Into Hell

Robert Bodine

Reviewed by Marion Bates


Designed by Frank Chadwick
Developed by Winston Hamilton
Game Designers' Workshop P.O. Box 1646, Bloomington, IL 61702
Released:June, 1985
Catalog No. 480
Price: $12.00
Complexity: Intermediate
Solitaire Suitability: None
**** 1/2

With the release of their Normandy Campaign in 1983, Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) introduced a new type of double blind gaming system to be applied to land battles rather than ones at sea as had been more common in the past. For all that game's weaknesses, the idea was too good and others, from a variety of publishers, have followed.

Operation Market Garden is the latest double blind land war game from the originators. It deals with the 1944 Allied combined ground/airborne offensive in Holland with the objective of gaining an early bridgehead across the Rhine and a jumping- off point into the heart of the Third Reich.

The game includes two 11 x 17 inch maps (one for each player), a 12-page rule book which also contains about 21/2 pages of Historical Notes, an order of battle, four game cards, 360 counters, and a die. The art on the map is understated and functional. The cover is particularly well-done, striking but not garish, communicating a bit of the excitement to be found in this game. This is a fairly standard package that one expects from Game Designers' Workshop and as such it is an excellent value.

One might suspect that since this is one of a series of games that doing the rules would be a simple matter. In fact, most of the rules here are quite original, well-written, and organized in a manner to facilitate quick reference. All the charts and tables are located on reference cards which minimizes the need to leaf through the rules during play.

Each player has his own map. Most of the map is German-controlled at the beginning of play. A hex reverts to friendly control when a friendly unit enters it. This is determined by calling out these hexes. If a unit attempts to enter a hex containing an enemy unit, combat will occur.

Not only must the Allied player move units on from the south edge of the map, but he must also drop paratroop and glider units in key positions to capture the bridges that lead to his objective, that of getting across the Rhine. When facing an empty map without knowledge of enemy positions, his dilemma is not easily resolved.

On the other hand, the German player faces the prospect of Allied airborne units showing up anywhere and everywhere without warning and will find it impossible to he everywhere he needs to be. The blossoming Allied airheads will be frightening.

Perhaps the most notable features of war are confusion and ignorance. Operation Market Garden simulates this well. The situation is particularly well suited because of the extraordinary lack of intelligence that plagued both sides during the battle.

There is only one scenario, the campaign. It may last ten turns (one turn = one day) though the Allied player may call off the offensive and end the game on any turn after the third if he has attained his objectives. In spite of the free-wheeling nature of the game, the balance is good though the Germans seem to have a somewhat easier job of it.

The addition of air drops makes this game quite different from any of the others in the series and revolutionary compared to other games on the battle.

With all this, Operation Market Garden is a delight to play. The mechanics are clean and the situation is exciting. It must be admitted that the estimated playing time of three to four hours is a bit optimistic. It will probably take longer unless the Germans collapse early and will take quite a bit longer if either or both players are just learning the game.

Because it is the only Market Garden game that simulates limited intelligence effectively, Operation Market Garden is one of the most accurate simulations of the subject available. As such, it is highly recommended to students of the battle.

Operation Market Garden is tops in its class. It is exciting, fun to play, and realistic. What more do you want in a war game?

More War Game Reviews

Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #10
To Game News List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1985 by Dana Lombardy.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com