This is the fifth in a planned series of 27 articles dealing with all the world’s board wargames ever published, and some that weren’t published. Each article gives summary data for all the games whose titles begin with the same letter of the alphabet, sequentially starting with the numbers. This article includes all games beginning with the letter D.

The data provided here comes from Simulacrum’s database (spreadsheet, actually, and in Excel 97 format for those who are interested) of games, an ongoing project with information culled from many sources, primarily old wargame magazines such as Strategy & Tactics, Fire & Movement, Moves, Campaign, Panzerfaust and Conflict. Since new data are continually being identified and existing data confirmed or amended, the database is in a state of constant flux.

Game titles appear as published, with the following exceptions. English articles only, i.e., a, an and the, are moved to the end of the title (all non-English titles containing articles are precisely as they were published). Likewise all English titles beginning with the word Battle have had Battle and its preposition, i.e., at, of or for, moved to the end of the title as well.

The date of publication is not Y2K compliant. However, there are only two games listed in the database whose publication date is in the 19th Century, and the exact date is provided next to the title to avoid any ambiguity. An n/p entry as a date suggests that the game was never, or not yet, published.

Information given for era is generally not specifically provided by the publisher, and so is an extrapolation which could be debated. Precedent has been established for just such a debate, ancient precedent if I may be so bold.

The data reliability factor is not intrinsic to the game itself, but simply a scale I’ve devised to indicate the relative accuracy of the data. The scale goes from 0 to 9, with 9 meaning that I’ve actually held the game in my hands and confirmed the data with my own eyes, and 2 or 3 meaning that the game may never have been published and all data are suspect.

Without further ado, then...

The game data in the following table are:

Title, Publisher, Date of publication, Era, Data reliability factor

DAK Simulations Canada 82 WW2 9
DAK The Gamers 97 WW2 9
Dallas SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 80 SF&F 9
Dallas Yaquinto 80 SF&F 7
Damascus JagdPanther Publications 74 4
Damn the Torpedoes Winsome cards 4
Damned Die Hard, the GR / D (Games Research & Develop.) 99 WW2 6
Damocles Mission [Ares 13] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 83 SF&F 7
Danger Zone GMT Games 80 4
Dark Ages [Tactical Game 16] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 71 dark ages 9
Dark Blades Standard Games & Publications 81 SF&F 7
Dark Crusade WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 84 WW2 9
Dark December OSG (Operational Studies Group) 79 WW2 8
Dark Emperor AH (Avalon Hill) 86 SF&F 7
Dark Nebula GDW (Game Designers Workshop) 79 SF&F 8
Dark Passage Swedish / Svensk Game Prod. 81 hypothetical 7
Dark Stars Simulations Canada 80 SF&F 8
Dark Victory XTR 97 7
Darkover Eon Products 79 SF&F 5
Darwinopoly [cf Tribes, 5000 BC] SJG (Steve Jackson Games) 3
Dateline, W W2 [Axis & Allies exp.] Peak 97 WW2 3
Dauntless Battleline Publications 77 WW2 9
Dauntless AH (Avalon Hill) 81 WW2 7
Dawn of the Dead SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 81 SF&F 7
Dawn Patrol TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 82 7
Dawning Empire Citadel 83 4
Days of Decision ADG (Australian Design Group) 90 pre-WW2 8
Days of Decision II ADG (Australian Design Group) 93 6
D-Day [1ed] AH (Avalon Hill) 61 WW2 7
D-Day [2ed] AH (Avalon Hill) 65 WW2 7
D-Day [3ed] AH (Avalon Hill) 77 WW2 7
D-Day [Smithsonian] AH (Avalon Hill) 91 WW2 7
DE BattleFlag / Third Millenia Inc. 71 4
Dead of Winter SDI (Simulation Design, Inc.) 90 ACW 7
Dealer McDope Last Gasp of San Francisco modern 2
Death & Destruction [Command 34] XTR 95 WW2 7
Death and Destruction PM Publications modern 6
Death Test [Microquest 1] Metagaming Concepts 78 SF&F 7
Death Test 2 [Microquest 2] Metagaming Concepts 80 SF&F 7
Death to the Soviet! PM Publications modern 6
DeathMaze SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 80 SF&F 7
Debrecan 1944 PM Publications 80 WW2 8
Decision at Kasserine [Wargamer 23] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 83 WW2 9
Decision in France, 1944 Rhino Game Co. 94 WW2 8
Decline and Fall [1ed] REG Games 72 ancient 8
Decline and Fall [2ed] REG Games 74 ancient 6
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Ariel / Philmar ancient 6
Decline of the Empire 1814-1815 Ad Technos 86 5
Defeat Into Victory Bandolier Publications n/p WW2 2
Defend Berlin [cf Last Battles of Reich] PM Publications 2
Defense of Rorke’s Drift / the Boer War WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 80 Zulu Wars 7
Defense of Rorke’s Drift, the WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 91 Zulu Wars 9
Defiance PM Publications 80 Vietnam 7
Defiance Swedish / Svensk Game Prod. 81 Vietnam 8
Defiant Holland FGA (Fresno Gaming Association) 92 WW2 7
Deliverance From Beyond the Stars Taurus 77 7
Delta Force TFG (Task Force Games) 4
Delta Vee [Ares 9] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 81 SF&F 7
Demon Sword WEG (West End Games) 3
Demonlord Dwarfstar Games (Heritage) 81 6
Demonlord Battleline Publications 82 3
Demons SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 80 SF&F 7
Demon’s Run Yaquinto 81 SF&F 7
Demurrer, the Pocket, the Relief, the PM Publications WW2 3
Demyansk Pocket Pacific Rim Publishing Co. 91 WW2 8
Denain 1712 [Vae Victis 20] Vae Victis 98 6
Deployment [Test Series 5/TG10] Poultron Press 69 Napoleonic 7
Der Fuhrer Little Soldier 76 pre-WW2 6
Der Kessel [Competitive Edge 12] One Small Step 97 cards 7
Descent on Crete SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 77 WW2 9
Desert Falcons [Air Superiority module] GDW (Game Designers Workshop) 89 modern 6
Desert Fox [Afrika Korps II 2ed] Cavalier Games 73 WW2 8
Desert Fox [S&T 87] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 81 WW2 9
Desert Fox Epoch Company 81 WW2 8
Desert Fox STR Co. Ltd. 86 WW2 5
Desert Rats Spartan International 72 WW2 6
Desert Rats WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 78 WW2 8
Desert Shield [Gulf Strike expansion] Victory Games 90 3
Desert Steel WEG (West End Games) 89 WW2 7
Desert Steel [Wargamer 2/14] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 89 WW2 7
Desert Storm [Command 13] XTR 91 modern 7
Desert Storm Pacific Rim Publishing Co. 99 modern 6
Desert Victory Omega Games 91 modern 7
Desert Victory GDW (Game Designers Workshop) n/p WW2 2
Desert War SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 73 WW2 9
Desert War [Up Front expansion] AH (Avalon Hill) 87 WW2 7
Destroyer Captain Quarterdeck Games 82 20th C. 8
Destruction of Army Group Center SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 73 WW2 9
Destruction of SPI Center Costikyan Publishing Empire 77 modern 8
Deux Mare [nee SMS Goeben] Avalanche Press 2
Devil’s Den OSG (Operational Studies Group) 80 ACW 8
Devil’s Den AH (Avalon Hill) 85 ACW 8
Devil’s Horsemen, the BSO 98 4
Diadem FGU (Fantasy Games Unlimited) 81 SF&F 7
Diadochi [Great Battles of Alexander] GMT Games 95 ancient 6
Dictator [Great Battles of Caesar] GMT Games 95 ancient 7
Diekplous! D-Elim 70 4
Dien Bien Phu Jeux Descartes 2
Dien Bien Phu Hoyer 68 Vietnam 4
Dien Bien Phu [Conflict 6] SDC (Simulations Design Corp.) 73 Vietnam 9
Dien Bien Phu [Combat 3] Wellington Wargames 77 Vietnam 3
Dien Bien Phu Flying Buffalo Games 77 Vietnam 9
Dieppe [1ed] Simulations Canada 77 WW2 8
Dieppe [2ed] Simulations Canada 81 WW2 9
Dier Schlacht auf den Katalaunischen CFS 80 medieval 4
Dimension Demons [Microgame 17] Metagaming Concepts 80 SF&F 7
Dimension Six Dimension Six Enterprises 79 SF&F 4
Diplomacy [1ed] Games Research Inc. 61 abstract 8
Diplomacy [2ed] Games Research iInc. 71 abstract 9
Diplomacy [1ed AH] AH (Avalon Hill) 76 abstract 7
Diplomacy Deluxe AH (Avalon Hill) 93 abstract 7
Direct Conflict in Dimension Six Dimension Six Enterprises 78 SF&F 8
Dispatcher AH (Avalon Hill) 58 RR 5
Distant Seas Distant Seas Publishing Co. 96 various 6
Divine Right! TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 79 7
Divine Wind Simulations Canada 81 WW2 8
Divisional Game, the SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 70 WW2 3
Dixie [S&T 54] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 76 9
DMZ [p/o Modern Battles 2 quad] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 77 modern 7
Dogfight MB (Milton Bradley) 63 6
Dominator Darhoff SF&F 2
Donau Front [S&T 131] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 89 modern 9
Dong Khe D-Elim 4
Don’t Give Up the Ship Chatham Hill 97 4
Doomed Battalions [ASL module 11] AH (Avalon Hill) WW2 6
Doro Nawa Paper Wars Game Co. 79 WW2 8
Doro Nawa Quarterdeck Games 81 WW2 6
Double Star GDW (Game Designers Workshop) 79 7
Down in Flames GMT Games 93 cards 6
Down in Flames GMT Games 95 cards 6
Down with the King AH (Avalon Hill) 81 6
Dr. Ruth’s Game of Good Sex Victory Games 85 SF&F 7
Dr. Who GW (Games Workshop) 81 SF&F 7
Dragon Lords, the FGU (Fantasy Games Unlimited) 78 SF&F 8
Dragon Masters GW (Games Workshop) 91 3
Dragon Pass [3ed] The Chaosium 81 SF&F 6
Dragon Pass AH (Avalon Hill) 84 SF&F 5
Dragon Strike TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 93 4
Dragon Tower [Talisman expansion 5] GW (Games Workshop) SF&F 4
Dragonepic JDQuest SF&F 2
Dragonhunt AH (Avalon Hill) 82 SF&F 5
Dragonlance TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 88 3
DragonQuest [1ed] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 80 SF&F 7
DragonQuest [2ed] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 81 SF&F 7
Dragonriders of Pern Mayfair Games Inc. 83 SF&F 7
Dragonriders of Pern Nova / Gameshop 84 SF&F 7
Dragons Harvey 77 5
Dragons of Underearth [Metagame 2] Metagaming Concepts 81 SF&F 7
Dragonslayer SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 81 SF&F 7
Dragonslayer Metagaming Concepts n/p SF&F 2
Dragoon vs. Hussar Balboa Game Company 84 1775-1830 7
Drang Nach Osten [Europa I] GDW (Game Designers Workshop) 73 WW2 9
Dreadnought SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 75 7
Dresden [Napoleon’s Art of War] SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 79 Napoleonic 4
Dresden 1813 WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 78 Napoleonic 8
Dresden 1813, the Battle of New England Simulations 95 Napoleonic 8
Drive on Damascus [Wargamer 15] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 80 WW2 8
Drive on Frankfurt [CounterAttack 1] Pacific Rim Publishing Co. 88 WW3 9
Drive on Metz William Morrow & Co. 80 9
Drive on Paris The Gamers 00 WW1 5
Drive on Stalingrad SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 78 WW2 8
Drive on Stalingrad TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 84 WW2 7
Drive on Washington SPI (Simulations Publications Inc.) 80 ACW 7
Drive to the Danube PM Publications 81 WW2 7
Druid WEG (West End Games) 84 ancient 7
Duel for Atlanta Strategic Games Pubs 85 ACW 8
Duel for Kharkov PWG (People’s War Games) 86 WW2 7
Duel for Kharkov WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 95 WW2 7
Duel in the Desert [Wargamer 51] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 86 WW2 9
Duel of the Sun Slayers Taurus 77 SF&F 7
Duel, the [Dune expansion] AH (Avalon Hill) 84 SF&F 6
Duell bei Charkow CoSi WW2 2
Dueltrack SJG (Steve Jackson Games) SF&F 4
Dune Jeux Descartes SF&F 2
Dune AH (Avalon Hill) 79 SF&F 7
Dune PB (Parker Brothers) 84 abstract 3
Dungeon! TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) 75 SF&F 5
Dungeon! [Australian ed] Jedko Game Co. 75 SF&F 4
Dungeon, the [Talisman expansion 3] GW (Games Workshop) SF&F 4
Dungeonquest GW (Games Workshop) 87 4
Dunkerque 1940 SDC (Simulations Design Corp.) 72 WW2 7
Dunkirk Guidon Games 71 WW2 7
Durk’s Well, the Battle at Webster 79 7
Dynamo [Wargamer 53] WWW (World Wide Wargamers) 86 WW2 7
Dynasty Onoma Productions 69 abstract 4
Dzerhezinsky Tractor Works [ASL] Critical Hit WW2 2