Ambush

Enjoy Playing Ambush

You slip into the role of a squad leader in Ambush and suddenly every creak in the floorboards or rustle in the bushes feels like a potential threat. Designed as a solitaire tactical wargame, it drops you into gritty World War II skirmishes where one wrong move can leave your men pinned down or cut off from support. Rather than relying on dice alone, Ambush uses a paragraph-driven system: you consult charts, cross-reference your actions with a book of numbered narrative snippets, and then face the consequences—sometimes brutally so.

Maps come as double-sided boards portraying European village streets, hedgerows and farmyards, and you deploy little cardboard counters for your guys, the enemy, and any volunteers you might pick up along the way. Every scenario sets a specific objective—rescue a downed pilot, scout a factory, clear a farmhouse—and the tension simmers as hostiles pop up out of nowhere. Even seasoned players admit that stumbling into a hidden German patrol will make their heart rate spike, and yet it’s that unpredictability that keeps you hooked.

Rules are surprisingly approachable given the depth of detail. A clear rulebook walks you through movement, line of sight, suppression and morale checks, and you’ll find yourself tweaking tactics right away—do you send your submachine gunner in first or cover him with rifle fire across the street? As you grow more comfortable, optional complications like off-board artillery support or booby‐trapped doorways let you dial the realism up or down.

Though it first hit tables in the early ’80s, Ambush still attracts a loyal following. There’s something enduring about its blend of storytelling and strategy, where each decision can branch into a wildly different narrative thread. Whether you’re a history buff or just someone who loves tense, cinematic gameplay, it’s the kind of experience that makes you forget you’re sitting at a table with cardboard soldiers.