| Game | Battle of the Bulge '81 | Complexity | Medium |
| Company | Avalon Hill | Time | 4-6 |
| Setting | WWII | Solitaire | High |
| Type | Operational | Rating | 7.5 |
Bulge '81 is a recreation of the famous German Ardennes offensive of 1944.
In December 1944, 3 German armies, comprising 26 divisions, 3 armoured brigades, 7 corps artillery and 8 full strength nebelwerfer brigades launched a surprise attack against a weak segment of the Alllied lines. The plan was to repeat the success of 1940 and overrun the weak Allied units in the Ardennes, cross the Meuse and strike for the strategic port of Antwerp. If successful, numerous Allied formations would be isolated, which Hitler hoped will lead to a general Allied collapse on the western front.
The game system is basically the traditional ZOC type game. Units are combat formations in regiment/brigade strength. Special units such as the Von der Heydte parachute battalion and German commando teams are also included.
Rules cover the initial surprise, tactical and strategic air power, artillery, blitzkrieg tactics, forts, bridges, fuel and a host of others.
If certain conditions are fulfilled, reinforcements can enter the game earlier/later. This attempts to portray the effects of the battlefield conditions on the release of reinforcements.
The German player have the initial edge in numbers and strength, and has to press his advantage. He has to keep moving, bypassing defensive strongpoints. The idea is to pull and tug at the Allied lines and stretch it beyond breaking point. Once the panzers break clear of the Allied lines they have to rush to drive into the Allied rear.
Time is not on his side, as each turn brings more Allied units into the fray. Once the skies clear, Allied air power will undoubtly bring the offensive to a grinding halt.
In the same vein, the Allied player has to try to stall for time. Every turn allows more Allied units to be rushed to the scene. When of Patton's forces finally arrive, and the overcast skies turn blue, a counterattack can be mounted.
To this effect, key towns such as Bastogne has to be held. If possible, they should be fortified, though sometimes this is a luxury that the Allied player cannot afford. Judicious destruction of bridges will also serve to delay the German advance. In fact, if coupled with a surprise raid behind German lines can isolate the panzer spearheads and cause disruption of German plans.
This is one of the first "advanced" wargames that I owned as a little kid, and naturally I am nostalgic about it. I cannot even begin to count the hours I have spent pondering over the best way to break the Allied lines. (Right, I am partial to the Germans in this one.) Too bad it is out of print now.