Midway (1964)

Midway (1964 game)

Midway is a board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1964 that simulates the Battle of Midway during World War II. The game was designed by Lindsley Schutz and Larry Pinsky, with technical consultation from C. Wade McCluskey, a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral who had been air group commander on the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway. The game was designed with a double-blind hidden movement and search system, which was appropriate for a battle where much depended on searching for the opponent.

Why is Midway (1964 game) Popular?

Midway is significant because it was one of the first wargames to use a double-blind system, which added an element of realism to the game. The game was also designed with input from a real-life military commander who had participated in the Battle of Midway, which added to its authenticity. Midway was popular enough to remain part of Avalon Hill’s line of games through the 1980s, and a revised “Smithsonian” edition of the board game was released in 1991 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Game Components of Midway (1964 game)

– Search Boards
– Battle Boards
– Unit deployments
– Mini-models of block-built planes on special stands
– Action cards
– Tokens and markers

Game Setup of Midway (1964 game)

Midway is a board wargame for 2 players (or more than 2 players divided into teams) that simulates the battle at the individual ship and squadron level. The bulk of the game is played out on duplicate boards, one per player, with full knowledge of friendly forces but limited knowledge of the opponent’s. Knowledge of opposing forces is gained by air and sea reconnaissance.

Gameplay Mechanics of Midway (1964 game)

Midway is a hidden-movement wargame of cat-and-mouse WWII air-naval battles around Midway. The onus of gameplay rests on the Japanese player who must attempt to bring forces to bear upon Midway Island. The United States player, though possessing a smaller force, has no geographical constraints placed on their naval forces. Air-surface and surface-surface battles are held on boards representing a small patch of open ocean.

Game Objective of Midway (1964 game)

The objective of the game is to win the battle by sinking the enemy’s ships and planes.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.