Battle of Hoth

Today's review is of the 2025 release, Battle of Hoth. For 2-4 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview

The opening of The Empire Strikes Back is the famous snow battle scene on the ice planet of Hoth. The Battle of Hoth game seeks to re-create that event. Will you be the courageous Rebels or ruthless Empire? Regardless of which side you choose, you will maneuver your units with Command Cards, roll battle dice, and seek to meet your objectives—before your opponent beats you to it. Will you prevail?

game in progress; image from here

The game comes with a rule book, scenario book, and campaign books. For a new game, you select a scenario in that book (probably the first one) and set up the board as shown there (placing terrain and miniatures of the right type in the specified grids). Each player draws a specified number of Command Cards and the game begins (with the first player determined by the scenario). 

Turn Order:

1. Play a Command Card. This tells you how many units you can activate (and in which zone; the board is divided into three).

2. Order. Announce which units you intend to activate (within limits stated by your Command Card).

3. Move the ordered units, one at a time, within their movement restriction.

4. Attack with the ordered units, one at a time, within their combat range constraints. 

5. Draw a new Command Card.

For attacking, roll dice and record hits as indicated. The number of dice you roll here depends (generally) on range: if you are in an adjacent hex from the defending unit, you can roll 3 dice. Hit units are removed from the board (but a given hex can contain several miniatures, and some may survive to perform their own attack).

The goal in a given scenario is to earn a certain number of 'medals' (generally by defeating units). Sometimes you can earn more medals if you defeat a specific type of unit.

And speaking of units, each has different movement ranges, attack ranges, and other abilities. Play continues until one side earns the stated number of medals. They are crowned the victor!

Review

This is a light and fast miniatures game based on the Memoir 44 rules system, a classic WWII game. It also reminded me of a simplified version of Star Wars Miniatures. The Command Card component is the largest element of choice in this game—and can be the most maddening (if your cards don't align with your existing unit placement or desired strategy). But overall, this is enjoyable as the light experience it is intended to be.

Rating: B+