Lock n Load Publishing

Wake Island: A Heroic Defiance

Wake Island: A Heroic Defiance - Main image
$26 $40 In stock

Category: Board Games

Outnumbered, Outgunned, Unbroken

Wake Island had a few hundred Marines, some civilian construction workers, and no realistic prospect of relief. It held anyway, twice.

Defend it, or take it.

The American player has coastal artillery, anti-aircraft guns and whatever fighters are still flyable, and has to make all of it count at the right moment because there is no second chance with any of it. The Japanese player coordinates air strikes, naval bombardment and amphibious landings, and has to get ashore before the timetable slips.

Land, Air and Sea in One System

Bombing raids, naval gunfire, fighter interception and ground assault all resolve in the same streamlined system, so the game stays about the decisions rather than the procedure. The airfield and the invasion points are what everything comes back to.

Both Attempts

December 1941 saw two invasions. The first was thrown back into the water. The second came with enough behind it that being thrown back was not an option. Both are here.

Print and Play

This is a digital download. Nothing ships. You print the map, the counters and the materials and assemble them before the first game.

Wake Island: A Heroic Defiance is a complete game of the December 1941 defence, and nothing else is required to play it.

This product is a Print-and-Play edition. No physical items ship with this purchase. This product is a digital download, After purchase, a download link will be emailed. The same download link will appear in the purchaser's order history for future access. Some product materials may need to be assembled before use. This downloadable product is for use by the original purchaser only. Hosting, distribution, or resale of the files or printed components is prohibited without written permission from Lock 'n Load Publishing.

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Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Steven W. ★★★★★

I love how the asymmetry really forces you to think differently each game—as the Americans, you're desperately holding on with limited units, while the Japanese player has to push hard against fortified positions. The tension builds naturally every turn, making each play feel like a desperate last s

Joshua L. ★★★★★

The rulebook is surprisingly clear for how complex the "outnumbered" scenarios feel, and the tension of holding the airstrip with those few Marine units is incredibly thematic. Even the card stock on the unit counters has a nice, sturdy feel.

Jacob ★★★★★

Played the American side last night and lost Wake Island twice before finally holding it on the third try. The asymmetry feels right, a few hundred Marines against a much bigger force, and it never felt hopeless. Tense, tight, and it stayed on my table all weekend.