Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Command one of six world powers across a vast 1941 or 1942 campaign, funding research, building forces, and fighting for the victory cities that decide the war.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Area Movement
Move pieces between connected regions rather than along individual spaces.
Team-Based Game
Players compete in fixed teams and coordinate toward a shared team result.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Delayed Purchase
Commit to a purchase before receiving the item or paying its full cost.
Read the full game description
Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition is a monumental strategic war game that turns the global conflict of World War II into a six-hour contest of production, logistics, diplomacy, and calculated combat. Players command Germany, Japan, Italy, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States, with Italy appearing as a distinct Axis power and China operating under special rules. Each round follows a disciplined sequence: purchase units and research, conduct combat movement, resolve battles with dice, make noncombat moves, mobilize new forces, and collect income. Territory produces IPCs, so every offensive must weigh immediate military value against the economy needed to replace losses. Land, naval, and air units have sharply different movement and combat roles; transports enable amphibious invasions, bombers threaten industry, and new cruiser units fill the gap between destroyers and battleships. Two scenarios begin in 1941 or 1942, while national objectives and victory cities keep the fronts connected. The map is enormous, the force pool exceeds 670 miniatures, and teamwork matters: the Axis and Allied coalitions win by coordinating pressure across oceans rather than chasing isolated victories.
