Downfall: Conquest of the Third Reich, 1942-1945, 2nd Printing

Downfall: Conquest of the Third Reich, 1942-1945 is a strategic two-player wargame covering the Allied conquest of Europe and the destruction of the Third Reich from November 1942 through Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

The game presents an unusual perspective on the final years of World War II. Both players share the objective of defeating the Axis, but each also seeks to achieve a victory that will maximize its influence over post-war Europe.

One player commands the Western Allies and the German OKH (Oberkommando des Heeres) faction fighting the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. The other commands the Soviet faction and the OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) faction representing the German and Italian forces opposing the Western Allies in the West.

This four-faction, two-player structure is one of Downfall's defining features. Each player must conduct operations for their own side while simultaneously controlling enemy forces on the opposite front.

THE INITIATIVE SYSTEM

Downfall's gameplay is driven by an innovative initiative track.

There is no fixed sequence of play. The faction holding the initiative chooses an order, pays its initiative cost by advancing its marker on the track, and then carries out the order.

The updated positions of the faction markers determine who will have the initiative next.

This creates a fluid operational rhythm in which players must constantly decide whether to:

• act immediately;
• preserve their initiative position;
• spend initiative on a major operation;
• allow another faction to act first;
• prepare the battlefield for a future offensive.

Progress along the initiative track also triggers strategic events, weather changes and game-turn advancement.

ORDERS AND OPERATIONS

The game uses both operational and general orders.

Operational orders are used to move units and initiate combat, while general orders address areas such as:

• recruitment;
• mechanization;
• partisan warfare;
• logistics;
• strategic warfare.

Strategic Event cards drive important elements of the campaign, including air support, supply checks, reinforcements, upgrades and the distribution of Action cards.

Action cards represent capabilities specific to each faction and can be used to enhance orders or gain advantages in combat.

FROM STALINGRAD TO BERLIN

The campaign begins in November 1942, at the high-water mark of Axis expansion, and ends in May 1945 with Germany's surrender.

The game covers the European Theater and allows players to conduct operations across both major fronts.

On the Eastern Front, the campaign follows the enormous land war from Stalingrad to Berlin.

In the West, the game combines:

• land warfare;
• naval operations;
• amphibious invasions;
• strategic warfare.

Players command land units, air units, partisans, fleets and submarines throughout the campaign.

A FOUR-FACTION DESIGN

Chad Jensen researched and developed Downfall over a period of approximately ten years, drawing inspiration from classic strategic World War II games and incorporating ideas from the initiative system he had developed for Fighting Formations.

John Butterfield subsequently took over the design and brought the game to completion.

The resulting system focuses on the strategic and political dilemmas of the final years of the European war, rather than simply reproducing a conventional chronological campaign.

GAME CONTENTS

• 2 22 × 34-inch paper map sheets forming one game map;
• 351 counters on 3 die-cut sheets;
• 110 playing cards;
• 1 rulebook;
• 10 double-sided 8.5 × 11-inch player aids;
• 4 six-sided dice.

GMT states that the 2nd Printing is identical to the 1st Printing except that known errata have been corrected.

GAME INFORMATION

Publisher: GMT Games
Designers: Chad Jensen & John Butterfield
Design Assistance: Kai Jensen
Map & Counter Art: Chad Jensen & Mark Simonitch
Original Publication: 2023
2nd Printing: 2025
Product Code: GMT 2311-24
Players: 2
Period: World War II, 1942-1945
Level: Strategic
Edition Language: English