The Forever War (board game)

The Forever War is a 2-4 player, board wargame designed by Mark Herman and published by GMT Games. It simulates the fictional war depicted in Joe Haldeman's science fiction novel of the same name. Unlike many wargames which focus on specific historical conflicts, The Forever War abstracts the conflict, focusing instead on the strategic and tactical challenges of a prolonged interstellar war against a technologically advanced but less numerous alien race.

The game features a unique combination of operational-level and strategic-level gameplay. Players manage their forces across a galactic map, deploying fleets, conducting research, and engaging in tactical combat. A significant element is the management of resources and the attrition of manpower, reflecting the novel's themes of prolonged conflict and its human cost. The campaign-style gameplay allows for multiple scenarios and varying levels of challenge. The game uses a card-driven system to introduce both random elements and strategic decision-making, influencing events and the availability of units. The game mechanics emphasize the difficulties of fighting a war of attrition against a technologically superior opponent.

The game's complexity is considered moderate to high, requiring players to understand a range of rules and concepts related to fleet management, technology, resource acquisition, and combat resolution. However, the strategic depth and replayability are often cited as major strengths. The abstract nature of the game, while removing the specificity of a historical setting, allows players to concentrate on the core themes of the conflict and its challenges.