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Gears of War: The Board Game

1-4 players 60-180 min 7.5 Board Game Geek Rating

Players control COG soldiers battling the underground Locust horde in this cooperative board game based on the video game series. Teams complete randomly constructed missions through tactical combat, using cover mechanics, weapons, and coordination. Success requires teamwork and communication to overcome challenging enemy AI systems and complete objectives, striking back against the alien threat.

Published 2011

Gears of War: The Board Game

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Place map tiles
Use tiles 14A and 17A, aligning tile 17A entrance with 14A entrance
2
Seal emergence hole
Close the emergence hole nearest to the 17A exit before play begins
3
Configure enemy types
Set up enemies as: (A) Drone, (B) Grenadier, (C) None
4
Build AI deck
Include General AI cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
5
Equip Drones with mortars
Drones use mortar stats for their attacks
6
Substitute miniatures
Use Theron Guard minis and Wretch wound tokens to represent Grenadiers
7
Position equipment
The tile 17A equipment location contains a mortar

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Restrict COG movement
COGs may not leave the five areas next to 17A exit that form a semicircle shape
2
Limit Drone attacks
Only 3 Drones may attack per Activation during Stage 1
3
Keep Locusts at range
During Stage 1, Locusts do not enter COG areas but attack from a distance
4
Advance to Stage 2 transition
When the last AI card is resolved in Stage 1, update the AI deck to include (A) Drone, (B) Grenadiers, (C) Boomers, then reshuffle
5
Allow Drone melee in Stage 2
Drones now attack normally and are the only Locusts who may enter the COG area
6
Maintain position restrictions
COGs must still remain in the five semicircle areas during Stage 2
7
Complete Stage 2
Continue play until the last AI card has been resolved

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Survive both stages
Complete Stage 2 by resolving all AI cards while defending the position
2
Protect the Grindlifts
Ensure Betty and the girls (drilling equipment) are not destroyed during the mission
3
Board the Grindlifts
Upon victory, Delta Squad boards the Grindlifts two by two to evacuate
4
Earn achievement
Successfully completing the mission awards the "Girl About Town" achievement

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Gears of War playthrough/how to play

Gears of War playthrough/how to play

Instructional

Gears Of War Roadblocks: Episode 10

Gears Of War Roadblocks: Episode 10

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

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