Patton's Best

The Avalon Hill Game Co, Hobby Japan · Board game · 1987
— Ludopedia 6.8 BGG 1 · best 1 Solo 30–120 min Weight 3.2/5
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— rating Ludopedia
6.8 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

If you love solo tank command and historical depth, Patton's Best offers a uniquely tactical experience.

Highlights
  • Deep historical immersion
  • Wide range of Sherman tanks
  • Percentile dice combat
  • Long, rich campaign
Keep in mind
  • Nearly full translation required
  • Steep table learning curve
  • Playtime can be lengthy
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Patton's Best puts you in the driver's seat of a Sherman tank from Patton's famed 4th Armored Division, tracking the WWII European campaign. Each play can be a single engagement or a day of movement and combat, but the real fun emerges in the full campaign, marching from Normandy, battling the Siegfried Line, aiding the Bastogne rescue, and crossing the Rhine. The solo system uses an area map for strategic movement and switches to a separate battle board when contact is made. You manage your crew, set the tank's facing, and choose ammo like HVAP to take on Tigers. Decisions are life‑or‑death: sometimes you draw fire as the lead tank, other times you try to slip past ambushes. Combat relies on percentile dice rolls, event cards, and paper‑and‑pencil tables that inject historical randomness. There are 17 Sherman variants, from basic models to the heavily‑armored Jumbo, and crew members can improve skills, earn promotions, and receive decorations throughout the campaign. While the experience is deep, the game needs an almost complete translation and a willingness to wrestle with numerous tables. Perfect for fans of detailed simulation, command‑style RPGs, and tough tactical challenges, especially those who love rolling percentiles.

Best player count

BGG community vote

Solo · 1 player
1 BEST

Soundtrack

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Country: France Country: Germany Country: USA Mechanism: Campaign Games Players: Games with Solitaire Rules Players: Solitaire Only Games Players: Solitaire Only Wargames Players: Wargames with Solitaire Rules Region: Normandy (France)
Publisher The Avalon Hill Game Co, Hobby Japan
Designer Bruce Shelley
Artist Charles Kibler, George I. Parrish, Jr.

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

2,290owners
268wishlist
63want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
How many players can play?
It is a solo-only game; designed for a single player.
How long does a game take?
An individual battle runs 30‑60 minutes; the full campaign can span 8‑12 hours.
What is the complexity level?
Weight 3.2/5 – moderate, with many tables and tactical decisions to manage.
What components are included?
Area map, battle board, event cards, paper‑and‑pencil tables, percentile dice, tank and crew tokens, and 17 Sherman miniatures.
Who is this game for?
Perfect for wargame enthusiasts, historical simulation fans, and solo command‑style RPG players.

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