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In 1964, historian Lt. Col. Joseph B. Mitchell published a compact book, Twenty Decisive Battles of the World, an expansion of Sir Edward Creasy's most famous work from a hundred years past, updating it into the 20th Century.

Turning Point Simulations (TPS), a division of LPS Inc, examines these 20 battles with a new series of boxed wargames. These games emphasize accessibility and playability, and come with hard-mounted maps and mounted, die-cut counters. Each battle is presented in a design of low complexity, but high challenge, from some of the industry's top designers.

And be sure to check out our sister publication Against the Odds!

While TPS games focus on the decisive battles across time, Against the Odds magazine investigates all of military history from a broad perspective. The economic, political, religious and social aspects of warfare are examined in concert with events on the battlefield. Get yourself truly "connected" with games and gaming by subscribing to Against the Odds! Learn more...

Get a free Pocket Battle Game with any purchase

Not sold separately, choose one of our free Pocket Battle Games below plus get die-cut counters for it, with any purchase from TPS. Look for the offer and click the radio button for the game you want as you finish the checkout process.

Rattenkrieg 1

A solitaire game on the German attempts to clear the Dzerzhinsky Tractor Factory of Soviet defenders during the 1942 attack on Stalingrad. Much of the city had fallen to the Germans but the Soviets continued to resist due to their ability to hold the eastern bank of the river along the edge of the city. The Soviets turned many key areas into fortress blocks and one of these was the tractor factory. The ruins of the city restricted German movement and aided the Soviet defenders...many of whom maneuvered through sewers and other underground passages, hence the name "Rattenkrieg" (the Rat's War). Ironically, in January 1943, the Germans, who had become trapped inside Stalingrad, formed a northern pocket of resistance centered on the selfsame tractor factory.

Nothing So Well Lost

This game is set during the 1522 Ottoman siege of the fortress of Rhodes. Suleiman the Magnificent leads an Ottoman force numbering some 200,000 against 7,500 Hospitaller Knights and soldiers from all across Europe. The initial Ottoman assaults and artillery barrages were countered by the defenders who held sections of the walls by European nationality. Eventually, the Ottomans shifted to mining operations. The troops inside started countermining against these subsurface attacks. The Ottomans finally succeeded in breaching the fortress and with that, the Hospitallers and civilians were provided generous surrender terms. A Spanish minister reported the end to Emperor Charles V remarking, "Sire, nothing was so well lost...".

Fateful Days

Imperial Germany's one chance to avoid a battle of attrition and win WW1 at the outset revolved around a frighteningly simple, and yet complex plan. The simple part was the overall scheme to outflank the French armies from the very start, moving through Belgium to avoid the main French armies and forts. The complex bit was trying to get the German troops marching faster than the French rail network could redeploy their forces to meet them. Particularly as moving through Belgium triggered British intervention with a small but professional force that would come close, but not quite allow itself to be overrun. Here truly were the most Fateful Days for Europe since the Waterloo campaign. Find out how close both sides came to success (and failure) with this great Pocket Battle Game from TPS!

Operation Pedestal

By August 1942, the fate of Malta, the key to stopping all Axis supplies to Africa, lay in a small relief convoy hastily assembled at Gibraltar. Sailing east over an increasingly hostile Mediterranean Sea dominated by Axis air, surface, and submarine forces, the convoy barely made it. Try your hand at recreating (or stopping) this heroic voyage.

A Hard Pounding Fight

The walled farmhouse of La Haye Sainte at Waterloo was defended by about 400 KGL troops. Hopelessly outnumbered by attacking French troops, they held out until the late afternoon. If La Haye Sainte had fallen earlier in the day, Napoleon almost certainly would have pierced the Allied center and defeated Wellington.