B-17: Queen of the Skies

Fly one B-17 bomber through flak and fighters over Europe in a solo game of dice, charts and survival.

Designers: Bruce Shelley, Glen Frank
Published by: On Target Games
Editions by: The Avalon Hill Game Co

B-17: Queen of the Skies is a solitaire game from 1981 in which you command a single B-17F Flying Fortress on missions over Europe with the US Eighth Air Force, between November 1942 and May 1943. You move through zones toward your target while die rolls and tables decide which German fighters appear, where they attack, whether flak hits you and what weather you face. When a hit lands, charts tell you where the damage is and how bad it is. Every crew member counts, and the fun is in surviving the flight home. It is a low-complexity game that plays in under an hour once you know it, and a second player can join in.

Command one B-17F over 1942 to 1943 EuropeDice and tables for fighters, flak and damageDesigned mainly for solo play

Who it's for

You like solitaire wargames with plenty of tables and drama, and are fascinated by WWII aviation.

Not for you if…

You want much decision-making or a game for a full table. This is mostly a solo adventure with dice.

Vibe's take

Tense and story-driven. You mostly react to what the tables throw at you, and each damage chart can turn a smooth flight into a crisis.