Pavlov's House

A solo or co-op Stalingrad wargame where you hold a fortified apartment building against a relentless deck of German attacks.

Designer: David Thompson (I)
Published by: Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
Editions by: GaGa Games, Ediciones MasQueOca, NAC Wargames

Pavlov's House is a solo and cooperative wargame about one of the best-known defenses of the Battle of Stalingrad. You command the Soviet defenders of a fortified apartment building, along with the key leaders of the 62nd Army who made that stand possible. German attacks keep coming, and your task is to hold on until the 7th Company is ordered to storm a strongpoint. In the game, that moment arrives by playing through a deck of cards that represents elements of the German 6th Army. It uses action points and dice, with several maps. For one to three players, around seventy-five minutes, and a good fit for people who like grim simulation.

Defend a fortified building in StalingradA deck of cards represents the German 6th ArmyAction points and multiple maps

Who it's for

You enjoy historical wargames, particularly solo defense puzzles, and you want a game that takes about an hour and a quarter.

Not for you if…

You want a light game or a competitive one, or the subject matter is not for you. This is a serious, grim simulation.

Vibe's take

Grim, tense and methodical. You hold on against an unrelenting deck, spending limited action points on the most threatened sector.