Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Zero Leader is based on the Corsair Leader game, with some significant changes.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Deck Construction
Build a deck before play by selecting cards under defined construction rules.
Campaign Card Play
Play cards to command conflicts and carry consequences through a campaign.
Simulation
Model a real or imagined system through detailed cause-and-effect rules.
Solo / Solitaire Game
Provide rules and objectives designed for a single player.
Read the full game description
Zero Leader is based on the Corsair Leader game, with some significant changes. The game focuses on commanding and managing a Japanese aerial squadron in the Pacific in World War Two, with aircraft including the A6M2 Zero, KI-84 Frank, KI-43 Oscar, G4M Betty, and G3M Nell, covering the major campaigns throughout the war from 1941 to 1945. You will need to select the right mix of aircraft under your command in order to successfully carry out the different types of missions. Each aircraft has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a fighter like the Zero is very maneuverable and deadly to enemy Bandits, but it has limited ability to attack naval and ground targets, whereas a bomber like the Betty can carry a lot of munitions, but are susceptible to enemy bandit and anti-aircraft attacks. This game also includes additional aspects of Japanese operations such as mechanical and maintenance challenges, invoking samurai spirit, as well as the ability to deploy the deadly Ohka kamikaze aircraft-bombs. There is also an air combat system which gives you more tactical options when dogfighting with enemy aircraft, including manuevering for position, increasing pilot aggression and being affected by the robustness of the aircraft. Like the other games in the "Leader" series, Zero Leader is a solitaire game. Included in the core box: 1 x Mounted Display 20"x15" 1 x Mounted Dogfight Chart 11 x Counter Sheets (88 counters per sheet) 15 x Campaign Sheets 4 x Player Help Sheets 2 x single-sided sheets 2 x double-sided sheets 386 x Cards (2.5” x 3.5”) 18 x Frank aircraft cards 36 x Zero aircraft cards 36 x Zeke aircraft cards 18 x Kate aircraft cards 18 x Jill aircraft cards 18 x Val aircraft cards 18 x Emily aircraft cards 18 x Jack aircraft cards 18 x Tojo aircraft cards 18 x Sonia aircraft cards 18 x Tony aircraft cards 18 x George aircraft cards 18 x Oscar aircraft cards 18 x Betty aircraft cards 18 x Nell aircraft cards 5 x Frank "Trainee" aircraft cards 30 x Event cards 45 x Target cards 2 x 10-sided Dice 1 x Player Log Sheet 1 x Rulebook -description from publisher