Invasion of Japan

Operation Downfall - Proposed Allied WWII Invasion of Japan

Allied WWII Invasion of Japan 1945 is a turn based strategy game set on the Pacific theater as a planned but not carried out operation of the Second World War. From Joni Nuutinen: by a wargamer for the wargamers since 2011. Last update June 2025

This scenario covers Operation Olympic (landing on Kyushu), which was the first part of Operation Downfall (the invasion of Japan). The second part, Operation Coronet, was supposed to take place in 1946.

In this campaign, you are in command of the US amphibious force tasked with seizing Kyushu, the southernmost of the Japanese home islands, to set the stage for the second stage of Operation Downfall. The geography of Japan has forced the Allies to choose a predictable strategy, and the Japanese have set up their fanatical forces very well to take on the American onslaught. To defend Kyushu, Japan is planning to throw in most of its troops, as well as a huge number of civilian fighting units and what's left of its naval might. The fact that Japan is starting to run low on supplies is counterbalanced by the extreme supply distances that allies have to deal with, not forgetting kamikaze planes and midget submarines.

FEATURES:

+ Thanks to a huge amount of in-built variation and the game's unique AI, each game provides a different war gaming experience.

+ Settings: A ton of options are available to alter the feel of the gaming experience: Change difficulty level, hexagon size, Animation speed, choose icon set for units (NATO or REAL) and cities (Round, Shield, Square, block of houses), decide what is drawn on the map, weather and storms, and much much more.

"The Japanese soldier was a fine fighting man. He was well-trained, well-equipped, and very good at fighting in jungles and mountains. He was also disciplined and fanatical, and he would fight to the end. The Japanese army was also very well organized and led. It had a clear understanding of its objectives and it was always prepared to adapt its tactics to meet the changing situation."

-- General William Slim in his book Defeat into Victory