Guadalcanal is a hex based simulation of the land battle of Guadalcanal from August, 7 1942 through January 29, 1943, with battalion-sized units and a map scale of approximately one mile per hex. The naval and aerial combat that surrounded Guadalcanal are assumed to have their historical results so only historical reinforcements are available.

The "Basic Game" introduced the components: the map board, unit counters, victory conditions, movement, zones of control, and combat.

The "Tournament Game" the effects of different terrain types, reduction of units due to combat rather than wholesale elimination, ranged artillery fire, and point-based victory conditions.

The "Optional Rules" introduced hidden movement, supply rules, different ranges for different artillery units based on their historical composition, withdrawing units from the island, and specialized capabilities for amphibious tractor and engineer units. Records for step reduction were kept on paper side records, rather than using reduced units (as in Anzio: The Struggle for Italy – 1943-1945); records for hidden movement were also kept on paper, rather than using screens to hide each player's view of the opponent's forces as in Midway.

The game victory conditions in the basic game were that the United States won if the Japanese were unable to hold Henderson Field for two consecutive turns between the September 25 and November 20 turns, inclusive, with the game ending on November 20 turn. The Tournament Game extended until the January 29, 1943 turn, with the point-based victory determined based on points awarded for eliminating enemy combat factors, occupying Henderson Field, or (for the Japanese) having Henderson Field in range of their artillery units.

Avalon Hill discontinued the game before assigning it a complexity rating; however, in the Avalon Hill ''General'', Volume 3, Number 6, Avalon Hill assigned to the game the following characteristics:

Playing Time: 2-4 hours
Play Balance: Even
Complexity: Very Complex
For Beginner: Very Poor
Play-By-Mail: Poor
Suggestion: Use of Optional Rules

The rules were revised to a small extent in their second printing in June, 1966. These changes were described in the Avalon Hill ''General'', Volume 3. Number 2.

Games