12 Hours at Maleme is a two-player wargame simulating the battle for the control of Maleme airfield (Crete), that took place on May 20, 1941 between the 1st Air Landing Assault Regiment from the German 7th Air Division and the 22nd New Zealand Infantry Battalion from the 2nd New Zealand Division. The game simulates the tense one-day fight over the control of Maleme airfield and the all-important Allied position on Hill 107.
Players will activate units alternatively in order to achieve control of key positions or prevent the other player from doing so. Every time a unit is activated, the owner may move it, fire at other unit(s) or try to remove a pinned or regroup condition. Afterwards, the other player will do the same. Each side has some HQ actions they may use to increase their options to achieve victory. Everytime a 6 is rolled when a unit fires or tries a refit action the time advances 30 minutes, nearing the time when one side will withdraw from the battlefield.