Sinking Yamato is a low-complexity, solitaire, tactical-level (single ship versus aircraft formations) game, with three waves of incoming aircraft broken down into four sub-waves each, with each aircraft marker representing roughly 20 attacking aircraft. The player controls the decisions on starting preparations, facing the larger gun turrets, firing decisions of the multitude of AA guns, movement and use of damage control teams, and when to counter-flood to prevent capsizing. There are options for a historical or random setup and a hypothetical scenario with additional U.S. aircraft. The rules cover fires and fire spreading, counter-flooding, strafing, damage control radar warning, and spare gun crews.

Includes one 34×22” small-hex map and over 100 counters.