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Cold War History Games

The Cold War lasted from the end of World War II until the late 1980s, as the United States jockeyed for dominance with the Soviet Union. The threat of nuclear Armageddon hung over the conflict, but the war itself was limited to smaller (though often quite devastating) conflicts such as Vietnam and Afghanistan. The unique nature of the Cold War helped facilitate some fascinating board and video games, which emulated the tactics and maneuvers of both sides.

Cold War: The Video Game
- A video game called Cold War was released in 2005, using the themes and settings of the era to act as a platform for action and puzzle solving. In it, players take on the role of Matthew Carter, an American journalist in Moscow finds himself in an international conspiracy to control the USSR. Carter must escape from the KGB, find weapons and tools to assist himself, and uncover the heart of the conspiracy that framed him. The game focuses mainly on action rather than history, and several glaring historical errors appear (such as calling the Soviet leader "president" instead of "premiere"). Nonetheless, it has received praise for its invention system, allowing the player to build gadgets based on the random objects he has collected.
Cold War: The Board Game
- Victory Games released Cold War in the midst of the conflict in 1984. Unlike many Cold War games, it's designed for more than two players, with three or four recommended to play an ideal game. In it, each player takes control of a major source of power, including military, economic, and espionage resources, and attempts to leverage control over as much of the world as possible. The game stresses subterfuge and "dirty tricks," and is designed to be played over the course of an afternoon. It is no longer being published, so you may need to look for it at gaming conventions or online auctions such as eBay.
Cold War: CIA vs. KGB
- Cold War: CIA vs. KGB was published in 2007 by Fantasy Flight Games. Players take command of one of the titular spy networks , working to bring foreign governments over to their side. They use cards to reveal specific objectives---each with a listed stability number---then deploy various strategic resources to reach that number. Once both players think they're close to the number, they pass and reveal their cards. The winner is the player who comes closest to the number without going over. It's intended for just two players, but the play style is fast, with most games lasting about an hour or so.

Board Games