2022 · Political

2 Minutes to Midnight

A strategic-scale Cold War simulation covering 1946–1990 in 5-year turns, designed for 1–2 players. Players take the roles of the United States or the Soviet Union and compete through military power, economic management, political influence, intelligence operations, and technological development. Money functions as the central resource used to influence nations, fund trade and military forces, recruit spies, and invest in research. The two sides play asymmetrically: one side manages elections and national debt, while the other runs five-year plans and navigates reform-driven instability. Each turn triggers a variable set of events that may recur or disappear, forcing adaptation. A technology tree and military systems represent the arms race, space race, conventional/naval strength and nuclear deterrence, while intelligence assets enable coups, counterintelligence, and accelerated responses to crises.

groupPlayers

1–2 best 2

schedulePlaying time

60–420 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

4.1 / 5